Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsArthritisTrauma and InjuryInfectionsBursitisWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderDiagnosis
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Arthritis
Trauma and Injury
Infections
Bursitis
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Diagnosis
When your joints or knees are hot and swollen, it is generally a sign ofinflammation. Inflammation is theimmune system’s response to injury or infection, used to aid with healing and neutralize disease-causing organisms.
One or multiple joints may be affected, and other symptoms may accompany them (including fever, bruising, and joint stiffness). Together, these signs and symptoms can provide clues as to the underlying cause.
This article explores some of the more common causes of warm joints, including how they are diagnosed and treated. It also explains when it is time to see a healthcare provider.
Science Photo Library / Getty Images
There are different forms of arthritis, some of which are inflammatory (like rheumatoid arthritis) and others that are non-inflammatory (like osteoarthritis).
But even non-inflammatory arthritis can become inflammatory if enough joint damage occurs, causing bone to rub against bone. This is especially true of knee or finger joints that you constantly use.
Arthritic causes of swollen joints include:
Joint trauma can affect different structures within a joint, including bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage.
Common injuries that can cause warm joints include:
Kneecap Dislocation
Common signs of a joint infection include:
Infections that can cause a warm joint include:
Different Types of Arthritis
Bursitisis inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs in joints calledbursa. When the bursa becomes inflamed, it can cause localized warmth, redness, and swelling along with stinging joint pain and stiffness. The pain is usually worse during and after physical activity, leading to increased stiffness and pain the next morning.
The treatment of bursitis typically involves RICE therapy along with OTC painkillers and physiotherapy.Chronic bursitis may require joint aspiration and a surgery calledbursectomyto remove damaged bursa from the joint space.
When Should I See a Healthcare Provider for Warm Joints?
You should seek medical attention if your warm joint doesn’t begin to improve within a day, or if you don’t know the cause. Your healthcare provider might refer you to arheumatologist, a doctor who specializes in autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, for further investigation.
Seek emergency care if a joint is suddenly hot in addition to these symptoms:The joint is painful and swollen.You have a fever.You have chills.You are dizzy.You are experiencing changes in skin color or appearance.Symptoms like these rarely resolve on their own and may lead to a medical crisis if left untreated.
Seek emergency care if a joint is suddenly hot in addition to these symptoms:
Symptoms like these rarely resolve on their own and may lead to a medical crisis if left untreated.
How Are Joint Conditions Diagnosed?
In addition to your joint warmth, your healthcare provider will consider your other symptoms and review your medical history, family history, and medications.
They may also do a physical examination to look for joint pain, tenderness, a rash, swelling, or restricted movement.
Based on your history and physical examination, you might need one or more of the following:
Summary
22 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Arthritis Foundation.What is inflammatory osteoarthritis?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Osteoarthritis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gout.Pipitone N, Salvarani C.Update on polymyalgia rheumatica.Eur J Intern Med. 2013;24(7):583-9. doi:10.1016/j.ejim.2013.03.003Veale DJ.Immunopathology of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 2005;64(suppl_2):ii26-ii29. doi:10.1136/ard.2004.031740Suzuki N, Tagashira Y, Heist BS, et al.Not just another flare: acute polyarthritis in rheumatoid arthritis.Am J Med. 2015;128(12):e1-3. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2015.08.002Zaripova LN, Midgley A, Christmas SE, Beresford MW, Baildam EM, Oldershaw RA.Juvenile idiopathic arthritis: from aetiopathogenesis to therapeutic approaches.Pediatr Rheumatol Online J.2021;19:135. doi:10.1186/s12969-021-00629-8Nabian MH, Zadegan SA, Zanjani LO, Mehrpour SR.Epidemiology of joint dislocations and ligamentous/tendinous injuries among 2,700 patients: five-year trend of a tertiary center in Iran.Arch Bone Jt Surg. 2017;5(6):426-434.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Fractures (broken bones).American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprains, strains and other soft-tissue injuries.Colston J, Atkins B.Bone and joint infection.Clin Med (Lond).2018 Apr;18(2):150–154. doi:10.7861/clinmedicine.18-2-150Youssef D, Bhargava A.Escherichia colibacteremia with secondary seeding in the sternoclavicular joint: a case report and literature review.Germs. 2019;9(1):43‐46. doi:10.18683/germs.2019.1156Shapiro ED.Lyme disease.N Engl J Med. 2014;370(18):1724-31. doi:10.1056/NEJMcp1314325Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About cellulitis.Giurato L, Meloni M, Izzo V, Uccioli L.Osteomyelitis in diabetic foot: a comprehensive overview.World J Diabetes. 2017;8(4):135-42. doi:10.4239/wjd.v8.i4.135National Health Service (UK).Reactive arthritis.Shankar B, Bhutia E, Kumar D.Atypical arthritis revisited: acute rheumatic fever.Ann Pediatr Cardiol. 2016;9(2):164-6. doi:10.4103/0974-2069.180670Arthritis Foundation.Bursitis.National Health Service (UK).Bursitis.University of Washington Medicine.Infectious arthritis.Arthritis Foundation.Blood, fluid and tissue test for arthritis.Hansford BG, Stacy GS.Musculoskeletal aspiration procedures.Semin Intervent Radiol. 2012;29(4):270-85. doi:10.1055/s-0032-1330061
22 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Arthritis Foundation.What is inflammatory osteoarthritis?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Osteoarthritis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gout.Pipitone N, Salvarani C.Update on polymyalgia rheumatica.Eur J Intern Med. 2013;24(7):583-9. doi:10.1016/j.ejim.2013.03.003Veale DJ.Immunopathology of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 2005;64(suppl_2):ii26-ii29. doi:10.1136/ard.2004.031740Suzuki N, Tagashira Y, Heist BS, et al.Not just another flare: acute polyarthritis in rheumatoid arthritis.Am J Med. 2015;128(12):e1-3. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2015.08.002Zaripova LN, Midgley A, Christmas SE, Beresford MW, Baildam EM, Oldershaw RA.Juvenile idiopathic arthritis: from aetiopathogenesis to therapeutic approaches.Pediatr Rheumatol Online J.2021;19:135. doi:10.1186/s12969-021-00629-8Nabian MH, Zadegan SA, Zanjani LO, Mehrpour SR.Epidemiology of joint dislocations and ligamentous/tendinous injuries among 2,700 patients: five-year trend of a tertiary center in Iran.Arch Bone Jt Surg. 2017;5(6):426-434.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Fractures (broken bones).American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprains, strains and other soft-tissue injuries.Colston J, Atkins B.Bone and joint infection.Clin Med (Lond).2018 Apr;18(2):150–154. doi:10.7861/clinmedicine.18-2-150Youssef D, Bhargava A.Escherichia colibacteremia with secondary seeding in the sternoclavicular joint: a case report and literature review.Germs. 2019;9(1):43‐46. doi:10.18683/germs.2019.1156Shapiro ED.Lyme disease.N Engl J Med. 2014;370(18):1724-31. doi:10.1056/NEJMcp1314325Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About cellulitis.Giurato L, Meloni M, Izzo V, Uccioli L.Osteomyelitis in diabetic foot: a comprehensive overview.World J Diabetes. 2017;8(4):135-42. doi:10.4239/wjd.v8.i4.135National Health Service (UK).Reactive arthritis.Shankar B, Bhutia E, Kumar D.Atypical arthritis revisited: acute rheumatic fever.Ann Pediatr Cardiol. 2016;9(2):164-6. doi:10.4103/0974-2069.180670Arthritis Foundation.Bursitis.National Health Service (UK).Bursitis.University of Washington Medicine.Infectious arthritis.Arthritis Foundation.Blood, fluid and tissue test for arthritis.Hansford BG, Stacy GS.Musculoskeletal aspiration procedures.Semin Intervent Radiol. 2012;29(4):270-85. doi:10.1055/s-0032-1330061
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Arthritis Foundation.What is inflammatory osteoarthritis?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Osteoarthritis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gout.Pipitone N, Salvarani C.Update on polymyalgia rheumatica.Eur J Intern Med. 2013;24(7):583-9. doi:10.1016/j.ejim.2013.03.003Veale DJ.Immunopathology of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 2005;64(suppl_2):ii26-ii29. doi:10.1136/ard.2004.031740Suzuki N, Tagashira Y, Heist BS, et al.Not just another flare: acute polyarthritis in rheumatoid arthritis.Am J Med. 2015;128(12):e1-3. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2015.08.002Zaripova LN, Midgley A, Christmas SE, Beresford MW, Baildam EM, Oldershaw RA.Juvenile idiopathic arthritis: from aetiopathogenesis to therapeutic approaches.Pediatr Rheumatol Online J.2021;19:135. doi:10.1186/s12969-021-00629-8Nabian MH, Zadegan SA, Zanjani LO, Mehrpour SR.Epidemiology of joint dislocations and ligamentous/tendinous injuries among 2,700 patients: five-year trend of a tertiary center in Iran.Arch Bone Jt Surg. 2017;5(6):426-434.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Fractures (broken bones).American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprains, strains and other soft-tissue injuries.Colston J, Atkins B.Bone and joint infection.Clin Med (Lond).2018 Apr;18(2):150–154. doi:10.7861/clinmedicine.18-2-150Youssef D, Bhargava A.Escherichia colibacteremia with secondary seeding in the sternoclavicular joint: a case report and literature review.Germs. 2019;9(1):43‐46. doi:10.18683/germs.2019.1156Shapiro ED.Lyme disease.N Engl J Med. 2014;370(18):1724-31. doi:10.1056/NEJMcp1314325Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About cellulitis.Giurato L, Meloni M, Izzo V, Uccioli L.Osteomyelitis in diabetic foot: a comprehensive overview.World J Diabetes. 2017;8(4):135-42. doi:10.4239/wjd.v8.i4.135National Health Service (UK).Reactive arthritis.Shankar B, Bhutia E, Kumar D.Atypical arthritis revisited: acute rheumatic fever.Ann Pediatr Cardiol. 2016;9(2):164-6. doi:10.4103/0974-2069.180670Arthritis Foundation.Bursitis.National Health Service (UK).Bursitis.University of Washington Medicine.Infectious arthritis.Arthritis Foundation.Blood, fluid and tissue test for arthritis.Hansford BG, Stacy GS.Musculoskeletal aspiration procedures.Semin Intervent Radiol. 2012;29(4):270-85. doi:10.1055/s-0032-1330061
Arthritis Foundation.What is inflammatory osteoarthritis?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Osteoarthritis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gout.
Pipitone N, Salvarani C.Update on polymyalgia rheumatica.Eur J Intern Med. 2013;24(7):583-9. doi:10.1016/j.ejim.2013.03.003
Veale DJ.Immunopathology of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 2005;64(suppl_2):ii26-ii29. doi:10.1136/ard.2004.031740
Suzuki N, Tagashira Y, Heist BS, et al.Not just another flare: acute polyarthritis in rheumatoid arthritis.Am J Med. 2015;128(12):e1-3. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2015.08.002
Zaripova LN, Midgley A, Christmas SE, Beresford MW, Baildam EM, Oldershaw RA.Juvenile idiopathic arthritis: from aetiopathogenesis to therapeutic approaches.Pediatr Rheumatol Online J.2021;19:135. doi:10.1186/s12969-021-00629-8
Nabian MH, Zadegan SA, Zanjani LO, Mehrpour SR.Epidemiology of joint dislocations and ligamentous/tendinous injuries among 2,700 patients: five-year trend of a tertiary center in Iran.Arch Bone Jt Surg. 2017;5(6):426-434.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Fractures (broken bones).
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprains, strains and other soft-tissue injuries.
Colston J, Atkins B.Bone and joint infection.Clin Med (Lond).2018 Apr;18(2):150–154. doi:10.7861/clinmedicine.18-2-150
Youssef D, Bhargava A.Escherichia colibacteremia with secondary seeding in the sternoclavicular joint: a case report and literature review.Germs. 2019;9(1):43‐46. doi:10.18683/germs.2019.1156
Shapiro ED.Lyme disease.N Engl J Med. 2014;370(18):1724-31. doi:10.1056/NEJMcp1314325
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About cellulitis.
Giurato L, Meloni M, Izzo V, Uccioli L.Osteomyelitis in diabetic foot: a comprehensive overview.World J Diabetes. 2017;8(4):135-42. doi:10.4239/wjd.v8.i4.135
National Health Service (UK).Reactive arthritis.
Shankar B, Bhutia E, Kumar D.Atypical arthritis revisited: acute rheumatic fever.Ann Pediatr Cardiol. 2016;9(2):164-6. doi:10.4103/0974-2069.180670
Arthritis Foundation.Bursitis.
National Health Service (UK).Bursitis.
University of Washington Medicine.Infectious arthritis.
Arthritis Foundation.Blood, fluid and tissue test for arthritis.
Hansford BG, Stacy GS.Musculoskeletal aspiration procedures.Semin Intervent Radiol. 2012;29(4):270-85. doi:10.1055/s-0032-1330061
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