The Joint swelling describes a painless or painful enlargement of the joint. Any joint in the whole body can be affected.
What is joint swelling?
A joint swelling describes the swelling of a joint, which can be any joint in the body. Sometimes the joint swelling is painless or painless. You can recognize them by the fact that the joint becomes thicker and you can only move to a limited extent. However, it is not uncommon for joint swelling to cause pain, which can be considerable and must be treated symptomatically.
Joint swelling can be the side effect or the main symptom of an injury, but this is not the only cause. As a rule, however, there is no need to worry about treating joint swelling - there are very simple, fast and painless ways to reduce and heal the joint swelling, so that you can move freely again and no longer have any restrictions.
causes
Joint swelling can be triggered by an injury that is usually sustained while exercising. Torns, tears or other injuries to the muscles bring about a characteristic swelling of the joints, because every tendon and every muscle docks to a bone - and almost all of them lead to the joint.
Joint swelling can also be caused by injuries such as bruises or tears in the capsule, whereby blood enters the joint from a torn vein and causes it to swell and hurt.
Sometimes the swelling of the joints is simply due to the fact that water has accumulated - with water, of course, one does not mean the chemical substance H2O, but speaks of the body's own waste fluids. People with osteoarthritis or arthritis also sometimes experience joint swelling.
You can find your medication here
➔ Medicines against swellingDiseases with this symptom
- Capsule tear
- arthrosis
- Inflammation of the joints (arthritis)
diagnosis
In the case of joint swelling, the affected joint is first palpated depending on how sensitive it is to pain. The doctor may also try to move it to see exactly where the source of pain is and what may be causing the joint swelling.
Then an X-ray is taken to look inside the affected joint and determine exactly where the joint swelling is. Depending on the type of tissue, a CT scan may also be necessary to rule out all other possibilities - this is the rule with osteoarthritis and arthritis.
In some cases of joint swelling, however, it is sufficient to just look at the joint and carefully palpate it to see where the problem could be, so that the diagnosis only has to be determined reliably by the X-ray.
Complications
Joint swelling can cause various complications. First of all, the swelling leads to pain, which can widen as the disease progresses and sometimes severely limit the mobility of the affected joint. In addition, the swelling can press on the surrounding vessels and nerves and lead to a variety of complaints, including symptoms of paralysis, circulatory disorders and generally restricted mobility.
Joint swelling, which is the cause of a strain or other sports injury, can develop into a chronic symptom and ultimately lead to joint wear. If the swelling is caused by the accumulation of water in the joint, mobility can also be restricted. Furthermore, a bacterial focus can form within the joints, which can lead to inflammation of the joint (arthritis) or Lyme arthritis.
In extreme cases, the inflammation shifts to other joints and leads to bursitis and similar symptoms there. When treating joint swelling, the main risks lie in a misdiagnosis, which can lead to the administration of unsuitable medication and unsuitable therapeutic measures. Overstraining the already weakened joint can permanently damage the bone and cartilage structure and worsen the condition. It is therefore advisable to have joint swelling clearly diagnosed as such before starting therapeutic measures and taking medication.
When should you go to the doctor?
Joint swelling should not be underestimated. It is possible that the body sends an important signal due to the swelling of the body parts, which must be observed. Since the swelling can also be harmless, a differentiation must be made. However, if in doubt, it is always better to seek medical help early on.
In a large number of cases, the joint swelling can be attributed to certain external circumstances. In the event of falls, accidents, bruises or other physical trauma, a visit to the doctor is always indicated when the joint swelling is intense. If the swelling is severe and does not subside, seek medical advice immediately. If the symptoms are minimal, one can wait and see. A doctor should be contacted if there is no independent improvement.
Patients who are already receiving medical advice should adhere to the agreements and instructions of the respective doctor. In the case of known swellings that are the result of an underlying disease, the attending physician should be consulted if there are any changes. So it is helpful to first observe your own body.
If there is sudden swelling of the joints that cannot be attributed to any external cause, a doctor should be consulted immediately. Waiting is then neither reasonable nor useful, as the specific cause must first be properly diagnosed.
Doctors & therapists in your area
Treatment & Therapy
Sports injuries such as torn tendons, strains, overstretching, bruises or torn capsules are treated with an analgesic ointment, usually with Voltaren - this is freely available. In addition, they are immobilized for a certain period of time with the help of a bandage so that the joint swelling can calmly subside and the joint can recover.
Cracks have to heal, clotted blood has to be broken down. The joint swelling itself will usually subside within a short time and will not hinder healing any further. However, if the joint swelling is a case of fluid entering the joint, a small cannula is inserted and the fluid is released. This is painless, because if necessary, you will receive a fast-acting local anesthetic.
The joint swelling goes away immediately and there is no more pain. Osteoarthritis and arthritis, on the other hand, are treated very individually. The basic problem must be observed over the long term, for example physiotherapy, physiotherapy or various medications can help against joint swelling.
Outlook & forecast
Joint swelling does not have to lead to complications in every case. Often this runs completely without or only with very little pain. If joint swelling occurs after an accident or a blow to the affected joint, the area can be cooled so that the swelling disappears. The symptom usually disappears on its own after a few days.
If the swelling was caused by a serious accident, nerves can be damaged or destroyed. The swelling of the joints can lead to numbness and disorders of the blood circulation. If the joint swelling does not go away within a few days, a doctor should be consulted. As a rule, the swollen part of the body can no longer be used for work or for sporting activities. Depending on the position of the joint swelling, this can restrict the patient's life cycle to a greater or lesser extent.
Joint swelling can often be treated with pain therapy and physiotherapy. If it goes away on its own, there will be no further discomfort or pain. In some cases pressure pain can develop on the joint swelling, which also disappears as the swelling subsides.
You can find your medication here
➔ Medicines against swellingprevention
The best way to prevent joint swelling from a sports injury is to take the right safety measures. Everyone must adhere to the instructions of the staff during training or team sports. Safety clothing and correct posture must also be observed.
Patients with previous stresses who have already suffered joint swelling for other reasons should take care to protect their joints as much as possible and adhere to their treatment plan if they currently have to adhere to drug therapy or an exercise plan.
You can do that yourself
In the case of slight joint swelling, the patient can help himself with some measures and remedies from nature. The most effective means are protection and cooling. Ice packs and cold packs from the pharmacy should be applied to the swelling two to three times a day for a quarter of an hour. Medicinal preparations with extracts from the comfrey root can be used to reduce pain. Homeopathic remedies such as the anti-inflammatory Apis mellifica are also recommended. Enzyme tablets accelerate the actual decongestion process and can be taken especially in the acute phase.
In the case of joint swelling as a result of osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, anti-inflammatory plants such as nettle or the South African devil's claw help. Both remedies can be used as an infusion or tea. Quark compresses, willow bark, cabbage wraps and celery tea also help with inflammatory joint diseases.
Recommended bath additives are circulatory oils made from rosemary, eucalyptus, juniper, lemon or olive. A cherry stone pillow or a hay bag can reduce joint swelling and loosen up the muscles. Home-made products made from fruit pectin and grape or plum juice also help with stiff joints and muscles. Joint swelling caused by gout can be counteracted with anti-inflammatory and regulating agents such as Epsom salt, activated charcoal and baking powder.
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