Joint swelling can be a primary symptom of arthritis. A small amount of fluid exists in normal joints. When a joint is affected by arthritis, inflammatory types of arthritis in particular, increased abnormal amounts of fluid build up, making the joint swollen. Pictured is the hand of a 35 year old female diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis for 10 months, showing joint swelling and damage. The excess fluid is produced by the soft tissues affected by arthritis that surround and line the joints.

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Joint swelling may occur along with other symptoms linked to arthritis including joint pain, joint stiffness, inflammation, tenderness, redness and warmth around the affected joints. Swelling may be caused by injury, infections, trauma, hemarthrosis (bleeding into joint spaces) and arthritic conditions such as:

• osteoarthritis
• gout
• pseudogout
• ankylosing spondylitis
• psoriatic arthritis
• infectious arthritis
• reactive arthritis
• rheumatoid arthritis
• juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
• systemic lupus erythematosus

You should seek medical advice if unexplained symptoms of joint swelling persist. If you suspect arthritis, make an appointment with a rheumatologist (a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating arthritis and related rheumatic conditions). Receiving an accurate diagnosis is an essential step to receiving proper treatment.

More Related Resources:

• What is Joint Effusion?
• Inflammation: The Battle Within
• Test Your Knowledge: Inflammation
• Blood Tests for Evaluating Arthritis
• Joint Fluid Analysis: Results Help Determine Cause of Joint Swelling

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