JOINT PAIN

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What to expect at your health care provider's office

Your health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask you about your medical history. The following questions may help identify the cause of your joint pain:

• Which joint hurts? Is the pain on one side or both sides?
• How long have you been having this pain? Have you had it before?
• Did this pain begin suddenly and severely, or slowly and mildly?
• Is the pain constant or does it come and go? Has the pain become more severe?
• What started your pain?
• Have you injured your joint?
• Have you had an illness or fever?
• Does resting the joint reduce the pain or make it worse?
• Does moving the joint reduce the pain or make it worse?
• Are certain positions comfortable? Does keeping the joint elevated help?
• Do medications, massage, or applying heat reduce the pain?
• What other symptoms do you have?
• Is there any numbness?
• Can you bend and straighten the joint? Does the joint feel stiff?
• Are your joints stiff in the morning? If so, how long does the stiffness last?
• What makes the stiffness better?

• CBC or blood differential
• Joint x-ray

Physical therapy for muscle and joint rehabilitation may be recommended. A procedure called arthrocentesis may be needed to remove fluid from the sore joint.

Reviewer Info: Neil J. Gonter, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Columbia University, NY and private practice specializing in Rheumatology at Rheumatology Associates of North Jersey, Teaneck, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., 04/24/2008