Joint pain and swelling
Key facts
- Swollen joints happen when there is a build-up of fluid in your joint or in the tissues around your joint.
- Joint swelling can cause pain, stiffness, and a feeling of heat around the joint.
- Acute joint pain and swelling happens quickly and usually does not last long.
- Chronic joint pain and swelling may be caused by another condition, and will often last longer than 2 weeks.
What is joint pain and swelling?
Swollen joints happen when there is fluid in your joint or in the tissues around your joint. The swelling might be accompanied by pain, stiffness or aching.
Joint pain and swelling can affect more than one joint at a time. The most common joints to be affected are knees, hands and hips.
There are 2 types of joint pain and swelling.
Acute joint pain and swelling
This comes on quickly and usually lasts less than 2 weeks. Acute joint pain and swelling might be due to injury or infection.
Chronic joint pain and swelling
This comes on slowly and can cause long-term problems. This is more likely to be caused by a type of inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
What symptoms are related to joint pain and swelling?
The symptoms related to joint pain and swelling vary. Symptoms can depend on which joints are affected.
You may have:
- pain
- stiffness when moving the joint
- pink or red colouring of the skin over the joint
- an increase in the size of the joint
- muscle tightness around the joint
- a feeling of warmth in the skin over the joint
Joint pain can lead to problems moving around, carrying out daily activities (such as washing and dressing), and for some people, working.
Joint pain and swelling may be better or worse at different times of the day. For example, you may find that your joint pain and swelling is worse first thing in the morning. Pain and swelling in the joints can also lead to tiredness and fatigue.
CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.
What causes joint pain and swelling?
There are many possible causes for joint pain and swelling.
Acute joint pain and swelling
Acute joint pain comes on quickly and does not usually last long. Some common causes of acute joint pain are:
- injury, such as sprains and strains
- overuse of the joint
- gout
- infection in the joint
- viruses such as hepatitis B, parvovirus or glandular fever
- other illnesses, such as the flu or COVID-19
Acute joint pain and swelling can be serious. If you think you have acute joint pain and swelling, you should see your doctor straight away.
Chronic joint pain and swelling
Chronic joint pain and swelling may be caused by a 'rheumatic' condition. This affects your joints, tendons, bones and muscles. There are many different rheumatic conditions such as:
When should I see my doctor?
It's important to see your doctor if you have joint pain or swelling, especially if:
- you also feel sick
- you are not able to weight bear through the joint
- you also have a fever
- it lasts for more than a few days
You may need x-rays, blood tests or other scans. In some cases, your doctor may want to look inside your joint with a small camera.
FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.
How is joint pain and swelling treated?
There are many ways to treat joint pain and swelling.
If you have long term joint pain and swelling, your doctor can diagnose the cause. They will give you a plan of treatment, which may include exercise. The best types of exercise are gentle on your joints. You can talk to a physiotherapist about which exercises are right for you.
Self-care at home
Acute joint pain, such as strains and sprains, can be helped with the PEACE method for 1 to 3 days.
- Protection: don't do any activities that cause a medium increase in your pain. Do not stop all activity.
- Elevation: when resting, try to keep the joint above the level of your heart, to reduce swelling.
- Avoid anti-inflammatories and ice, as this may slow healing.
- Compression: use a bandage to compress the joint. The bandage should not be too tight or worn at night.
- Education: listen to your body. Often your body can heal without treatment.
Medicines for joint pain and swelling
Medicines such as paracetamol or ibuprofen may help provide pain relief for:
- chronic conditions
- viral illnesses
- gout
These medicines are not recommended for sprains and strains.
Talk to your doctor about which medicines are best for you.
Other treatment options
There are other ways to help with joint pain and swelling.
Your doctor may suggest an injection of steroid medicine into the joint.
If the problem is caused by an infection, you may need antibiotics.
If the problem is not able to be resolved with other treatments, you may need surgery.
Always discuss with your doctor which treatment is best for you.
What are the complications of joint pain and swelling?
Joint pain and swelling can affect your quality of life. It can lead to problems, such as:
- reduced mobility
- reduced ability to work
- increased chance of mental health conditions
Can joint pain and swelling be prevented?
Lots of things can cause joint pain and swelling, so it's not always easy to prevent. Following a healthy lifestyle can help with your symptoms.
Maintain a healthy weight
Extra body weight can put more stress on joints, such as the knees, hips and lower back. Losing weight will lower the stress on your joints, improve your mobility and may help with joint pain.
Healthy eating
Eating a healthy diet that is low in sugar and processed foods can help with joint health. Foods that are high in omega-3 such as salmon can help with chronic joint conditions like arthritis.
Exercise
Regular exercise helps you keep your muscles, bones and joints strong. It is normal to feel some discomfort when you exercise, and does not mean you are causing damage to the joint. Look for an activity that suits you, and build up slowly. A physiotherapist can help you find a program that is safe for you.
Learn more about how to start exercising safely.
Know your treatment options
There are lots of medical treatments that can help you manage joint swelling and pain and prevent it getting worse. Discuss your symptoms with your doctor, so they can tell you about the options available to you.
Resources and support
See your doctor or healthcare professional to learn more about the causes and management of joint pain and swelling.
Read more on joint conditions by visiting these organisations:
You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.
Last reviewed: June 2025
