Joint pain and arthritis: which doctor should I see?
Joint pain can affect one joint or many — the fingers, wrists, knees or ankles. Sometimes it comes with swelling, warmth and morning stiffness. Here you will learn what may be behind it, when it is urgent and which specialist to see.
Book a specialistWhen it is urgent
- One joint suddenly becomes hot, red and very swollen and you have a fever.
- You cannot move the joint or put weight on the leg.
- After a fall or an injury the joint pain is very bad, the joint looks out of place, or the area around it tingles or feels numb.
- The joint pain comes with a rash that does not fade when pressed, difficulty breathing or severe tiredness.
With these signs, seek emergency help — call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Call 112What it may mean
- Inflammatory arthritis — swelling, warmth and stiffness in several joints, often in the morning and at rest.
- Wear of the joints (osteoarthritis) — pain with use that eases at rest.
- Gout — sudden severe pain, redness and swelling, most often in the big toe.
- Arthritis after an infection — joint pain and swelling after an infection.
- Strain or injury — pain in one joint after effort or a blow.
Which specialist
How to prepare for the visit
Note which joints hurt, since when, whether there is morning stiffness and how long it lasts. Bring earlier blood test results and X-rays, and a list of the medicines you take. If relatives have joint diseases, tell the doctor.
Frequently asked questions
When is joint pain a matter for a rheumatologist?
When several joints hurt, or there is swelling, warmth or morning stiffness that lasts long. Book a visit without delay if one joint suddenly becomes very painful or swollen, or the skin around it turns hot or red — even without a fever. The same applies if the joint pain comes with a rash, or with sore eyes and problems with your vision.
Will I need blood tests?
Often, yes. The doctor decides which tests are needed after the examination.
Rheumatologist or orthopaedist?
With swelling and stiffness in several joints the first specialist is a rheumatologist. With pain in one joint after strain or an injury, an orthopaedist.
This information does not replace a visit to a doctor.