Some causes include arthritis, infections, and chronic conditions likefibromyalgia.
Treatment for sudden onset joint pain depends on what triggered it and the severity of the condition.
This condition tends to emerge over time, for example, with wear and tear to the joints.
katleho Seisa / Getty Images
Certain types of arthritis cause acute symptoms, rather than chronic symptoms over time.
Here’s a look at some types of acute arthritis that cause your joints to hurt suddenly.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is resulting from the immune system attacking joint tissues.
Inflammation occurs in thesynovium, which is the inner lining of the joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis can start with mild inflammation in a few joints.
If it isn’t treated, it can start to affect more joints and cause increased pain.
Getting diagnosed and treated early is essential to preventing this throw in of arthritis from becoming a chronic condition.
Bacteria are the most common cause and most serious due to their highly destructive nature.
Incidence varies in the United States, causing between two to 10 cases per 100,000 people.
Signs of septic arthritis include:
The Dangers of Septic Arthritis
Septic arthritisis a medical emergency.
It can cause septic shock, which can be fatal.
Bacteria that may cause it includeChlamydia,Shigella,Campylobacter,Yersinia, andSalmonella.
Usually symptoms occur about one to six weeks after you’ve recovered from the infection.
Bacterial Arthritis
Bacterial arthritis develops over hours or days.
It is categorized as eithergonococcalor nongonococcal.
This buildup takes place if there is too much uric acid in your body, a condition known ashyperuricemia.
More than 30% of people with gout also have hypertension (high blood pressure).
Gout usually affects one joint at a time, most commonly the big toe joint.
The incidence of gout among adults in the United States is 3.9%.
Other chronic, or long-lasting, conditions can cause pain and swelling in the joints along with other symptoms.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgiais a pain disorder that can affect the joints and muscles.
Pain usually starts in one area, like the neck and shoulders, and spreads over time.
The specific cause is unknown, but genetic factors may play a role.
Joint pain without swelling or redness is a common symptom of ME/CFS.
Symptoms vary depending on the individual and the parts of your body that are affected.
It can make your joints feel painful, swollen, warm, and stiff.
The inflammation tends to affect just a few large joints, like the knees.
Usually, it affects one side of the body more than the other.
The joint pain and stiffness of arthritis from IBD often happen in the morning.
They also frequently occur when gastrointestinal symptoms are worse than usual.
It usually occurs just while you’re sick, but sometimes it can continue after the infection is gone.
When you get the flu, white blood cells produce antibodies to fight the virus throughout the body.
This triggers the inflammation that makes you feel achy.
COVID-19
Body aches are common during aCOVID-19infection.
If you have arthritis, your joint pain will probably feel worse.
Some people experience joint pain after a COVID-19 infection.
This can last for weeks, months, or years after they’ve recovered from the initial infection.
Other symptoms also include fever, muscle pain, and fatigue.
Most people recover from an acute mono infection in a few weeks.
However, fatigue and joint pain are common after recovery, sometimes lasting six months or more.
Brucellosis
Brucellosis is a bacterial infection that can cause joint pain along with other symptoms.
It is spread by contact with infected animals or animal products.
Symptoms of brucellosis include:
Brucellosis is treated with antibiotics for six to eight weeks.
Without treatment, the infection can become chronic with long-term effects, including arthritis.
Although these conditions mainly affect the liver, joint pain is also one of the most common symptoms.
This happens when the Lyme bacteria enter the joint tissue and cause inflammation.
If not treated, Lyme arthritis can cause permanent damage to the joints.
Researchers studied vitamin D levels in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
How Can I Treat Sudden Joint Pain?
Some conditions may require less intervention than others.
If your pain is mild to moderate, over-the-counter pain medications may provide relief.
These include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) like Advil (ibuprofen) or Aleve (naproxen).
At-home remedies can also help decrease joint pain.
A referral forphysicalor occupational therapy also may improve outcomes.
Treatment for joint pain triggered by specific health conditions will vary depending on the cause.
Different types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis and septic arthritis, can cause acute symptoms.
Chronic diseases, such as fibromyalgia and lupus can also cause painful joints.
For mild to moderate pain, you could try taking OTC pain medications like Advil or Aleve.
Self-care methods include hot and cold therapy, rest, and light physical activity.
Pujalte GG, Albano-Aluquin SA.Differential Diagnosis of Polyarticular Arthritis.Am Fam Physician.
2015 Jul 1;92(1):35-41.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Rheumatoid arthritis.
Hospital for Special Surgery.Living with Inflammatory Arthritis: What you’re gonna wanna Know.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.
2020;59(12):3826-3833. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keaa162
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Reactive arthritis.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Reactive arthritis.
Said M, Tirthani E.Gonococcal infective endocarditis returns.Cureus.
2021 Sep 14;13(9):e17955.
Merck Manual Professional Version.Acute infectious arthritis.
Lanaspa MA, Andres-Hernando A, Kuwabara M.Uric acid and hypertension.Hypertens Res43, 832834 (2020).
2019 Dec 1;58(12):2177-2180. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/kez196
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gout.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Fibromyalgia.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.
Lupus Foundation of America.Lupus and the joints, muscles, and bones.
Harvard Health Publishing.Arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease.
Harvard Health Publishing.Why does the flu cause body aches?
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Can the coronavirus affect my bones and joints?
2024;7(2):2272999.
Published 2024 Jan 9. doi:10.1080/24740527.2023.2272999
DermNet.Infectious mononucleosis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About brucellosis.
2019;52:e20180407.
doi:10.1590/0037-8682-0407-2018
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs and symptoms of untreated Lyme disease.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical care and treatment of Lyme arthritis.
Arthritis Foundation.Finding the best joint pain relief for you: 24 treatment options.
Jogpal V, Sanduja M, Dutt R, Garg V, Tinku.Advancement of nanomedicines in chronic inflammatory disorders.Inflammopharmacology.
2022 Apr;30(2):355-368. doi:10.1007/s10787-022-00927-x.
Arthritis Foundation.Physical therapy for arthritis.
Element Physical Therapy.3 ways physical therapy relieves intense joint pain.
Arthritis Foundation.The benefits of occupational therapy.
