Causes of Sudden Onset Joint Pain

Sudden onset joint pain can be due to a newly acquired condition or a long-term disease that flares up to cause sudden pain. Some causes include arthritis, infections, and chronic conditions like fibromyalgia.

Symptoms that may accompany joint pain include joint warmth, tenderness, swelling, and stiffness causing decreased range of motion.

Treatment for sudden onset joint pain depends on what triggered it and the severity of the condition.

Types of Arthritis That Cause Sudden Joint Pain

An arthritis diagnosis is common, especially as people age and experience osteoarthritis. This condition tends to emerge over time, for example, with wear and tear to the joints.

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 caused by the immune system attacking joint tissues. Inflammation occurs in the synovium, which is the inner lining of the joints. When the synovium thickens due to increased cells and the production of proteins, it leads to chronic pain in the joint.

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. Symptoms include:

• Joint pain with both rest and movement
• Swelling and warmth of the joint
• Swelling in the joints that makes mobility difficult
• Fatigue
• Low-grade fever
• Appetite loss

Acute Inflammatory Arthritis 

Acute inflammatory arthritis refers to a group of diseases triggered by an overactive immune system that typically attacks several joints (and perhaps other systems in your body) at the same time.

Getting diagnosed and treated early is essential to preventing this type of arthritis from becoming a chronic condition. While exact incidence is unknown, it is less common than other types of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis.

Symptoms of acute inflammatory arthritis include:

• Joint pain and stiffness after periods of rest or inactivity, particularly in the morning, lasting about an hour
• Swelling, redness, and warmth in the affected joints

Septic Arthritis 

Septic arthritis refers to joint infection caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. Bacteria are the most common cause and most serious due to a highly destructive nature. Incidence varies in the United States, causing between two to 10 cases per 100,000 people.

Signs of septic arthritis include:

• Fever
• Feeling unwell or malaise
• Pain in the affected joint
• Warmth in the affected joint
• Swelling (effusion) in the affected joint
• Decreased range of motion in the affected joint

Reactive Arthritis

Reactive arthritis happens in response to an infection, usually a sexually transmitted or food-borne bacterial infection. Bacteria that may cause it include Chlamydia, Shigella, Campylobacter, Yersinia, and Salmonella. Usually symptoms occur about one to six weeks after you’ve recovered from the infection.

The main symptoms are joint pain and stiffness, especially in the knees and ankles on one side of the body. Other symptoms include:

• Urinary frequency and burning (with conditions that affect the urinary tract)
• Eye inflammation
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Diarrhea
• Skin rash
• Thickened nails

Symptoms usually go away in a few months but can sometimes last up to a year.

Bacterial Arthritis 

Bacterial arthritis develops over hours or days. It is categorized as either gonococcal or nongonococcal. The main difference is that the gonococcal type is caused by the spread of the gonorrhea bacteria and nongonococcal infections are not.

Symptoms of gonococcal arthritis include:

• Fever
• Tendon inflammation
• Painless lesions (papules, pustules, or macules) on the arms and legs
• Single joint arthritis (monoarticular)
• Areas typically affected are the knees, ankles, and wrists.

Symptoms of nongonococcal arthritis include:

• Moderate to severe joint pain that worsens with movement
• Infected joints are swollen, red, and warm.
• Low-grade fever
• Areas affected are typically the knees, hips, wrists, ankles, or elbow joints.

Gout

Gout is an extremely painful condition caused by a buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints. This buildup occurs when there is too much uric acid in your body, a condition known as hyperuricemia. More than 30% of people with gout also have hypertension (high blood pressure).

The body makes uric acid when it breaks down purines, which are found in your body and the foods you eat. When there is too much uric acid in the body, uric acid crystals (monosodium urate) can build up in joints, fluids, and tissues within the body.

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%.

The symptoms of gout include:

• Pain, usually intense
• Swelling
• Redness
• Heat

Other Chronic Diseases That Cause Joint Pain

Arthritis isn’t the only condition that can cause sudden joint pain. Other chronic, or long-lasting, conditions can cause pain and swelling in the joints along with other symptoms.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is 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. You may be more likely to have fibromyalgia if you have another chronic condition such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or irritable bowel syndrome.

Symptoms of fibromyalgia include:

• Pain and tenderness throughout the body, including the joints
• Memory problems
• Fatigue
• Problems falling asleep or staying asleep

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)

 ME/CFS is a serious chronic condition that causes overwhelming fatigue and interferes with daily activities. Researchers don’t know the exact cause, but it may run in families and can be triggered by another illness like mononucleosis or COVID-19.

Joint pain without swelling or redness is a common symptoms of ME/CFS. The main symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Sleep problems
• Worse symptoms after activity or standing up
• Memory problems

Lupus

Lupus is an autoimmune disease, which causes your immune system to attack healthy tissue. This causes inflammation and damage to different areas of your body, including your joints, skin, kidneys, brain, heart, and lungs.

Symptoms vary depending on the individual and the parts of your body that are affected. When it affects your joints, it causes inflammation, or what is referred to as “inflammatory arthritis.” It can make your joints feel painful, swollen, warm, and stiff. It usually affects joints that are farther away from the core of your body, including:

• Fingers
• Toes
• Wrists
• Ankles
• Knees
• Elbows

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)—which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis—causes inflammation in the intestinal tract, but it’s also associated with a form of arthritis. 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 of IBD often happen in the morning. They also frequently occur when gastrointestinal symptoms are worse than usual.

Infections That Cause Joint Pain

In some cases, bacterial or viral infections can lead to joint pain. It usually occurs just while you’re sick, but sometimes it can continue after the infection is gone.

Influenza

The flu virus causes inflammation in the body that can lead to fever, sore throat, and headache as well as joint and muscle pain.

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 a COVID-19 infection. If you have arthritis, your joint pain will probably feel worse. If you don’t have arthritis, you’ll likely feel muscle pain rather than joint pain during a COVID-19 infection.

Some people experience joint pain after a COVID-19 infection. Post-viral pain syndrome can cause pain in the joints after an individual has recovered from a viral infection, including COVID-19. This can last for weeks, months, or years after they’ve recovered from the initial infection.

Mononucleosis

Joint pain is one of the symptoms of mononucleosis (mono), caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. Other symptoms also include fever, muscle pain, and fatigue.

Most people recover from the 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. This might happen through eating undercooked meat, drinking unpasteurized milk, breathing in the bacteria, or getting bodily fluids from infected animals in the eyes, nose, or mouth.

Symptoms of brucellosis include:

• Fever
• Sweating
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Pain in the muscles and joints
• Headache

Brucellosis is treated with antibiotics for six to eight weeks. Without treatment, the infection can become chronic with long-term effects, including arthritis.

Hepatitis B and C

Hepatitis B and C are liver diseases that are caused by viruses (HBV and HCV). Although these conditions mainly affect the liver, joint pain is also one of the most common symptoms.

In one study, joint pain was reported in 97% of patients with hepatitis B and 90% of patients with hepatitis C. In addition, 26% of hepatitis B patients and 40% of hepatitis C patients developed arthritis.

Lyme Disease

Lyme disease can cause joint pain in its early stages, around 3 to 30 days after a tick bite. This occurs along with other symptoms, such as a “bulls-eye” rash, chills, headache, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes.

If untreated, Lyme disease can lead to a form of arthritis within one to a few months after infection. 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.

Vitamin D Deficiency and Joint Pain

Vitamin D deficiency has been found to have a link to joint pain. Researchers studied vitamin D levels in rheumatoid arthritis patients. They found that vitamin D deficiency was more common in RA patients and that it may be one of the reasons why it develops or gets worse.

Another study found that vitamin D deficiencies could predict whether people age 50 and older have knee or hip pain over the next several years.

While calcium supplements with vitamin D improve bone health, there isn’t evidence that they can reverse joint pain. A Women’s Health Initiative trial found that vitamin D and calcium supplements did not improve joint pain for postmenopausal females.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Joint pain that comes on suddenly isn’t always serious but it may be cause for concern. You should see a healthcare professional if you experience symptoms that don’t go away, including:

• Pain, swelling, or stiffness
• Joints that are tender, red, or “hot” to the touch
• Mobility problems because of affected joints

Contact your provider if your symptoms last three days or more, or if you experience them several times within the same month.

How Can I Treat Sudden Joint Pain?

Treatment for sudden onset joint pain will depend on the underlying cause, as well as other factors like your age and overall health. 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 (ibuprofin) or Aleve (naproxen).

At-home remedies can also help decrease joint pain. Try some of these strategies:

• Hot and cold therapy: Use a warm compress, heating pad, or warm bath to soothe achy joints. Ice packs may also help with sudden pain. When using cold therapy, use for only 10 to 20 minutes at a time.
• Light physical activity: Doing gentle exercise can sometimes help release endorphins to ease pain. Opt for light activities that are easy on the joints, including walking, swimming, and yoga.
• Rest: Using your joints can help prevent stiffness, but rest is also important when you’re managing pain. Take time for rest, especially if the pain is getting worse with activity.
• Eat a healthy diet: This helps your overall health, even though it may not affect your joint pain in the short-term. Eating whole foods like fish, vegetables, fruits, beans, and nuts can be helpful when managing health conditions, particularly arthritis.

If your pain is more persistent or severe, your healthcare provider may treat it with higher strength prescription NSAIDs or corticosteroids to reduce symptoms. A referral for physical or occupational therapy also may improve outcomes. Treatment for joint pain caused by specific health conditions will vary depending on the cause.

Summary

Certain conditions can cause you to feel like your joints hurt suddenly. Different types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis and septic arthritis, can cause acute symptoms. Chronic disease, such as fibromyalgia and lupus can also cause painful joints. In some cases, infections can cause joint pain when you’re sick and sometimes for weeks or months afterward.

You should see your healthcare provider if you have symptoms that last more than three days or if you experience symptoms several times a month. For mild to moderate pain, you can try taking OTC pain medications like Advil or Aleve. Self-care methods include hot and cold therapy, rest, and light physical activity. If pain is persistent or more severe, your healthcare provider can prescribe medications for pain or any underlying health conditions.