Published on: 4/28/2025
One-sided joint pain can result from conditions like inflammatory arthritis or other joint-related issues, and proper diagnosis often involves a careful history and exam. Treatment typically includes medications, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes to help manage the pain.
Joint pain on one side of your body might be due to inflammatory arthritis. In these conditions, your immune system mistakenly attacks your own joints, leading to pain and stiffness that may sometimes show up more on one side. Other related causes may be joint problems that start in areas like the knee and eventually affect other joints on the same side due to changes in how you move and compensate. Accurate history taking by your doctor is important, as it helps pinpoint which joints hurt and if the pain is coming from one specific condition or multiple issues. Your doctor might suggest blood tests, imaging studies, or physical examinations to better understand the problem. Once a diagnosis is made, treatment may include anti-inflammatory medications or disease-modifying drugs to control inflammation, along with physical therapy to improve strength and flexibility. Lifestyle changes, such as exercise, a balanced diet, and maintaining a healthy weight, can also play an important role in managing joint pain. Always consult with a healthcare provider to create a treatment plan that best suits your needs.
(References)
Poudel P, Lappin SL. Inflammatory Arthritis. [Updated 2023 Apr 17]. In: StatPearls [Internet].
Sonoda K, Tanaka Y, Tokuda Y. A young man with multiple joint pains and fever: A case with the importance of accurate history taking. J Gen Fam Med. 2017 Mar 24;18(2):79-81. doi: 10.1002/jgf2.21. PMID: 29263995; PMCID: PMC5689394.
Felson DT, Niu J, Quinn EK, Neogi T, Lewis CL, Lewis CE, Frey Law L, McCulloch C, Nevitt M, LaValley M. Multiple Nonspecific Sites of Joint Pain Outside the Knees Develop in Persons With Knee Pain. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2017 Feb;69(2):335-342. doi: 10.1002/art.39848. Erratum in: Arthritis Rheumatol. 2017 Apr;69(4):862. doi: 10.1002/art.40096. PMID: 27589036; PMCID: PMC5292971.
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