When You Should See a Doctor About Arthritis Symptoms

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• Call Your Doctor If:

Call Your Doctor If:

• The pain and stiffness come on quickly, whether from an injury or an unknown cause; you may be experiencing the onset of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or another arthritic condition such as gout.
• The pain is accompanied by fever; you may have infectious arthritis.
• You notice pain and stiffness in your arms, legs, or back after sitting for short periods or after a night's sleep; you may be developing rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or another arthritic condition.
• A child develops rash or pain in the knees, wrists, and ankles, or has fever swings, poor appetite, and weight loss; the child may have juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.