Arthritis is a term used to describe inflammation within the joints, which typically causes pain, swelling, and stiffness. Many people who experience this pain notice that it does not stay in one place, leading to the question of whether arthritis can move around the body. Joint pain that shifts location is a common characteristic of certain types of inflammatory conditions, which are distinct from the more localized wear-and-tear of osteoarthritis.
Understanding Joint Pain Patterns
The way joint pain moves or changes location is classified into specific patterns that serve as diagnostic clues. One of the most telling patterns is called migratory arthritis, where the pain and inflammation move from one joint to another. In a migratory pattern, the previously affected joint experiences a complete resolution of symptoms before the new joint begins to hurt, giving the impression that the inflammation has traveled.
A different pattern is known as additive arthritis, which occurs when pain starts in one joint, and then progressively affects additional joints over time. Crucially, in the additive pattern, the original joint continues to be painful, meaning the total number of sore joints adds up. A third distinct pattern is intermittent arthritis, where joint pain flares up and then completely subsides, but the subsequent flare-ups tend to occur in the same joint or group of joints.
Inflammatory Arthritis Types with Shifting Symptoms
Gout, a common inflammatory arthritis caused by excess uric acid crystals, is known for its highly intermittent and often migratory nature. An acute gout attack frequently begins in a single joint, such as the big toe, with intense, sudden pain, but subsequent attacks may appear in a different, previously unaffected joint, like the ankle or knee.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune condition that typically causes symmetrical, persistent joint inflammation, but its presentation can vary significantly. In the early stages of RA, the pain may be additive, starting in one or a few joints and gradually involving more over months or years. A rare variant of RA called palindromic rheumatism is characterized by brief, acute attacks of arthritis that are intermittent and resolve completely within a few hours or days, sometimes affecting different joints during each episode.
Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA), which is related to the skin condition psoriasis, is known for its variability and can affect joints asymmetrically. This asymmetry can manifest as a shifting or migratory presentation where pain and swelling appear in different joints at different times.
Conditions That Mimic Migratory Joint Pain
Acute Rheumatic Fever (ARF), a complication of untreated strep throat, is classically known to cause a striking form of migratory polyarthritis. The severe joint pain associated with ARF often moves rapidly from joint to joint, with inflammation in one joint subsiding completely within hours as another joint becomes inflamed.
Other infectious diseases can also trigger a shifting pattern of joint discomfort. Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, often presents with intermittent arthritis that can affect large joints like the knee, with the pain flaring up, remitting, and then reappearing in the same or a different joint. Similarly, certain viral infections, such as those caused by Parvovirus B19 or Hepatitis B and C, can induce a temporary form of migratory joint inflammation known as viral arthritis. Conditions like Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) are also major causes of migratory joint pain, where the systemic autoimmune attack can affect joints throughout the body in a shifting manner.
The Importance of Diagnosis and Tracking Symptoms
A professional diagnosis is necessary to identify the specific underlying cause of shifting joint pain. The pattern of joint involvement is a critical piece of information for a healthcare provider. Patients should track when the pain starts and stops in specific joints and whether the initial joint fully recovers before the pain appears elsewhere.
Tracking whether the pain is truly migratory or additive helps distinguish between diseases like Rheumatic Fever and certain types of RA. Noting any associated systemic symptoms, such as fever, rash, or general fatigue, is important, as these can point toward an infectious or autoimmune trigger. A detailed symptom history, combined with laboratory tests and imaging, allows physicians to accurately determine the source of the shifting pain and start targeted treatment.