Welcome to Momentum Health's patient resource about Viral Arthritis.
We know that some viruses cause joint pain and inflammation (swelling, redness, and heat). Researchers have wondered for a long time whether some kinds of arthritis with unexplained causes may be the result of a virus. So far no one knows, partly because the virus itself may be long gone before a patient ever develops the pain and inflammation of arthritis.
This guide will help you understand:
how viral arthritis develops
how doctors diagnose viral arthritis
what can be done for the condition
Hear from some of our patients who we treated for Arthritis
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Brought my 92 year old mother in for therapy with sore leg caused by arthritis in the spine and after four treatments the therapist Meghan Murphy referred us to the fall clinic as her balance was very... ”
“ Brought my 92 year old mother in for therapy with sore leg caused by arthritis in the spine and after four treatments the therapist Meghan Murphy referred us to the fall clinic as her balance was very poor and as the wait time was long Megan got the home care physio to see her at the home care facility to give her therapy. . She was excellent in providing care and exercises to do in the home and felt she needed the extra help to prevent more falls as she had already had three in the past few months. I appreciate the care and followup I have received from this therapist in dealing with my mother . Truely appreciated . ”
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I recently attended a GLA:D program for education and exercise for osteoarthritis at Momentum Health in Seton in Calgary, Alberta. I was under the care of Dr. Teac Engen 2 times a week for 7 weeks of... ”
“ I recently attended a GLA:D program for education and exercise for osteoarthritis at Momentum Health in Seton in Calgary, Alberta. I was under the care of Dr. Teac Engen 2 times a week for 7 weeks of education exercises for the hips and knees. During that time, I learned valuable resistance training to help build up the areas around the hip and knee joints. The sessions were professionally carried out and I was treated with kindness and understanding. Dr. Engen created an environment for me to excel. He communicated through word and action. He lead by example and allowed me to discuss my feelings openly. He seeks input and involvement from others. He recognizes the contributions of others. I am comfortable going back to the program in the future if I need additional help. Sincerely Linda Rogers ”
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Russ, Mark and Safia were extremely knowledgeable and helpful in helping me with the GLAD program. Anybody with arthritis in the knees, or the hips should go to Monument health at Deerfoot City and... ”
“ Russ, Mark and Safia were extremely knowledgeable and helpful in helping me with the GLAD program. Anybody with arthritis in the knees, or the hips should go to Monument health at Deerfoot City and check out the GLAD program. ”
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From the beginning the staff have been excellent. This is an excellent program for anyone with Osteoarthritis in your knees or hips, as you can avoid surgery by doing the exercises and movements... ”
“ From the beginning the staff have been excellent. This is an excellent program for anyone with Osteoarthritis in your knees or hips, as you can avoid surgery by doing the exercises and movements taught in this program. Thank you Carley for explaining the GLA:D program to us at the beginning. Josh( Kinesiologist),did an excellent job of teaching us proper exercise and movements to alleviate pain in these joints. If we were not doing it right he would correct us. I really noticed less pain in my right knee and left hip. I would recommend this program to anyone having hip and knee pain. Thank you, Madeline ”
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This is a brand new facility located in NE Calgary.l have been going there for four months and found it to be an extremely nice experience.from the receptionist to the physiotherapist who worked with... ”
“ This is a brand new facility located in NE Calgary.l have been going there for four months and found it to be an extremely nice experience.from the receptionist to the physiotherapist who worked with me. Rebecca designed a program for me which was age appropriate for someone with severe arthritis. She is extremely professional and well organized. Your program is made for you and you are encouraged to exercise at home. All the Covid protocol has always been followed. This is a pristine facility with lots to offer. ”
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It works! Getting professional and personable service for recurring pain and my arthritis from Rebecca the physio is really helpful. Megan is able to get to real hurt zone with her trigger point... ”
“ It works! Getting professional and personable service for recurring pain and my arthritis from Rebecca the physio is really helpful. Megan is able to get to real hurt zone with her trigger point therapy. The office looks after billing my insurance which is break from all the hassle. ”
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Hi the glad program help me a lot as before i did the Hip and Knee glad program my knee's would give in on me and caused a lot of pain from the arthritis , i am now able to do more in my job with... ”
“ Hi the glad program help me a lot as before i did the Hip and Knee glad program my knee's would give in on me and caused a lot of pain from the arthritis , i am now able to do more in my job with stairs and walking the dog not much but more then i was able to do before , also has a loud me to get down on my knee's a bit more not for long . Thank you ”
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5+ star experience. I've had arthritis and tried numerous unsuccessful ways to ease my joint pain until I met Dr Joel Newman. His needling works great on my joints. Strongly recommend this young... ”
“ 5+ star experience. I've had arthritis and tried numerous unsuccessful ways to ease my joint pain until I met Dr Joel Newman. His needling works great on my joints. Strongly recommend this young professional physician!! ”
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I have to say that Peter has been amazing through my journey of a newer program called GLAD. It is basically a way to regain strength, mobility and freedom from some pain associated with arthritis in... ”
“ I have to say that Peter has been amazing through my journey of a newer program called GLAD. It is basically a way to regain strength, mobility and freedom from some pain associated with arthritis in the knees and or hips. He has a wonderful way of encouraging you, his patients is amazing, fantastic knowledge and even when the group of us stumped him he always came back the next session with an answer, he always managed to keep us smiling and made the struggle from pain a little bit more fun... ask to see his socks...lol love the socks. He gave us tips and suggestions for continuing on ,leaving us with an incredible amount of tools for continued success... all we have to do is do it. I just want to say that my experience with the wonderful staff at Momentum Health has been a pleasure, Thank you so much Peter and Thank you everyone else for all the smiles and encouragement, it was all appreciated. One more quick note... Thank you to the Ladies of my group you helped make it fun toooooo. ”
Most viral infections in the body cause a limited illness. Then the body's immune system destroys the virus, and the symptoms of the illness go away.
In viral arthritis, the immune system's response to the virus causes inflammation in the joints. Even after the virus is eliminated from the body, the changes in the joint can continue to cause pain and swelling. The joint may even become permanently damaged.
Causes and Symptoms
Which viruses cause viral arthritis?
Several viruses are known to cause problems with joint inflammation and pain. Some of the most common are listed below.
Parvovirus B-19
Parvovirus B-19 is a common virus. About 60 percent of adults have been infected with it at some point in their lives. Parvovirus B-19 causes the illness called fifth disease, which causes a rash on the face and body. People usually get fifth disease as children. About 15 percent of children with fifth disease have some kind of joint pain, which usually goes away quickly. Almost 80 percent of adults who get fifth disease report sore joints within three weeks of the infection. Any joint can be involved, but usually it affects the foot, hand, knee, wrist, and ankle joints on both sides of the body. Most of the time the joint pain clears up in about two weeks, but it has been known to come and go for as long as ten years.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B infection, which causes severe inflammation of the liver, can cause a severe and sudden form of arthritis that affects many joints on both sides of the body. The hands and knees are the most common sites, but the wrists, ankles, elbows, shoulders, and other large joints are also affected. The arthritis often starts before the jaundice (yellowness of the skin) of hepatitis, and it may last for several weeks after the jaundice is gone. For patients with chronic (meaning long-lasting) hepatitis, joint pain may come and go.
Rubella
Rubella, a mild but highly infectious viral disease, causes joint pain in many adults, especially women. Joint symptoms tend to appear within a week of the rash common with this disease. The joints are usually not inflamed, but they are stiff and painful. The hands, knees, wrists, ankles, and elbows are most commonly affected. The joint pain of rubella usually goes away within two weeks, but in some cases it can last for several years.
The rubella vaccine also causes joint pain in about 15 percent of people. Joint stiffness occurs about two weeks after the shot and lasts for about a week. The vaccine has been known to cause more severe joint stiffness in some people, however, which can last for more than a year.
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes AIDS. It is connected to several different forms of arthritis. When people are newly infected with HIV, they often have flu-like symptoms and joint pain. About 10 percent of HIV patients have severe joint pain that comes and goes, mostly in the shoulders, elbows, and knees. Patients with HIV are much more likely to develop reactive arthritis, Reiter's syndrome, and psoriatic arthritis. In these cases, doctors aren't sure whether HIV actually causes these forms of arthritis, or whether the arthritis occurs separately. Up to 30 percent of HIV patients also suffer from fibromyalgia.
In some cases, viruses that cause arthritis type symptoms can be carried by insects. Alphaviruses, one such family of viruses, are carried by mosquitoes in Africa, Australia, Europe, and Latin America. All can cause arthritis symptoms.
Diagnosis
How do doctors identify viral arthritis?
There is no specific test for any type of viral arthritis. Your doctor will make the diagnosis based on other symptoms. Usually blood work and X-rays don't help. In many cases the diagnosis of viral arthritis is made after a search for other causes turns up negative and your symptoms or history suggest a virus as the cause.
Treatment
What can be done for the condition?
In most cases, viral arthritis runs its course fairly quickly. Your doctor may recommend a medication to help with the discomfort. Most of the time this will be an over-the-counter pain reducer like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Your doctor may also recommend use of hot or cold packs on the inflamed joints and rest.
