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Health A-Z

Medical Content Created by the Faculty of the
Harvard Medical School

When to Call A Doctor

If you injure a joint, call your doctor immediately if the joint:

  • Becomes very painful or swollen

  • Has lost its normal contours, looks deformed or has misaligned bones

  • Feels unstable or loose

  • Is unable to carry its normal load — for example, if your leg cannot bear weight

  • Has a change in its normal range of motion — for example, you can't stretch out your knee or you can't bend your wrist

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From Health A-Z, Harvard Health Publications. Copyright 2007 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Written permission is required to reproduce, in any manner, in whole or in part, the material contained herein. To make a reprint request, contact Harvard Health Publications. Used with permission of StayWell.

You can find more great health information on the Harvard Health Publications website.