While joint pain can be uncomfortable and incredibly painful at times, it rarely constitutes an emergency. Mild joint pain can typically be treated and managed at home, although you may want to consult with your doctor for chronic pain, long-term painkiller use can have other negative effects on your overall health. You should also check with your doctor when you have joint pain that is accompanied by additional symptoms such as redness, swelling, and feelings of warmth and tenderness of the joint when you touch it. In this case, make an appointment with your doctor to get it checked out at your earliest convenience. Joint pain can sometimes be serious and require immediate medical attention. If you have experienced an injury in the joint and are now experiencing a joint deformity, intense pain, an inability to use the joint, or sudden swelling in the joint, seek out immediate medical care through an urgent care center if your doctor isn’t available.