Pain that persists after a joint injury can mean more than a simple bruise or mild sprain. Possible causes include a ligament, tendon, cartilage, or meniscus injury, a small fracture, ongoing inflammation, or occasionally an underlying arthritis condition. Persistent pain deserves an in-person assessment, especially if it is not steadily improving.

Seek urgent care today if the joint is deformed, you cannot bear weight or use it, pain is severe after a fall/injury, or you have numbness or tingling. A hot, red, swollen joint with fever or feeling unwell needs urgent assessment because infection must be excluded. The NHS joint-pain guidance lists these warning signs.

Book a clinician or physiotherapy evaluation soon if pain has lasted more than about 1 to 2 weeks, keeps returning, is worsening, causes swelling or locking/giving way, limits usual activity or sleep, or you have prolonged morning stiffness. MedlinePlus guidance also advises medical review for joint pain lasting more than several days, especially with swelling.

Until you are assessed:

Tell me which joint is affected, how long the pain has lasted, how you injured it, and whether there is swelling, warmth, instability, clicking/locking, or trouble bearing weight.

Pain that worsens when you turn your foot outward (eversion) can happen with a ligament or tendon injury around the ankle. An outward-turning injury can strain the deltoid ligament on the inner ankle, and more serious sprains or fractures can cause similar pain. The AAOS ankle-sprain overview explains that eversion injuries can affect the medial ankle ligaments.

Because your pain is persistent and movement makes it worse:

Get urgent care today if you cannot walk or use the hand, cannot move the ankle normally, heard a pop at injury, have major swelling/bruising, numbness/tingling, a cold or pale foot/hand, deformity, or worsening pain. MedlinePlus ankle guidance recommends urgent evaluation for inability to bear weight, marked swelling, deformity, or severely limited movement.

If you mean that both your hands and feet hurt with movement, rather than one injured area, that needs a medical review because causes other than a single sprain may be involved.

I understand: you have pain in your foot, index finger, and wrist joints, and pushing or moving them makes it worse.

Pain in several separate joints is less likely to be one simple foot or wrist sprain. It can be caused by overuse or repeated strain, but also joint inflammation such as arthritis, gout, a recent viral illness, or less commonly an infection. Wrists, fingers, ankles, and feet are common sites for inflammatory arthritis symptoms, so you should arrange a medical examination soon, especially if this has lasted more than a few days or keeps recurring. The NHS arthritis guidance advises assessment for unexplained joint pain, swelling, or stiffness that does not settle.

Seek urgent medical care today if any joint is hot, red, noticeably swollen, suddenly very painful, or you have fever, chills, feel unwell, a rash, eye redness/pain, or pain/burning when urinating. These features need prompt evaluation to rule out infection or other inflammatory causes.

Until you are assessed:

Useful details for a clinician are: how long this has been happening, whether the same joints on both sides are affected, swelling/warmth, morning stiffness lasting over 30 minutes, recent illness, rash, new medications, and any recent injury.