Osteoarthritis symptoms

Symptoms of osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis (OA) affects OA occurs when cartilage begins to break down from age or heavy use. Cartilage normally covers the ends of bones and allows them to move freely against each other. The degeneration of cartilage exposes the bones of the joint and allows bone on bone contact. This can cause: • pain • stiffness • reduced range of motion • changes in joint appearance Osteoarthritis can affect any joint in your body, but the most commonly affected areas are: • hands • hips • knees • neck • lower back Not all joint pain and stiffness is caused by OA. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can cause similar pain, but there are a number of physical symptoms that differentiate RA, an inflammatory disease, from OA. One readily visible difference is that RA, unlike OA, is typically symmetrical. If it affects a joint on one side of the body, it will generally affect the same joint on the other. The symptoms of OA vary from person to person. Some people may only have mild pain and swelling. Others may experience joint damage that significantly affects their quality of life. OA of the knees, in particular, is a major cause of disability in the United States. Stiffness For most people with OA, stiffness is worse in the mornings. It is usually also worse after periods of inactivity or rest. At these times, joints may feel: • achy • rigid • hard to move Pain Soreness and aching pain are common symptoms of OA. Muscle pain can also occur in the surrounding tissue. Us...

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis • • Stiffness when you wake up or after you’ve been sitting for a while • Tenderness -- the area is sore when you touch it • Lack of movement -- the joint won’t complete its full range of motion • Grating -- you might feel things rubbing together inside the joint • Bone spurs -- lumps of Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis • Joint pain, swelling and tenderness for 6 weeks or longer • Morning stiffness for at least 30 minutes • More than one joint affected, especially small joints in your hands, wrists, and • The same joints on both sides of the body are affected Symptoms of Infectious Arthritis Symptoms of • • Chills • Joint • Tenderness • Sharp Call Your Doctor About Arthritis If: • The pain and stiffness come on quickly for no apparent reason. • The pain comes with a fever. • The pain develops quickly and is related to redness and extreme tenderness of the joint. • You notice pain and stiffness in your arms, legs, or back after sitting for short periods or after a night's • You have swollen or painful joints for more than 2 weeks. • You have limited motion in joints for more than 2 weeks. SOURCES: American College of Rheumatology. DePuy Orthopaedics. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Arthritis Foundation. Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, Santa Clara University. Arthritis-forum.net. National Institutes of Health. The Center for Current Research. National Internet Health. Alternative Medicine Foundation. Mayo ...

Knee-popping sounds typically are not a problem. But in some cases, if you feel pain along with crackling, it may indicate osteoarthritis or another type of arthritis. You may hear occasional pops, snaps, and crackles when you bend or straighten your knees, or when you walk or go up or down stairs. Doctors call this crackling sound crepitus (KREP-ih-dus). One explanation for why this happens is Crepitus in the knees is different from crepitus or crackling in the lungs, which can be a sign of a respiratory problem. The Bones: The knee joins the thighbone ( Cartilage: Two thick pads of cartilage called the Synovium: A specialized connective tissue that lines joints and tendon sheaths. Synovial fluid serves to lubricate the joints. Ligaments: Four ligaments — tough, flexible bands that stretch across the uneven surface of the joints — connect the bones. Crepitus happens for various reasons, apart from osteoarthritis. Here are some of them: Gas bubbles Over time, gas can build up in the areas surrounding the joint, forming tiny bubbles in the This is normal and happens to everyone from time to time. It doesn’t cause pain. Ligaments The Patellofemoral instability Everyone’s body is slightly different. The various tissues and components that make up the knee vary between individuals, either from birth or due to age, injury, or life events. Your knees may flex more than another person’s, for example, or your kneecaps may move more freely. These differences may make one person’s k...