Arthritis Symptoms

Arthritis symptoms can vary depending on what type of arthritis you have. Arthritis can affect several part of the body. There are several different factors that cause arthritis. Even though many of the arthritis symptoms may be similar, there are also some differences.

Ankylosing spondylitis is arthritis of the joints in the spine. It is also known as Marie-Strumpell disease and rheumatoid spondylitis. This disorder affects multiple organs such as eyes, heart, lungs, skin, and gastrointestinal tract.

Symptoms of this arthritis include: low back and hip pain and stiffness; difficulty expanding the chest; pain in neck, knees, shoulders, and ankles; low-grade fever; fatigue; weight loss. Early arthritis symptoms are uncommon after the age of 30, although patient may not be diagnosed until after then.

It’s not a Sports Injury

One of the concerns frequently raised by those suffering from what could be arthritis symptoms is that the signs are far too similar to the symptoms commonly associated with a sports injury. How do you know the difference? The first step consists in determining what caused the arthritis symptoms to erupt. Ask yourself the following questions for instance:

• Did it happen all of a sudden?
• Have you recently engaged in strenuous activities?
• Do the arthritis symptoms, particularly the pain, intensify later in the day?
• Do you experience stiffness and general discomfort around the joints even while resting?

Answering all of the above questions will help you determine what caused these arthritis symptoms to occur in the first place. Some people take the first action by “doctoring” themselves, taking over the counter pain killers, rubbing on arthritis creams, applying ice packs, using heating pads, and the like. But self-treatment is strongly discouraged upon since there’s a higher chance that a patient may wait too long before consulting a doctor.

Where does it hurt?

Arthritis is a disease of the joints, hence, arthritis symptoms will most likely affect the joints. The joint is that area where two or more bones meet. Joints of the body commonly affected by arthritis symptoms include the fingers, wrists, elbows, knees, and hips. In some types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, the symptoms could also occur in the joints of the spinal column. Additionally, rare cases of arthritis may affect the skin (psoriatic arthritis) as well as other organs of the body.

Inflammation

Next to pain, the most common arthritis symptoms are inflammation. The inflammation is often accompanied by pain, redness, heat, and swelling. Although inflammation can make things very inconvenient for the person suffering from such arthritis symptoms, the process itself is actually the body’s basic response to injury.

Usually, inflammation occurs when the body’s immune system gets to work, bringing plasma proteins and phagocytes (or white blood cells that engulf and consume foreign material and debris) to the injured area. The reason is primarily to initiate tissue repair. However, with arthritic inflammation, the immune system is at fault since instead of defending it attacks the surrounding tissue, triggering the inflammatory response.

Only a few types of arthritis actually display this particular symptom, including:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Gout
• Tendonitis
• Bursitis
• Polymyalgia rheumatica

Joint Deformity and Loss of Range of Motion

In some types of arthritis, the friction caused by the movement of bones in the joints stimulates the cartilage and surrounding connective tissue to produce new bone outgrowth. These outgrowths are known as spurs and are one of the major arthritis symptoms of osteoarthritis.

Another tell tale sign of arthritis is bow legged, a condition wherein the legs curve outwards as a result of an arthritic knee. Most arthritis causes the loss of full range of motion, leaving patients mostly immobile and in severe cases even permanently disabled. In order to avoid this from happening, consult your doctor and determine what appropriate steps to take to halt disease progression.

Osteoarthritis Symptoms

The most common type of arthritis in older persons is osteoarthritis. It is brought on partly by long-term everyday use. Arthritis symptoms may vary depending on which part of the body is affected.

Unless an x-ray reveals deterioration in the cartilage, most people with osteoarthritis in their fingers don’t even know about it. Arthritis symptoms are standard with pain and swelling. With osteoarthritis though, even though the arthritis never goes away, the pain fades over time.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

An overactive immune system causes rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis symptoms usually start out as minor stiffness and pain. The pain may felt occasionally, but after sometime the arthritis systems get worse and more frequent. An early treatment for rheumatoid arthritis is very effective.

Juvenile Arthritis Symptoms

Juvenile arthritis symptoms are similar to the adult arthritis symptoms. There is pain, joint stiffness, and swelling. Arthritis symptoms can be felt occasionally. Young children especially do not complain about their arthritis symptoms.

Parents may not notice until they see their child limping, avoiding physical activity, or acting unusually clumsy.

Gout Arthritis Symptoms

Gout is a form of arthritis where the body has too much uric acid. The gout arthritis symptoms are intense pain in the joint. The joint may also become red, swollen, and warm to the touch.

At times, gout can occur in the knees, wrists and ankles. Arthritis symptoms may not come back for several years, but if the crystals formed by the uric acid are left untreated, it can destroy part of the bone.

Bursitis Arthritis Symptoms

Another type of arthritis is Bursitis. Bursitis usually affects the elbow, shoulder, and hip. But it can also affect the knee, heel, or base of big toe. Usually athletes, golfers, baseball players, or people who are out of shape and have poor posture get effected by Bursitis.

The arthritis symptoms are pain and stiffness in the joint. When joint is used, arthritis symptoms become worse. The joint may also be swollen and warm to the touch.

Contact your doctor if you have some arthritis symptoms. Treatments are always more effective if they are caught in the early stages. You can also get more information on arthritis symptoms from the Arthritis Foundation.