Osteoarthritis Signs and Symptoms

Popping joints may not be a major concern if there is no pain, swelling, or limited range of motion.

Everyone needs to keep their medical record current. Osteoarthritis patients need to track symptoms and the effect of their treatment plan.

When a joint starts hurting, injury often comes to mind. But when injury is ruled out, the question becomes "could it be osteoarthritis?"

Do you remember the first symptoms that you later found out were symptoms of osteoarthritis? Describe what you were doing when you experienced the first symptoms of osteoarthritis.

Have you ever had a joint lock up? What causes a joint to lock?

Recognizing what increases your pain level helps you to be more aware and avoid whatever it is. Keep track of your pain level and what causes fluctuations.

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. You likely know someone who has osteoarthritis. But if you haven't had it yourself, you have probably wondered -- what does osteoarthritis feel like?

A bone spur is a benign, bony outgrowth that can develop along the edges of a bone. A bone spur can form on any bone but typically they are found in joints. Learn more about the cause, symptoms, and treatment associated with a bone spur.

It comes up a lot in study results. Researchers speak of joint function and how it is affected by diseases such as arthritis, or treatment for arthritis. What is joint function?

Osteoarthritis symptoms can range from mild to severe. With severe osteoarthritis, the cartilage that normally covers the joint erodes, leaving bone to rub on bone. As bone wears, joint deformity can develop. Severe osteoarthritis can have disabling consequences.

Chondrocalcinosis is a disease in which calcium crystals -- known as CPPD (calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate) -- accumulate in the joints. Chondrocalcinosis affects approximately 25% of the population. It can be found with and even worsen osteoarthritis. Chondrocalcinosis has been called pseudogout or pseudo-osteoarthritis.

There are certain warning signs of osteoarthritis that should not be ignored, especially if the signs and symptoms persist. Learn more about the warning signs of osteoarthritis.

You've seen it on television and in magazine ads -- over-the-counter treatments for minor arthritis pain. Is there such a thing as "minor arthritis pain"?

Arthritis pain is chronic -- but does that mean it is constant pain? Constant pain is unrelenting and never goes away. Arthritis treatments are aimed at relieving pain associated with the disease, but with severe joint damage, constant pain may be unavoidable.

Osteoarthritis onset of symptoms is typically described as being gradual. Symptoms usually develop over time rather than suddenly. But is osteoarthritis onset always gradual?

Hemarthrosis is bleeding in a joint. Several conditions can cause hemarthrosis -- a common cause of monoarticular joint pain and swelling.

Osteoarthritis symptoms usually develop gradually. Pain is the primary osteoarthritis symptom. Recognizing early osteoarthritis symptoms leads to early treatment.

Early osteoarthritis symptoms typically involve a single joint. When only one joint is affected, it is referred to as monoarthritis. It's most important at the onset of symptoms to distinguish if the cause is osteoarthritis or other types monoarthritis.

Joint pain is the primary symptom associated with osteoarthritis. Any joint can be affected by the disease. Learn more about how osteoarthritis leads to joint pain and affects the joints in other ways.

Fatigue is typically associated with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and other inflammatory rheumatic conditions. Fatigue is not typically related to osteoarthritis -- or is it? Fatigue in osteoarthritis is not routinely evaluated in the doctor's office and it has been the focus of only a few studies.

Generalized osteoarthritis is yet another subset of osteoarthritis. Most people know the meaning of primary osteoarthritis or secondary osteoarthritis, but generalized osteoarthritis is a lesser known term.

Osteoarthritis is caused by the breakdown of cartilage in one or more joints. X-rays that reveal cartilage damage may show evidence of a subchondral cyst. What is a subchondral cyst?

Your doctor has likely asked you to rate your pain on a scale of 0 to 10. It's obviously subjective, but even so, your doctor can get a sense of an increase or decrease in pain levels over time. But how is physical function assessed? How is it determined that you have worsening physical function?

Erosive osteoarthritis is sometimes called inflammatory osteoarthritis. Erosive osteoarthritis is a subset of general osteoarthritis and can be initially confused with other inflammatory types of arthritis.

Osteoarthritis pain is the most common and significant symptom associated with the disease. Osteoarthritis is characterized by wear-and-tear of cartilage. Since cartilage has no nerves or blood supply, what's causing the osteoarthritis pain?

Joint space narrowing can be seen on x-rays -- a common diagnostic procedure for evaluating arthritis. Joint space narrowing correlates with worsening osteoarthritis.

Inflammation is commonly associated with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and other types of inflammatory arthritis. Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, is usually explained as "wear-and-tear" arthritis, but is it also tied to inflammation?

Knee osteoarthritis is the most common type of osteoarthritis. Knee osteoarthritis is also the most common cause of disability in the United States. Early diagnosis and treatment help manage knee osteoarthritis symptoms.

Your knees ache. It's happening more often. Could it be osteoarthritis? Do you know the basic facts about knee osteoarthritis? Take the quiz: Test Your Knowledge - Knee Osteoarthritis

Generally speaking, range of motion refers to the distance and direction a joint can move to its full potential. Each specific joint has a normal range of motion, expressed in degrees after measured using a goniometer.

Your hip hurts, and it's happening more often. Could it be osteoarthritis? Do you know the basic facts about hip osteoarthritis? Take our quiz: Hip Osteoarthritis - Test Your Knowledge.

Osteoarthritis is also known as "wear-and-tear" arthritis. It is typically seen as a primary disease in older people but can occur as a secondary condition in younger people.

Two of the most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). There are specific symptoms and distinguishing characteristics which determine the diagnosis and course of treatment. Do you know the difference?

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. There are 10 important facts you should know about osteoarthritis.

If you are experiencing osteoarthritis symptoms, see a doctor. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis will lead to an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

It usually is not difficult to tell if a patient has osteoarthritis. It is more difficult to tell if the disease is causing the patient's symptoms.

It is hard to tell others what osteoarthritis pain feels like. People experience pain differently. Describe what osteoarthritis pain feels like for you.

Pain is further defined as acute pain or chronic pain. While osteoarthritis may be mild, moderate, or severe, it is classified as chronic pain because it persists.