The Signs and Symptoms of Arthritis

Arthritis has become a fairly common medical condition in the United States, but there are still many people that misunderstand it. The most common signs and symptoms for arthritis will affect the patient’s joints. If you have been diagnosed with arthritis, then you may be interested in participating in an arthritis clinical trial (you can check out our national database of ongoing arthritis clinical studies here). Depending on the type of arthritis a person actually has, the symptoms that manifest can include:

• Pain
• Stiffness
• Swelling
• Redness
• Limited range of motion in the joints

Arthritis Symptoms Explained

The symptoms that arthritis patients will experience include pain and stiffness, which can lead to limited mobility in their joints. Arthritis also can cause significant inflammation in the joints (similar to rheumatoid arthritis) resulting in the typical swelling, redness, warmth, and joint stiffness. Inflamed joints can also become quite tender to the touch.

Since they are classified as rheumatic diseases, most forms of arthritis can also cause certain symptoms which will affect other organs in the body that are not directly connected with those inflamed joints. If this does occur, arthritis patients may experience some instances of fever, unexplained weight loss, glandular swelling, fatigue, and general feeling of malaise. In more severe cases, patients may notice certain signs that would suggest vital organs such as the heart, kidneys, or lungs have been affected by their condition.

Symptoms of Different Types of Arthritis

There are a number of different types of arthritis which can produce a number of varying symptoms. This list may help you distinguish them:

Rheumatoid Arthritis: If a patient is experiencing painful swelling, stiffness, and inflammation in the arms, fingers, legs, and wrists which manifest in the same joints on both sides of the body. These particular signs could mean that you have rheumatoid arthritis, especially if the symptoms are more pronounced in the morning.

Osteoarthritis Symptoms: If you have been struggling with progressive periods of joint pain or stiffness without the accompanying chills, swelling, or fever, this could be an indication of the gradual onset of osteoarthritis. These osteoarthritis symptoms may occur during your normal activities of the day.

Infectious Arthritis: If you are experiencing what is known as infectious arthritis, you could be living with the occasional joint inflammation, fever, tenderness, and acute pain. These arthritic symptoms could also be accompanied by chills as well. Cases of infectious arthritis could be associated with certain illnesses or injuries.

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis: In children, symptoms like a loss of appetite, intermittent fever, anemia, or a blotchy looking rash that appears on the arms and legs could signal the onset of some forms of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Normally, cases of juvenile arthritis have been associated with stiff joints, inflammation, or a limp.

If you believe that you have been experiencing any of the signs and symptoms of arthritis, then you should schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible. Arthritis can be treated with a range of medications and lifestyle alterations, so please do not ignore the potential warning signs.