As we grow older, we all start to feel the aches and pains of aging. It’s an unfortunate part of life, but after years of playing and working ourselves to the bone – sometimes literally – our bodies can only take so much. Early arthritis symptoms can be confusing, and often are too vague to truly grasp. But it’s important that we recognize their arrival, as many patients come to find, that the earliest detected symptoms are usually just the beginning to diagnosing you properly.
Early symptoms that you might have arthritis can include:
· Joint pain and/or stiffness
· Tenderness in and around the joint
· Limited range of motion in one or multiple joints
· Warmth and redness around the joint
With more than 100 different types of arthritis, it’s not only important to indicate the conditions you’re experiencing but also to notify your doctor when you experience them, as it will help lead to a proper diagnosis. For a patient to obtain an accurate diagnosis, you’ll need to have your doctor evaluate the following:
· Current physical exam
· Your medical history
· Run diagnostic tests
· Assess the progression of your conditions
All of this information will help paint a clinical picture that will need to be regularly re-assessed by your physician. But before you can even know what it is you’re experiencing, you need to have a basic understanding of the main types of arthritis. Knowing the following will help you properly assist your doctor in diagnosing you, as you’ll be able to recognize which symptoms are worth reporting and which aren’t necessary to share.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis tends to affect the joints specifically, which is unlike other types of arthritis that are paired with systemic effects. Those suffering from osteoarthritis often complain of pain in the affected joint after repeated motion. Joint pain tends to worsen as the day goes on, and the joints affected can feel warm, become stiff without regular movement, and can swell in size. Unfortunately, osteoarthritis can occur with other forms of arthritis, and bone spurs are also prevalent in patients suffering from osteoarthritis.
Psoriatic Arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis is an arthritis associated with the skin condition psoriasis – where you’ll notice red, patchy skin that may even be raised or appear scaly. The symptoms of psoriasis and joint inflammation, while they can be paired, are often separately developed. Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis can affect any joint in your body, and vary depending on how they occur in the patient. When psoriasis causes your fingernails to become thicker and pitted, or even discolored, the joints near your fingertips are likely to develop arthritic symptoms.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
An inflammatory type of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis primarily affects the joints, but can also be coupled with systemic effects that impact your organs. Morning stiffness that lasts more than an hour is a common sign of rheumatoid arthritis, along with extreme fatigue and symmetrical joint involvement – such as inflamed knees, but not a singular knee.
As we age, we need to be aware of the signals our bodies give us. Sometimes this results in us losing the ability to do some of our favorite activities, while in other cases, the arthritis can become unbearable while performing mundane daily tasks. Before you get too wrapped up in your life to realize your body might be telling you to slow down, make sure you catch your symptoms before they get out of hand. Catching arthritis in its early stages is relatively easy. All you need to do is be aware, and you will be able to come up with a plan with your doctor to help manage your pains and aches.
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