General Signs of Osteoarthritis (OA)
- Joint soreness after periods of overuse or inactivity.
- Stiffness after periods of rest that goes away quickly when activity resumes.
- Morning stiffness, which usually lasts no more than 30 minutes.
- Pain caused by the weakening of muscles surrounding the joint due to inactivity.
- Joint pain is usually less in the morning and worse in the evening after a day’s activity.
- Deterioration of coordination, posture and walking due to pain and stiffness.
- The affected joints "creaking" or "cracking" when moved.
- Reduced range of motion in the affected joints.
Signs of OA in the Hips.
- Pain in groin, inner thigh and buttock
- Referred pain in knee and side of thigh
- Limping when walking
Signs of OA in the Knees
- Pain when moving the knee
- Grating or catching when moving the knee
- Pain when walking up and down stairs or getting up from a chair
- Pain that prevents you from exercising your leg
- Weakened large thigh muscles
Signs of OA in the Fingers.
- Pain and swelling of the finger joints
- Bony growth spurs at the joint at the end of the finger, called Heberden’s nodes, or at the middle joint, called Bouchard’s nodes.
- Redness, tenderness and swelling in the affected joints, especially early on when the nodes are forming.
- Enlarged joints
- Difficulty with pinching movements, such as picking an item up from a table or grasping a pencil or pen.
Signs of OA in the Feet.
- Pain and tenderness in the large joint at the base of the big toe
- Pain when wearing tight shoes or high heels
Signs of OA in the Spine
- A breakdown of the spinal discs resulting in bony overgrowth
- Stiffness and pain in the neck and lower back
- Pressure on the nerves in the spinal cord (pinched nerves)
- Pain in the neck, shoulder, arm, lower back and legs
- Weakness or numbness in arms and legs due to pinched nerves
