Arthritis is a common condition that affects more than 350 million people worldwide. In fact, it is so common that it is a leading cause of disability across the globe. For this reason, most people anticipate developing the condition at some point in their lives, especially as they age.
Though common, arthritis does not have to debilitate you. While you cannot prevent the condition entirely, you can prevent its worsening with early treatment and management. The keyword here is “early,” though. Early detection can ensure you receive the swift and appropriate treatment necessary to mitigate symptoms and ensure your utmost, long-term comfort, despite an arthritis diagnosis.
That said, while most people are aware of what arthritis is and what the condition entails — swelling, stiffness and tenderness of the joints that worsens with age — many are unaware of what the early warning signs of arthritis look like. What signs and symptoms are indicative of the condition long before it rears its ugly head in full force? Below you will learn about the 11 early signs of arthritis.
The early signs of arthritis are similar to the main symptoms of the condition itself, only they are milder. If you notice one or more of the following 11 signs, consult with your healthcare provider immediately.
Joint pain is one of the most indicative signs of arthritis, even in the early stages. If you develop unexplainable joint pain that gradually grows worse with time, there is a strong likelihood that you are developing arthritis. Though joint pain can develop as the result of an injury, strain or other condition, chronic joint pain is typically associated with arthritis.
The same is true of reoccurring joint pain. If you experience joint pain after engaging in a strenuous activity, being out in the cold weather or simply after a long day, you may have early signs of arthritis.
Joint stiffness is another tell-tale sign of arthritis. Joint stiffness is defined as a decreased range of motion, loss of range of motion or joint discomfort after an extended period of non-use. For instance, people who develop osteoarthritis tend to experience join stiffness for the first 30 or so minutes after waking up. For individuals with inflammatory forms of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, the stiffness can last for one hour or longer, depending on the extent of tissue damage.
As arthritis grows worse, the joints may begin to swell, at which point, they become tender to the touch. This inflammation often triggers a myriad of other, closely related symptoms. Those include warmth and redness around the swollen area, joint pain, and joint effusion.
Joint swelling can occur with any type of arthritis, but it is most closely associated with rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune disorder characterized by chronic inflammation. Individuals who live with osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, may also experience joint swelling and tenderness.
In many cases of osteoarthritis, arthritis occurs in areas of the body that previously sustained injuries or trauma. For instance, if you sustained a knee injury in high school, you are likely to develop osteoarthritis of the knee later on in life. This may be the case despite never having injured that same knee again.
It is not uncommon for persons who have rheumatoid arthritis to develop arthritis in the same joints but on opposite sides of the body. For instance, if you develop rheumatoid arthritis in your left knee, chances are you will develop it in the right knee soon after.
As arthritis gets worse, the cartilage between the joints may wear down to the point where you can actually hear your joints move. This movement may sound like a grinding or grating noise. In addition to hearing your joints move, you may be able to feel it as well. As with the sound, the sensation will be that of something grinding or grading along your joints. Grinding and grating are most common in larger joints, such as the hip or knee, though it can occur with any joint throughout the body.
Groin pain is often overlooked as a sign of arthritis, as most people associated arthritis with major joints, such as the hip. However, the hip is connected to the groin, and any pain you experience in the hips can easily radiate down into the groin. If you experience unexplained groin pain, consult with your doctor about the possibility of arthritis.
Another overlooked symptom of arthritis is fatigue. Though excessive fatigue can be a sign of many conditions or diseases, when combined with one or more of the above symptoms, it can be yet another early indicator of arthritis. You may want to worry about excessive fatigue when it persists even after getting several good nights’-worth of sleep and, again, when it cooccurs with joint pain, swelling, pain or stiffness.
Malaise refers to the general feeling of being unwell or ill. Malaise is a symptom of hardship, so it makes sense that people who develop arthritis — meaning, those who live with chronic joint pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of mobility — are likely to develop a negative outlook on life. If you notice that your zeal toward life has diminished, and if that said loss of zeal cooccurs with pain or stiffness in your joints, you may want to consider the possibility that you have arthritis.
While it is true that fever is a common symptom of just about every condition or disease, you should not discount arthritis as a possible cause — especially if the fever occurs sporadically and/or is accompanied by joint pian, stiffness, swelling, etc. Fever develops when the immune system attempts to fight infection and/or inflammation. Because of this, fever is a common symptom of rheumatoid arthritis, as rheumatoid arthritis affects multiple organs. As a result, persons who develop rheumatoid arthritis tend to live with persistent, low-grade fever. Despite this, healthcare professionals often overlook arthritis as a possible cause.
Skin nodules are a final early warning sign of arthritis. Skin nodules are firm, non-tender lumps that tend to develop near the affected joints. Though scientists are not sure why nodules develop, they have determined that they are a defining characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis. In fact, as many as 25% of persons who live with rheumatoid arthritis develop these lumps, typically on the knuckles, fingers, forearms, knees, elbows and backs of heels. Nodules can be as small as lentils or as large as walnuts.
Arthritis is a common, uncomfortable and often debilitating condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Though there is nothing you can really do to prevent arthritis, there are steps you can take to manage it and keep it from interfering with your life. However, steps should be taken sooner rather than later, in the early stages of the condition. So that you can get an early diagnosis, pay attention to your body for the early signs and symptoms of arthritis described above.