Osteoarthritis Symptoms

Your Joint Pain May Be Symptoms Of Osteoarthritis

It is common for an individual to think they have overworked their body if they are experiencing stiffness. They may also brush their stiffness and pain off to getting older. While it is true that we do slow down with age and we tend to feel various aches and pains as we grow older, continual joint pain is not normal and could be a sign of osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis only affects the joints and also called degenerative bone disease.  It is the most common from of arthritis affecting almost 21 million people in the United States alone.  Osteoarthritis can affect any joint but it is most common in the knees, spine, hips and shoulder.

The main osteoarthritis symptoms include chronic pain, stiffness and loss of mobility in the joints.  Other osteoarthritis symptoms include increase pain with excessive use, and stiffness that is usually worse in the morning.  Sometimes moving the stiff joint may help with the morning stiffness associated with osteoarthritis.  Inflammation and swelling are also considered osteoarthritis symptoms.

If you have been experiencing pain in one or more joints and it does not go away with over the counter medication, or the application of heat or cold packs, you may have osteoarthritis. You should never ignore osteoarthritis symptoms.  If you think you may have osteoarthritis, you should see your doctor. You may even be referred to a rheumatologist. A rheumatologist is a specialist in bone, joint and muscle disorders. Rheumatologists treat arthritis, as well as autoimmune disorders. 

While there is still no known cure for arthritis, there are medications which will help with the pain relief.  These medications can also help to slow down the progression of osteoarthritis.