Osteoarthritis Symptoms

Symptoms of osteoarthritis vary, depending on which joints are affected and how severely they are affected. However, the most common symptoms are pain and stiffness, particularly first thing in the morning or after resting. Affected joints may get swollen, especially after extended activity. Osteoarthritis symptoms often develop slowly and worsen over time. Signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis include:

• Sore or stiff joints, particularly the hips, knees, and lower back after inactivity or overuse.
• Limited range of motion or stiffness that goes away after movement
• Clicking or cracking sound when a joint bends
• Mild swelling around a joint
• Pain that is worse after activity or toward the end of the day
• Sleep problems
• Problem in sitting, standing and walking
• Difficulty in climbing stairs or going uphill
• Affected joints are larger than usual
• Joints feel warm and tender

Symptoms of osteoarthritis vary greatly from patient to patient. Some patients can be debilitated by their symptoms. On the other hand, others may have remarkably few symptoms in spite of dramatic degeneration of the joints seen on X-rays. Symptoms also can be intermittent. It is not unusual for patients with osteoarthritis of the hands and knees to have years of pain-free intervals between symptoms.