Arthritis Symptoms
It is very common for all of us to experience aches and pains as we get older. Our backs begin to hurt. Our knees creak. We find ourselves struggling to do things we once did with ease. It is easy to often contribute these to our increasing age, and we consider them a rite of passage. However, this is not always the case. The aches and pains we attribute to old age can sometimes be caused by arthritis. The trick is to learn the symptoms of arthritis so that we can be better informed of what to look for.
The first and most common symptom to arthritis is joint pain. This is usually characterized as being a very persistent pain that is especially worse in the early morning hours or after resting for a long period of time. The pain is aggravated and worsened by simple movements, such as: walking, getting up from a chair, climbing stairs or writing. The joint pain can be, and is most often, accompanied by swelling, stiffness and tenderness of the joint. These, of course, add to the pain one feels in the joint and can make movement highly uncomfortable.
Because of the swelling and stiffness in the joint, loss of flexibility is expected. One may find themselves not being able to do many of the physical activities they once participated in without a large amount of discomfort. Unfortunately, due to the progression of the disease deformity of the joint can occur. The deformities mostly happen in the hands, fingers and knees, but can occur in other joints as well. This is not usually an issue until the disease becomes more progressed. However, it has been known to develop early on in the disease, especially in the fingers and hands.
Another common symptom of arthritis is a general and unexplained feeling of malaise and fatigue. One will feel extremely tired and have an unexplained decrease in their amount of energy. They may experience poor sleeping patterns that can turn into insomnia or they may want to sleep all day. It varies with each person. An unexplained fever has also been reported as a symptom. This doesn’t happen in all cases, but has been known to occur. Most physicians believe that the fever is caused due to the swelling in the joints and the lack of rest.
If you believe you may have arthritis, the most important thing to do is contact your physician. Write down all of the symptoms you are experiencing. Be sure to include what times of day they seem to be at their worst and what you have been doing to treat your symptoms. Do not try to self medicate. There are many different types of arthritis. Before beginning treatment, one should be positive that they actually have the disease, and they should also understand the type of arthritis they are treating. This can only be determined by your physician. By having a better understanding of your illness, the doctor can prescribe the correct medications to get your disease under control.
