How To Recognize the Signs and Symptoms of Arthritis

Here's How:

1. You might suspect you have arthritis if you have signs and symptoms which include the following:

2. Persistent joint pain.
   • Where Does It Hurt?

3. Pain or tenderness in a joint which is aggravated by movement or activity, such as walking, getting up from a chair, writing, typing, holding an object, throwing a ball, turning a key.

4. Inflammation indicated by joint swelling, stiffness, redness, and/or warmth.
   • Inflammation: The Battle Within

5. Joint deformity.
   • Arthritis Hand Gallery

6. Loss of range of motion or flexibility in a joint.
   • What Is Range Of Motion?

7. Unexplained weight loss.

8. Extreme fatigue, lack of energy, weakness, or a feeling of malaise.
   • I'm Tired Of Being Tired

9. Non-specific fever.

10. Crepitus.
    • What Is Crepitus?

11. There are over a 100 types of arthritis and you could have one or more of them. Your doctor can make a definitive diagnosis of arthritis by assessing your medical history, performing a physical examination, ordering specific laboratory tests, and x-rays.
    • What Is An Arthritide?

12. Take Our Quizzes:
    • Arthritis Screening Quiz
    
    
    • Osteoarthritis Screening Quiz
    
    
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis Screening Quiz
    
    
    • Gout Screening Quiz
    
    
    • Lupus Screening Quiz
    
    
    • Fibromylagia Screening Quiz
    
    
    • Sjogren's Syndrome Screening Quiz
    
    
    • Back Pain Quiz
    
    
    • Carpal Tunnel Screening Quiz
    
    
    • Pain Quiz - Acute Vs. Chronic Pain
    
    
    • Pain Relief Quiz
    
    
    • Raynaud's Phenomenon Screening Quiz
    • Osteoporosis Screening Quiz
    
    
    • Does My Child Have Arthritis? (Juvenile Arthritis Screening Quiz)
    
    
    • Other Screening Quizzes and Quizzes To Test Your Knowledge

13. A to Z: Joint Pain:
    • Ankle Pain - Ankle Arthritis
    
    
    • Back Pain - Back Arthritis
    
    
    • Elbow Pain - Elbow Arthritis
    
    
    • Finger Pain - Finger Arthritis
    
    
    • Foot Pain - Foot Arthritis
    
    
    • Hand Pain - Hand Arthritis
    
    
    • Hip Pain - Hip Arthritis
    
    
    • Jaw Pain - Jaw Arthritis
    
    
    • Knee Pain - Knee Arthritis
    
    
    • Neck Pain - Neck Arthritis
    
    
    • Rib Cage Pain - Arthritis
    
    
    • Shoulder Pain - Shoulder Arthritis
    
    
    • Spine Pain - Spine Arthritis
    
    
    • Thumb Pain - Thumb Arthritis
    
    
    • Toe Pain - Toe Arthritis
    
    
    • Wrist Pain - Wrist Arthritis

14. There are over 100 different types of arthritis. Here are quick links to the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment to some of the most common:
    • Osteoarthritis
    
    
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    
    
    • Gout
    
    
    • Lupus
    
    
    • Fibromyalgia
    
    
    • Psoriatic Arthritis
    
    
    • Ankylosing Spondylitis
    
    
    • Scleroderma
    
    
    • Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
    
    
    • DISH
    
    
    • Osteoporosis
    
    
    • Sjogren's Syndrome
    
    
    • Reactive Arthritis - Reiter's Syndrome
    
    
    • Mixed Connective Tissue Disease
    
    
    • Pseudogout
    
    
    • Lyme Disease
    
    
    • Vasculitis

15. Other Sources of Pain:
    • Bone Pain - Bone Tenderness
    
    
    • Bursitis
    
    
    • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
    
    
    • Costochondritis
    
    
    • Muscle Pain - Arthritis
    
    
    • Temporomandibular Joints Disorder (TMJ)
    
    
    • Tendinitis
      

Tips:

1. Seek medical advice if your symptoms persist. If you suspect arthritis, make an appointment with a rheumatologist.
   • Your First Visit To The Rheumatologist

2. Don't try self treatment without obtaining a definitive diagnosis from a physician. Receiving an accurate diagnosis is an essential step to receiving proper treatment.
   • "I Think I Have Arthritis, Now What?

3. Remember these Fast Facts About Arthritis.