Symptoms of Arthritis

General information about symptoms of Arthritis: The symptom information on this page attempts to provide a list of some possible symptoms of Arthritis. This symptom information has been gathered from various sources, may not be fully accurate, and may not be the full list of symptoms of Arthritis. Furthermore, symptoms of Arthritis may vary on an individual basis for each patient. Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of symptoms and whether they are indeed symptoms of Arthritis.

List of symptoms of Arthritis: The list of symptoms mentioned in various sources for Arthritis includes:

Symptoms of Arthritis: Pain is the way your body tells you that something is wrong. Most kinds of arthritis cause pain in your joints. You might have trouble moving around. Some kinds of arthritis can affect different parts of your body. So, along with the arthritis, you may:

Have a fever.
Lose weight.
Have trouble breathing.
Get a rash or itch.

These symptoms may also be signs of other illnesses. ¹

Someone who has arthritis of the knee may experience pain, swelling, and a decrease in knee motion. A common symptom is morning stiffness that lessens as the person moves around. Sometimes the joint locks or clicks when the knee is bent and straightened, but these signs may occur in other knee disorders as well. The doctor may confirm the diagnosis by performing a physical examination and examining x rays, which typically show a loss of joint space. Blood tests may be helpful for diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis, but other tests may be needed too. Analyzing fluid from the knee joint may be helpful in diagnosing some kinds of arthritis. The doctor may use arthroscopy to directly see damage to cartilage, tendons, and ligaments and to confirm a diagnosis, but arthroscopy is usually done only if a repair procedure is to be performed. ²

Common Symptoms of Arthritis

Swelling in one or more joints
Stiffness around the joints that lasts for at least 1 hour in the early morning
Constant or recurring pain or tenderness in a joint
Difficulty using or moving a joint normally
Warmth and redness in a joint

Arthritis causes pain and loss of movement. It can affect joints in any part of the body. Arthritis is usually chronic, meaning it can occur over a long period of time. The more serious forms can cause swelling, warmth, redness, and pain. The three most common kinds of arthritis in older people are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout.⁴

Common Warning Signs of Arthritis

Swelling in one or more joint(s)
Morning stiffness lasting 30 minutes or longer
Joint pain or tenderness that is constant or that comes and goes
Not being able to move a joint in the normal way
Redness or warmth in a joint
Weight loss, fever, or weakness and joint pain that can’t be explained

⁴

More symptoms of Arthritis: In addition to the above information, to get a full picture of the possible symptoms of this condition and its related conditions, it may be necessary to examine symptoms that may be caused by complications of Arthritis, underlying causes of Arthritis, associated conditions for Arthritis, risk factors for Arthritis, or other related conditions.

Medical articles on symptoms: These general reference articles may be of interest:

Footnotes:
1. excerpt from Do I have Arthritis: NIAMS
2. excerpt from Questions and Answers About Knee Problems: NIAMS
3. excerpt from Questions and Answers About Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases: NIAMS
4. excerpt from Arthritis Advice - Age Page - Health Information: NIA

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