Early Symptoms of Arthritis

The early symptoms of arthritis develop slowly and get worse as time goes by. It can start with a little stiffness and pain in a joint, either during or after use. It can especially show up first thing in the morning. You may notice it as you get out of bed. You may also notice it after any period of inactivity, like sitting and watching a movie for a couple of hours.

There can be tenderness when you apply pressure to the joint and you may find it harder to use the joint as it loses its flexibility. Some people may begin to experience a grating sensation when they use the joint.

As the arthritis progresses hard lumps, or bone spurs may appear around the joint. In some cases the joint might swell.

The most commonly affected joints are in the hips, hands, knees and spine.

Here is a list of the early symptoms of osteoarthritis. Most of these develop gradually and may include:

1. Joint pain
2. Pain after overuse and after periods of inactivity
3. Overall stiffness
4. Limited range of motion in one or more joints

Later symptoms may include:

1. Bony enlargements in the middle and end joints of the fingers that may or may not be painful
2. Joint swelling and joint fluid accumulation