Arthritis Pain

Symptoms

Symptoms of osteoarthritis usually develop gradually and affect only one or a few joints at first. The joints most often affected are those of the fingers, base of the thumbs, neck, lower back, big toes, hips and knees.

Early symptoms are:

• Pain - a dull ache inside the joint that is made worse by exercise and relieved by rest.
• Joint stiffness when it hasn't been moved for a while, that usually goes away within 30 minutes of starting to move it.

As osteoarthritis gets worse:

• Affected joints may become enlarged.
• Joints may grate or crackle when they are moved.
• Movement becomes more painful and more difficult.
• Joints may eventually 'freeze' in a bent position.
• Knees may become unstable during movement.
• Affected hips or knees can cause a limp.
• Osteoarthritis in the neck or lower back may cause numbness, odd sensations, pain or weakness in an arm or leg.