From prevention.com
Some are more subtle than others
If you find yourself developing new aches and pains as you get older, it’s normal to wonder whether you could be dealing with arthritis. But while the condition is associated with joint pain and swelling, those symptoms don’t usually come on hard and fast. Luckily, catching the early signs of arthritis and taking action can help lower the odds you’ll be even more uncomfortable down the road.
It's worth noting that there are many types of arthritis and, if you suspect you may have any of them, it’s important to get an evaluation from a healthcare professional. But when most people think of arthritis, they’re often referring to osteoarthritis, which is the most common.
Osteoarthritis happens when the protective cartilage on the ends of your bones wears down over time. “Once damage to cartilage occurs, we do not currently have a way for it to be regenerated or grown back,” explains Jeffrey Zarin, M.D., orthopaedic surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine in Los Angeles. However, it’s possible to slow down the progression and take steps to support your joints going forward.
If you’re dealing with joint pain and discomfort, don’t chalk it up to getting older. “Arthritis, while common, is not a ‘normal’ part of aging,” says Will Harvey, M.D., rheumatologist at Tufts Medical Center and president of the American College of Rheumatology. “Pain or other symptoms interfering with daily life should be evaluated.”
Not sure if it could be osteoarthritis? Doctors recommend looking out for these early signs.
Common early signs of arthritis
Not all joint pain is due to arthritis, but there are a few key signs that can surface early to be aware of.
You have joint pain with activity.
“Pain with vigorous activity is somewhat normal, but this is usually muscular pain or soreness,” Dr. Harvey says, which is usually harmless. “Pain in the joints themselves is a more typical sign of arthritis.”
Adaobi Okechukwu, M.D., a primary care physician with Mercy Personal Physicians at Overlea, refers to osteoarthritis pain as “use-related.” That means it gets worse when you load the joint by doing things like walking, climbing stairs, and squatting, and gets better with rest. “It happens because the smooth cartilage that normally cushions the joint is beginning to break down, so the joint no longer glides and absorbs load as effortlessly as it once did,” she explains.
You have brief morning stiffness.
Feeling stiff when you wake up is a “classic” sign you’re dealing with inflammation. “When you do not move your joints when you are sleeping, and you first get up in the morning, the inflammation of inactivity can give a sensation of stiffness until you start to move the joints,” Dr. Zarin says.
This stiffness usually lasts less than 30 minutes, according to Dr. Harvey. You may also notice pain at the end of the day that’s worse than in the morning, he adds.
Your joints click, pop, or crack.
This is a “very common” symptom, according to Dr. Harvey. “I always ask patients if it hurts when this happens,” he says. “Painless popping or cracking is not likely to represent a major problem.” This could simply be due to gas bubbles in your joints, although it can be a sign of arthritis when it’s coupled with other symptoms, per Dr. Zarin. “If the cartilage is not smooth and slippery the way it is supposed to be, certain movements can make mechanical noises or [a sense] of catching,” he says.
You have reduced flexibility.
Your flexibility will naturally go down if you don’t stretch. But you can also lose flexibility due to mechanical issues and inflammation tied to arthritis, according to Dr. Zarin. “If it is swelling around a joint from inflammation, that can decrease the ability of the tissues to move,” he says, which can make it harder to move as you once did.
This can look like trouble bending or straightening your joint as much as you could in the past, fully flexing a knee, or reaching as far as you used to, according to Dr. Okechukwu. “This loss of range of motion is a core feature of osteoarthritis,” she says. “Over time, this reduced flexibility layered on top of pain is a major reason osteoarthritis interferes with everyday tasks.”
You have mild joint swelling.
Joint swelling is a signal of inflammation, Dr. Zarin says. “When inflammation occurs, the body increases the circulation to the area where the problem is,” he explains. “This can cause fluid build-up, warmth, and the sensation or appearance of swelling.”
If you have joints that quickly swell up and then dissipate, or if you have swelling that sticks around, Dr. Harvey recommends you get it evaluated sooner rather than later. “Joints that are slowly getting larger likely represent arthritis,” he says.
Why it’s important to spot signs of arthritis early
If you suspect that you’re developing arthritis, Dr. Zarin says it’s best to take action sooner rather than later. There are interventions you can take that are more likely to help you if they’re introduced in the early stages.
“Prevention of the progression of arthritis is related to things that help protect the forces on the joint,” he says. That often means doing what you can to keep the muscles around your joint strong and avoiding high-impact activities that may cause further degradation, according to Dr. Zarin. If you have obesity, weight loss may also help, he adds.
“If it is identified early that there is some degenerative change in a joint, making life choices to help protect the joint can help prevent its progression and prolong healthy function as long as possible,” he says.
What to do if you notice early signs of arthritis
“It’s always a good idea to flag your symptoms to a primary care physician,” says Remy Rabinovich, M.D., orthopaedic surgeon at Northwell’s Lenox Hill Hospital. They will likely order X-rays or blood tests to dig a little deeper.
From there, your provider may refer you to someone who specializes in joints in the area where you're having discomfort. Just don’t sit on things if you’re uncomfortable. “If your symptoms are significant and are interfering with daily life, as opposed to an annoyance, it’s a good signal that you may need to be evaluated by a rheumatologist or other specialist,” Dr. Harvey says.
https://www.prevention.com/health/health-conditions/a74207360/arthritis-early-signs/
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