Osteoarthritis Symptoms and Diagnosis
Osteoarthritis symptoms can be nearly non-existent for some people, but for others the pain and stiffness may be debilitating. The symptoms vary depending on which joints are affected (hip, knee, or spinal joints are the most common). This often affects the severity of the pain.
Symptoms
The most common symptom of osteoarthritis is stiffness and pain in the joints. This pain is usually the worst early in the morning and is sometimes known as first movement pain.
In addition to stiffness of the joints, there are several other common symptoms and indicators of osteoarthritis. Swelling of the joints, tenderness when the joints are pressed, a loss of flexibility, the feeling of bone rubbing on bone, and sensations of pinching or tingling are all symptoms of osteoarthritis.
When the facet joints (connecting joints of the spine) are afflicted with osteoarthritis, usually known as facet joint osteoarthritis (or facet joint disorder), the symptoms can sometimes differ. Although the same stiffness and pain will occur, the pain can be unpredictable - episodes of facet joint pain can occur in spurts several times a month or year.
Other signs of facet joint osteoarthritis can include tenderness, a loss of spinal flexibility, discomfort leaning backwards, and low pain down the buttocks and the back of the leg. Even though this pain may not be constant, it is still serious and a doctor should be consulted if these symptoms are occurring.
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