OSTEOARTHRITIS – SYMPTOMS
Following are typical symptoms experienced by patients of osteoarthritis:
- Pain – The pain in the affected joint typically become worse after use and is relieved by taking rest. It may become continuous as the disease progresses.
- Morning stiffness – Limitation of joint movement in the morning or after a period of inactivity is also a prominent feature of osteoarthritis. This stiffness usually lasts for less than 20 minutes (unlike rheumatoid arthritis in which it may last up to an hour or more).
- Crepitus – Crackling sound may be heard or felt during movement of affected joint at the early stage.
- Heberden’s nodes (bony enlargement of the small joint at the end of the fingers) and Bouchard’s nodes (bony enlargement of the middle joint of the finger) are characteristic of osteoarthritis.
