Why Are Symptoms Important In Arthritis

Arthritis is not a preventable disease and thereby requires careful attention and early detection to ensure that the affected person can sustain themselves through the pain. However, given the vastness of arthritis, as this disease comprises more than a hundred varieties, one should not simply shun out their recurring joint pains as a symptom of injury and self-medicate themselves. Consulting a doctor can help rule out or at the least catch on to arthritis for early effective treatment.

Although some of the symptoms are very common to most forms of arthritis, these different combinations of symptoms enable the diagnosis of the appropriate arthritic condition.

Some of these symptoms that are visible on the onset of arthritis are joint stiffness and pain, swelling, tenderness at the joints, limited motion of the joints, fever, fatigue, lumps and bumps, redness and warmth in the affected parts of the joint, etc. It is crucial to note that despite these symptoms being indicators of an arthritic condition, a thorough examination of the individual’s medical history, physical examination, imaging tests and blood workup and a full diagnostic test, would be required to identify the exact arthritic condition.
While patients believe that its the duty of the doctor to identify the appropriate type of arthritis accurately, it is equally important for the individual to know his or her symptoms too in order to be able to explain the symptoms with great depth to the doctor failing which the omitting of certain aspects may delay the proper diagnosis.

For example, in Osteoarthritis, which is commonly associated with the wear and tear of the joints, the symptoms include morning stiff for about an hour, lack of ability to hold objects like comb, coffee mug, etc, deep and aching pain, increased pain when walking, and stiffness when in a resting position, inability of motion at the joints, and warmth or swelling along the joints. In the case of Rheumatoid arthritis, the effect of pain, swelling, immobility is at multiple joints and the symptoms are comparatively severe to Osteoarthritis. Taking the help of a doctor is highly beneficial to understand the particular form of arthritis better.