General Symptoms of Arthritis
Symptoms of Arthritis
The joints of the human body are surrounded by cartilage. A cartilage is a sort of protective lubricant tissue that helps with movement of bones, and also acts as shock absorber for our bones. The damage to the cartilage in the joints is called arthritis. This is associated with inflammation and pain due to the fact that our bones begin to grind with one another when the cartilage is no longer working. Symptoms of arthritis can be vague and confusing. But it is important to recognize them as early as possible so that further damage to the bones will be averted. As a consequence of arthritis, not only pain is felt by the person but also mobility is greatly reduced. Since there are many types of arthritis, all of them share general symptoms.
One of the most obvious symptoms will be associated with persistent pain in the joints. Pain in the joints does not necessarily mean that you already have arthritis. One sign is that the pain worsens when the person moves or performs certain activities, such as writing, walking, throwing, or simply standing up.
As a natural reaction to the pain in the joints, people will tend to touch or massage it. This may be the time when they will feel swelling and stiffness of the joints, which is one of the general symptoms. This is accompanied by the reddening and the warming of the joints.
People must also take into consideration other symptoms like severe fatigue. Simple movement like walking or writing will make you tired. Weight loss for no apparent reason is a symptom associated with arthritis. Crackling sounds accompanied with a grating sensation in the joints is one of the general symptoms of the condition. This condition is called crepitus. The crackling sound and grating sensation happen when the bones begin to rub against each other, and this can be quite painful.
Bear in mind that there are over 100 types of arthritis. These symptoms may vary from person to person. Taking online arthritis screening quizzes is a convenient way for you to find out if you have arthritis or not. You can select from a broad number of quizzes. Many of these quizzes are specific to a particular arthritis.
Once general symptoms of arthritis are visible and felt, a visit to your doctor is still considered the next best step. Exams and tests will be performed to help them determine whether you are afflicted with arthritis or not. Do not attempt self-medication; you may only worsen your predicament if you do. Always remember, each condition has a specific kind of treatment.