Arthritis is not a single disease — it's a term for over 100 conditions causing joint pain or disease. The most common are osteoarthritis (wear and tear) and rheumatoid arthritis (autoimmune). It's the leading cause of disability in the US.
When to See a Doctor
🩺 Routine checkupSee a doctor for: persistent joint pain or stiffness lasting more than 2-3 weeks, swollen or warm joints, joint pain affecting your daily activities. Early treatment of rheumatoid arthritis dramatically reduces long-term joint damage.
Early Warning Signs
2 symptomsMorning stiffness
Stiffness in joints when waking that gradually improves with movement. Lasting more than 30 minutes suggests inflammatory arthritis (RA); shorter stiffness is typical of OA.
Symmetric joint involvement (RA)
RA typically affects the same joints on both sides of the body simultaneously — both wrists, both knees — unlike osteoarthritis.
Common Symptoms
3 symptomsJoint pain
Aching, sharp, or burning pain in one or more joints — the most universal arthritis symptom. Worsens with movement in osteoarthritis; can be constant in rheumatoid arthritis.
Swelling and warmth in joints
Inflammation causes joints to look puffy and feel warm to the touch. More prominent in rheumatoid, psoriatic, and gout arthritis.
Fatigue (rheumatoid arthritis)
Systemic inflammation from RA causes profound fatigue that is out of proportion to activity level.
Advanced Symptoms
2 symptomsReduced range of motion
Cartilage loss or joint damage limits how far a joint can bend, extend, or rotate. Can progress to disability over time.
Crepitus (clicking/grinding sounds)
Clicking, cracking, or grinding in joints when moving — caused by cartilage wearing away and bone-on-bone contact.
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