The Early Signs of Arthritis
Joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and
grinding joints are all classic symptoms of arthritis. However, there
are some lesser-known early signs that masquerade as something
insignificant, but actually indicate the onset of arthritis. Would you
know what to look for?
Firstly, it’s important to know the difference between the two main
types of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a concern for all ages. This
autoimmune disease triggers inflammation that attacks joints,
triggering tenderness, swelling, pain, and limited mobility.
Osteoarthritis has similar symptoms to rheumatoid arthritis such as
joint pain and stiffness, but it’s brought on by wear and tear. It’s a
condition that generally develops later on in life and the symptoms are
limited to the joints.
Below you’ll find the early symptoms of Rheumatoid arthritis and
osteoarthritis.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Fatigue
This is usually the first symptom of
rheumatoid arthritis. It can start weeks or months before other symptoms
appear, and it’s often accompanied by “not feeling right” or mild
depression. It might feel like you have a virus or flu. Sometimes this
is just a reaction to the raised inflammation in your body, but
occasionally it could be an indicator of an underlying problem
associated with RA, such as anemia.
Poor Appetite and Weight Loss
The weight loss is normally not drastic, but patients might notice that
they don’t have quite the appetite for food and thus start to lose
weight. There’s also another reason why early rheumatoid arthritis might
result in some weight loss – the inflammation in your body increases
your metabolic rate, meaning you burn calories more easily.
Dry Eyes and Mouth
Having problems with your eyes is quite a common side effect of
rheumatoid arthritis, and the symptoms might appear before the classic
arthritis symptoms kick in. Rheumatoid arthritis can cause the surface
of the eye to become inflamed.
Another eye symptom of rheumatoid arthritis is reduced tear fluid.
You’ll notice that you have a gritty sensation in your eye, or feel like
there’s some dirt stuck in it. Your saliva production can decline, as
well as other bodily fluids.
Painful Chest
One of the most surprising early symptoms
of rheumatoid arthritis is chest pain. Some rheumatoid arthritis
patients get inflammation in the lining of the lungs, so it hurts when a
deep breath is taken. However, this is not a very common early sign.
More often than not, it comes on after other symptoms.
Stiffness
Many people with rheumatoid arthritis will experience morning stiffness.
Some people don’t realize that stiffness in the morning is a sign of
arthritis. They just blame it on the fact that they’re getting old.
Another rheumatoid arthritis symptom is stiffness in minor joints that
isn’t caused by activity. This usually starts in the small joints, such
as hands or the wrists, and then progresses to other joints. There may
also be some mild joint inflammation.
Osteoarthritis
Grating Sensation and Bone Spurs
The spongy cartilage in your joints helps to cushion your bones as you
move about. As this cartilage wears down, the bones can begin to grate
and grind against each other, causing pain. Worn cartilage can also
encourage the growth of bone spurs, potentially deforming joints.
Popping
People will often report experiencing a
cracking or popping sensation – a kind of cracking sound in their knees
or cracking in their joints. This is also caused by worn down cartilage.
Swollen Joints and Stiffness
Joint swelling due to osteoarthritis is caused by excess synovial fluid,
the lubricating fluid in your joints. This isn’t usually painful, but
it can limit your range of movement.
Pain Triggered by Activity
People who have osteoarthritis usually find that their pain is worse
with activity and improves with rest. This is the opposite to people
with rheumatoid arthritis who find that their stiffness is worse in the
morning.
Seeking Medical Help Early
Early detection enables you to seek expert treatment earlier. It may
help to prevent joint damage in the case of OA, but catching rheumatoid
arthritis early is vital. This is because the longer you leave an
inflammation untreated, the more of an effect it will have on your
entire system. There is evidence that untreated inflammation can lead to
a risk of heart attacks, cardiovascular disease, and strokes.
Therefore, it’s important to make sure that people who have persistent
symptoms aren’t ignoring things that could be signs of a larger systemic
problem.