12+ Warning Signs Of Arthritis
By molly atherton
1 year ago
1. You have joint pain
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The most common sign that you have arthritis is having persistent joint pain, as arthritis is a condition that primarily affects your joints. And so, if you have pain in or around your joints and it has not eased it is good to get checked out as it could be a sign that you have arthritis.2. You become stiff after sitting down
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Generally, arthritis feels worse after sitting or staying still for some time as the joints feel more stiff and sore afterward when it comes to you moving again. If you feel more discomfort after staying still for some time then it could be a sign that you have arthritis.3. You have skin rashes
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There are many different types of arthritis, and with, for example, rheumatoid arthritis, one of the biggest signs alongside joint pain is skin rashes. If you have a combination of joint pain and skin rashes it is definitely time to get a medical opinion as it could point to arthritis.4. Your joints look swollen
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Joint swelling is one of the key characteristics of arthritis. Usually, joint pain and swollen joints are the main symptoms as this is what arthritis is defined as - inflammation of the joints. And so this is one of the main signs to look out for when considering whether it could be arthritis.5. Your joints look red
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Arthritis isn't just a medical condition that can only be seen internally. It can also affect the external area of the body and particularly the joints. You may actually be able to see what is happening on the inside, outside. For example, the areas surrounding the joints may appear red!6. Your joints feel warm to touch
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You may also notice that the joints are actually hot to the touch. This is because the area of the joints is inflamed and angry and this can be felt under the skin. Generally, if the area is hot the joints will also look swollen and will feel sore, all of which are signs that it is arthritis.7. You are very stiff when you wake up
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Because you have been lying in one position all night, when you wake up your joints may feel particularly stiff and sore. This is also a sign of arthritis when your symptoms are worse after waking up. It could take some time for the symptoms to alleviate slightly, although they may not fully.8. You have a weaker grip strength
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Another sign of arthritis is testing your grip strength. When you create a fist around an object and try to squeeze or hold it as tight as possible, you may not be able to do it. It may be uncomfortable or painful or just not possible and this can happen to people who suffer from arthritis.9. Your fingers and toes are swollen
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Fingers and toes are often one of the most obvious sets of joints that visibly show signs of arthritis. They may be swollen and this can be a very clear sign to know that something's up. Other conditions can also display the same symptoms, but arthritis is amongst the conditions which have these physical characteristics.10. You can feel numbness and tingling
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Not many people realize that another sign and symptom of arthritis is tingling sensations and feelings of numbness in and around the joint. It may not be as common as a sign of arthritis, however many people with the condition have experienced this at some point.11. When you bend or straighten a joint, it locks into place
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Another sign to watch out for when it comes to arthritis is bending or stretching out your joint and it locking into place. Some people with arthritis find that when they move certain joints it will randomly lock into place and it can take some time before the joint loosens and it can be moved again.12. You've lost weight
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Arthritis can take a toll on more than just bones and joint health it can affect the quality of everyday life and how you feel in your general health. In some cases, arthritis can have a very negative on the health of the sufferer. And in some cases, they may lose weight as a result of the impact it is having on their health.13. Everyday tasks feel hard
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Arthritis can make life really hard. Everyday simple tasks can become extremely hard. Arthritis progresses and so it gets worse and worse which can make general life feel very hard and in certain extreme cases, unmanageable without help. This is particularly prevalent in cases of rheumatoid arthritis.14. When it's cold you feel more stiff
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There are lots of arthritis triggers that are different in each case. Sometimes certain foods, or lifestyle choices such as diet, as well as environmental factors such as weather can massively affect the severity of arthritis. Some people find that in colder climates their joint stiffness is made much worse.15. Walking has become much harder
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Simple things that we often take for granted such as walking may start to become really difficult, uncomfortable, or even painful as arthritis sets in or becomes worse. When joint pain and inflammation are affecting everyday tasks such as walking, it is a major sign that it is arthritis.16. Your eyes have swollen
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Eyes are often something that can be an indication and a sign when it comes to arthritis, their appearance may change. Particularly with rheumatoid arthritis, swollen, red, or irritated eyes combined with other symptoms can be a sign that points toward arthritis.17. You have a mild fever
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In extreme cases or more unusual cases arthritis can also cause a mild fever. This is something to look out for in accordance with other symptoms. Signs such as joint swelling and pain combined with a mild fever could indicate that you have arthritis.18. Some of the skin over your joints appears reddish or purple
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Again, the outer skin is a huge sign when it comes to arthritis, as it often represents something happening on the inside. For example, many people with arthritis, particularly rheumatoid arthritis, experience reddish or purplish skin over the areas of their joints.19. You can hear your joints creaking
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Some people with arthritis can actually hear their joints and bones creaking when they move. This is because the joints degenerate with arthritis and so because they become more and more stuff, this can get severe to the point where you can hear and feel them creaking.20. You feel generally weaker
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When someone has arthritis they may feel generally weaker when it comes to their strength, but also their energy and general health. It can take a toll on you generally and you may feel as though you have lost your overall ability and strength.21. You have nodules that have formed near joints
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The foundation of nodules near and around the areas of joints is another huge sign. These nodules are characteristic of arthritic joints and could be something to look out for if you have experienced joint problems as it may be a sign that you have arthritis.22. You're fatigued
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Often, people with arthritis may feel fatigued because of the toll that the condition is taking on their body. As the arthritis progressively gets worse it can leave the person feeling more and more fatigued. Rheumatoid arthritis particularly takes a toll on energy levels.23. You are struggling to exercise
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Exercise may once have felt super easy and normal, but with the onset of arthritis, everything becomes more difficult. Exercise may have started to feel like hard work and it may leave you feeling sore. Your joints may struggle to do the exercises you wish to do.24. It's not just one joint, it's both sides
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Another sign that you may have arthritis is when it is not just one single joint that hurts, it is both sides almost equally. Arthritis usually affects both sets of joints as it is a condition that can sometimes affect certain areas alone but usually affects all joints.25. It's getting worse
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Arthritis will progressively get worse as it is a degenerative disease. Your bone health may gradually decline and symptoms may not feel like they alleviate in the long run, as it could feel more painful and get more difficult to have the full range of movement in them.26. It seems to flare up intermittently
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Arthritis doesn't seem to affect people the same all of the time. There are what could be described as flare-ups. Certain things may trigger it or it may happen for what seems like no apparent reason when it will feel worse and your joints may swell and feel worse than usual.27. You have Raynaud's
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Raynaud's phenomenon is a circulatory medical condition where the blood vessels narrow and the blood struggles to get to the extremities as efficiently. Having Raynaud's doesn't mean you have arthritis, but in some cases, the two of them can be linked.28. Your knees feel like they will give way
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Sometimes with arthritis, it may feel as though you are walking along and suddenly your knees feel like they are about to give way, as though they will collapse from under you as they cannot hold you anymore. It can be a very frightening experience.29. You feel sore lying in bed
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Even lying in bed for someone with arthritis can be very difficult. Because each position requires lying on joints. Lying on the side may put pressure on the elbow and the hip joint and lying on their back can make their back feel super still and difficult to move in the morning.30. Your joints appear to have changed shape
