Last updated 24/03/2021 by The pain clinics - Interdisciplinary Health

6 Early Signs of Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is known as osteoarthritis and is associated with joint wear and joint destruction. With these six signs, you can detect osteoarthritis at an early stage - and thus take the right measures in relation to treatment, diet and exercise.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint condition caused by wear. As you get older, the shock-absorbing cartilage inside the joints may break down and cause bone to rub against bone. Such friction can also cause inflammation of the joints involved. The fingers, wrists, knees, ankles and hip are the areas most often affected by osteoarthritis.

We fight for those with other chronic pain diagnoses and rheumatism to have better opportunities for treatment and investigation. Like us on our FB page og our YouTube channel in social media to join us in the fight for an improved everyday life for thousands of people.

This article will go through six early signs of osteoarthritis. At the bottom of the article you can also read comments from other readers, as well as watch a video of exercises adapted to those with osteoarthritis of the hip.

TIP: Many people use it therefore specially adapted compression gloves (link opens in new window) for improved function in hands and fingers. These are especially common among rheumatologists and those who suffer from chronic carpal tunnel syndrome. Possibly there is also toe pullers og specially adapted compression socks if you are bothered by stiff and sore toes - possibly hallux valgus (inverted big toe).

1. Pain

Pain in the joints and nearby muscles can be an early sign of osteoarthritis. As the osteoarthritis develops and enters later stages of osteoarthritis, one may also expect an increase in joint pain in the affected area.

The best way to prevent joint wear is by strengthening nearby stability muscles. Such prevention is primarily about strengthening the muscles that relieve the joints. For example, training the thighs, seat and hips can be a very good way to relieve both hip and knee arthritis (1). The video below shows examples of good hip osteoarthritis exercises.

VIDEO: 7 Exercises against Osteoarthritis in the Hip (Click below to start the video)

Feel free to subscribe on our channel - and follow our page at FB for daily, free health tips and exercise programs that can help you toward even better health.

2. Pressure relief

Arthritis is the discomfort you feel when someone presses or touches a joint strongly affected by osteoarthritis. In later stages of osteoarthritis one can also notice swelling and redness in the affected joints.

Too many people are plagued with chronic pain that destroys everyday life - that's why we encourage you to Share this article in social media, Feel free to like our Facebook page and say: "Yes to more research on chronic pain diagnoses". In this way, one can make the symptoms associated with this diagnosis more visible and ensure that more people are taken seriously - and thus get the help they need. We also hope that such increased attention can lead to greater funding for research on new assessment and treatment methods.

Also read: - 15 Early Signs of Rheumatism

Are you affected by rheumatism?

3. Joint stiffness

Joint pain also causes joint stiffness - ie reduced functionality and mobility in the affected areas. Of course, it is perfectly normal to be a little stiff in the joints when you first get up in the morning - or after working for the computer all day - but it can also be an early sign of osteoarthritis.

Manual physical therapy (such as joint mobilization and traction therapy) has proven efficacy in improving the function and mobility of the lower back, pelvis and neck joints. If you are affected by morning stiffness, we strongly recommend that you go through your everyday life and that you ask yourself the question: "Do I move too little through the day?"

We must remember that it is movement and activity that contributes to blood circulation to the muscles, tendons and stiff joints. This increased circulation brings with it repair material and building blocks so that maintenance work can be done on joints and tired muscles.

Manual treatment (such as joint therapy and muscle knot therapy), exercise and preventive rehabilitation exercises are key to preventing stiff joints and tight muscles. We recommend that you use publicly authorized health personnel with expertise in muscles and - the three professions that have this qualification in Norway are chiropractor, physiotherapist and manual therapist. If you find it difficult to train in the traditional way - then we can also recommend training in hot water pool.

Recommended Self-Help for Rheumatic and Chronic Pain

• Compression Noise (such as compression socks that contribute to increased blood circulation to sore muscles or specially adapted compression gloves against rheumatic symptoms in the hands)

Click on the image to read more about compression gloves.

• Mini tapes (many with rheumatic and chronic pain feel that it is easier to train with custom elastics)
• Trigger point Balls (self-help to work the muscles on a daily basis)
• Arnica cream or heat conditioner (many people report some pain relief if they use, for example, arnica cream or heat conditioner)

- Many people use arnica cream for pain due to stiff joints and sore muscles. Click on the image above to read more about how arnica cream can help relieve some of your pain situation.

Also read: - How Helps Exercise In Hot Water Pool On Fibromyalgia

4. Clicking, Crunching and Chipping inside the Joints

The cartilage inside the joints should act as a shock absorber to help relieve the joints as you move. If this cartilage is broken down, friction of bone against bone can occur in the more serious cases, as well as a number of other joint symptoms - such as clicking, crunching and buttoning inside the joint.

For example, if you experience cracking and crunching inside the knee joint as you walk then one can knee compression support (opens in new window) be a useful tool to help stabilize the knee while increasing local blood circulation. Many also start with customized training to strengthen the joints in a good and safe way.

Also read: - Research report: This is the Best Fibromyalgia Diet

Click on the image or link above to read more about the correct diet adapted to those with fibro.

5. Reduced joint movement

People who are affected by osteoarthritis, even in early stages, may find that it is not as easy to move anymore. Joint stiffness and pain can help reduce flexibility and mobility in both joints and muscles.

This impaired movement can be aggravated as the osteoarthritis becomes more intense within the affected joints. It is therefore important to work against this development by taking preventive measures such as adapted training exercises and self-measures - as well as any professional treatment if needed.

Ginger can be recommended for anyone who suffers from rheumatic joint ailments - and it is also known that this root has one a host of other positive health benefits. This is because ginger has a strong anti-inflammatory effect. Many people with osteoarthritis drink ginger as a tea - and then preferably up to 3 times a day during periods when the inflammation in the joints is extremely strong. You can find some different recipes for this in the link below.

Also read: - 8 Incredible Health Benefits Of Eating Ginger

6. Daily variation and morning stiffness

Maybe you've noticed that your joints seem to be more about the mornings? It is a characteristic sign of osteoarthritis that the joints are pronounced more stiff and sore on the mooring than when you have got started with the first movements. That you feel significantly stiffer on the morning than before may be an early sign of osteoarthritis.

However, as the osteoarthritis gets worse and worse, the pain periods will become longer and more frequent. For example, it may have been the case that only jogging caused you pain earlier, but now you get it yourself by smaller walks. Another sign that osteoarthritis is developing and that you need to take preventative measures to slow or stop degeneration.

Also read: - 8 Natural Anti-Inflammatory Measures Against Rheumatism

More information? Join this group!

Join the Facebook group «Rheumatism and Chronic Pain - Norway: Research and news»(Click here) for the latest updates on research and media writing about rheumatic and chronic disorders. Here, members can also get help and support - at all times of the day - through the exchange of their own experiences and advice.

VIDEO: Exercises for Rheumatists and Those Affected by Fibromyalgia

Feel free to subscribe on our channel - and follow our page on FB for daily health tips and exercise programs.

We sincerely hope that this article can help you in the fight against rheumatic disorders and chronic pain.

Feel free to share in social media

Again, we want to ask nicely to share this article in social media or via your blog (feel free to link directly to the article). Understanding and increased focus is the first step towards a better everyday life for those with chronic pain.

Suggestion: 

Option A: Share directly on FB - Copy the website address and paste it on your facebook page or in a relevant facebook group you are a member of. Or press the "SHARE" button below to share the post further on your facebook.

Touch this to share further. A big thank you to everyone who helps promote increased understanding of chronic pain diagnoses!

Option B: Link directly to the article on your blog.

Option C: Follow and equal Our Facebook page (click here if desired)

and also remember to leave a star rating if you liked the article:

Sources:

PubMed

NEXT PAGE: - Research: This is the Best Fibromyalgia Diet

Click on the picture above to move to the next page.

Recommended self-help for this diagnosis

Compression Noise (for example, compression socks that contribute to increased blood circulation to sore muscles)

Trigger point Balls (self-help to work the muscles on a daily basis)

Follow Vondt.net on YOUTUBE

(Follow and comment if you want us to make a video with specific exercises or elaborations for exactly YOUR issues)

Follow Vondt.net on FACEBOOK

(We try to respond to all messages and questions within 24-48 hours. We can also help you interpret MRI responses and the like.)