Five Signs You May Suffer from Arthritis

Do you have regular joint pain?  Do you struggle to perform basic activities, like walking your dog or getting up from the couch?  Often times, arthritis can cause this pain, especially in older adults as their body ages.  As an orthopedic surgeon in Deltona, we see many patients that are suffering from the pain associated with arthritis, which causes inflammation in your joints resulting in pain and discomfort.  Because this is so common, it is often easy to detect and provide suggestions to alleviate pain.  These are a few signs that show you may suffer from arthritis.

Muscle Stiffness

Whenever you are feeling stiff in your muscles, this can indicate an early sign of arthritis.  This is especially common in the morning or after long periods of inactivity.  Without proper treatment, this stiffness can become worse over time.  To learn exercises to combat this issue, you may want to talk to your doctor to get pain relief advice.

Overall Fatigue

Feeling fatigued is one of the earliest symptoms of arthritis that can actually precede other symptoms by a few weeks.  After activity or simply in general, you may feel overly tired or even depressed, which can cause you to remain inactive.  Try to prevent this from happening by staying positive and talking to others about your pain.

Low-Grade Fever

Some people that suffer from the pain of arthritis may also develop a fever.  If you develop a low-grade fever, this may just be an indication of arthritis, so it isn't cause for concern.  However, if your fever persists at a temperature higher than 100.4, you may want to contact a medical professional to be assessed for infection or illness.

Joint Pain

After or during times of movement, you may notice a tenderness or pain in your joints.  This will likely start in your fingers or your wrists, but this is also common in your knees, ankles, or shoulders.  Over time, you may notice this pain worsening or even becoming hard to bear.  Talk to your orthopedic surgeon in Deltona to discuss pain remedies.  

Joint Swelling

Because arthritis is marked by joint inflammation, you may start to notice swelling around your joints.  This will cause your joints to look larger in size than normal.  This can last for a few weeks or just a few hours, depending on the severity of your arthritis.  When you feel tenderness in these areas, you may benefit from applying cold compresses to the areas to alleviate pain.  

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms over a period of time, you may have arthritis.  It is best to give your orthopedic surgeon in Deltona a call to be seen by a medical professional before making a diagnosis on yourself.  Contact us to schedule an appointment and hear about pain relief options today.