DR. ARTHRITIS SHARES: DO I HAVE ARTHRITIS?

Despite how common arthritis is, it seems people tend to ignore its symptoms.

Most people chalk up joint pain as a common ailment associated with ageing. And as a result, even when they start feeling the specific signs and symptoms associated with the condition, they don’t’ even raise it with their doctors.

Preserving the health of your joints is a crucial part of overall wellness. For that to happen however, you have to recognize the signs of arthritis so that you can manage pain and prevent permanent damage caused by uncontrolled inflammation.

What signs and symptoms should you watch out for?

It’s important that you pay attention to early symptoms of arthritis. These could include:

• Joint pain

• Joint stiffness

• Tenderness in and around the joint

• Joint swelling

• Limited range of motion in affected joints

• Redness and warmth around affected joints

• Fever

• Fatigue

• Malaise

• Nodules and nodes

It should be noted however, that arthritis is a particularly difficult condition to diagnose. There are over a hundred types of arthritis and arthritis related conditions. It can start suddenly or its symptoms can creep up slowly and evolve to become intense pain.

When should you consult a doctor?

Every case is different, and not all joint aches and pains need medical attention. But if you’re feeling these symptoms, remember that when it comes to arthritis, sooner is definitely better than later.

Ask yourself the following:

• Is the pain constant?

• Are these early symptoms getting worse?

• Does the pain escalate through the day?

• Does the pain get worse as the day goes on?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then it might be time to seek expert medical help so you can receive appropriate treatment.

Remember this…

Even if it does turn out that you have arthritis, there are a lot of things you can do to manage your condition such as exercises, compression therapy, changing your diet, which will prevent further damage to your joints.

Living with arthritis doesn’t necessarily mean you have to stay away from doing the things you love. In fact, recognizing your symptoms early means you can manage your condition better to make sure that you won’t have to.