According to MayoClinic.com arthritis, specifically osteoarthritis, occurs when cartilage in the joints wears down over time. Osteoarthritis can affect any joint in the body, but most commonly affects the hands, hips, knees, neck and lower back. No cure currently exists for arthritis, but this condition is commonly treated conservatively in the early stages. A patient should be aware of the early symptoms of osteoarthritis and know what to do if she experiences them.
Joint Pain
Joint pain is an early symptom of osteoarthritis states Medline Plus, an online resource from the National Institutes of Health. Joints become painful because cartilage in the joint wears down over time and allows bones in the joint to rub together. Bone spurs, or humps of bone, form in response to the bones rubbing together. Rubbing bone then causes irritation, which aggravates nearby sensory nerves that send pain signals to the brain.
Joint pain associated with osteoarthritis can be treated conservatively with rest, ice and over-the-counter medications. A patient should rest the affected joint after physical activity. If the joint is still painful, ice can be applied for 20 minutes, and then removed for 20 minutes to numb pain in the joint. If this does not control the pain, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, such as naproxen (Aleve) or ibuprofen (Motrin), can be taken to alleviate pain.
Joint Swelling
Medline Plus states that the involved joint may swell in the early stages of arthritis. This occurs because bone spurs rub together and cause chemical signals to be released that increase swelling in the joint. Thus, a patient may notice that a joint may be more swollen than the joint on the other side of the body. In this early stage of arthritis, a patient should elevate the affected joint and apply ice to the joint to reduce swelling. If these treatments are ineffective, NSAIDs can be used to reduce joint swelling.
Morning Stiffness
A patient may experience joint stiffness in the morning, states Medline Plus. This occurs because the lining of the joint, or synovium, becomes inflamed, which prevents the synovium from lubricating the joint. Joint stiffness is most common in the morning or after a period of inactivity. To reduce stiffness, a patient should perform light exercise in the morning to loosen up the joint. Furthermore, light exercise throughout the day can prevent the affected joint from becoming stiff during inactivity.
Tenderness
The affected joint may become tender in the early stages of osteoarthritis, states MayoClinic.com. The joint becomes tender because inflammation from cartilage breakdown and rubbing bone causes swelling and aggravates nearby sensory nerves. When additional pressure is placed on the joint, as when touching, the increase in pressure can further aggravate sensory nerves and result in tenderness. Therefore, controlling joint swelling can minimize tenderness of a joint.
