HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE ARTHRITIS?
Arthritis is pain that comes from one or more joints. The joint consists of 2 ends of bone that loosely connect so that the body can move. Joints are held together by ligaments, and muscles surround the joints to enable movement. Muscles have tendons that attach to the bones. Sometimes it is difficult to determine whether an ache is coming from muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, or joints.
You may have arthritis if you have:
- Pain or stiffness with joint movement
- Swelling in and around the joint
- A change in the shape, angle, or contours of the joint.
- Pain in several joints, especially on both sides of the body, may be arthritis.
Keep in mind the following:
- Pain between joints is NOT arthritis. This type of pain is most likely muscle-related.
- Arthritis usually does not cause numbness or tingling.
- Pain in a joint after an injury may or may not be related to arthritis.
- Pain at the joint without an injury or activity may be arthritis.
If you are worried that you may have arthritis, see a bone and joint specialist like an orthopedic surgeon, sports medicine specialist, or rheumatologist.
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