The Ultimate Guide to Arthritis

2. Recognizing symptoms of arthritis

Common symptoms of arthritis include pain, swelling, stiffness, redness, and decreased range of motion. How these symptoms appear and progress can vary, depending on the type of arthritis. For example, people with osteoarthritis, which is the most common type, experience wear and tear in the cartilage in the joint, resulting in bone grinding directly on other bones, which causes pain and limits the range of motion. However, in people with rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks the lining of the joint capsule, the joint becomes swollen and inflamed. Regardless of the type of arthritis, the damage caused to the joints worsens over time, limiting the range of motion and functionality and significantly impacting a person's ability to perform daily activities.