Osteoarthritis Signs and Symptoms

Most patients of osteoarthritis (OA) are past middle age. When it occurs in younger patients there is usually a clear predisposing cause such as previous injury or disease of the joint.

The onset is very gradual, with pain that increases almost imperceptibly over months and years. Movements slowly become more and more restricted. In some joints (notably the hip) deformity is a common feature in the later stages.

• Pain- this is the initial and leading symptom.
  In early case pain occurs after a night’s rest and gradually disappears after use. As the disease progresses pain becomes more severe and more constant and may disturb sleep. At this time the pain gets more severe as the joint is used. Pain at night may become very troublesome and is an important symptom.
  As the pain increases the joint gradually loses movement due to spasm.
• Stiffness- this is also an important symptom which follows pain. In the beginning it is noticed only after the joint has been immobile for some time. Later on stiffness gradually increases and becomes constant. In the beginning restriction of joint movements of the joint.
  The stiffness becomes increasingly severe till all movements of the joint are lost. At this time the joint usually lies in the position of ‘ease’.
• Deformity- capsule shrinkage due to fibrosis and muscle imbalance produces deformity. Patient may notice shortening of the limb in case of hip joint OA.
• Swelling of the joint may also be noticed in superficial joints.
• Limping- this is a common symptom due to pain, stiffness and deformity of the joint.
• Giving way of the joint is a common symptom. This may also be due to presence of loose body inside the joint.

As mentioned earlier it is a disease of old age. It is rarely seen in young and if occurs it is usually a secondary osteoarthritis.

Sex- OA incidence is almost equal on both sexes with slight preponderance towards females. In hip joint it is commoner in male probably due to excessive trauma.

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