An arthritis diagnosis probably isn’t on your wish list, but if you’re experiencing the early signs of arthritis, a diagnosis can be the start of finding relief. As is the case with many medical conditions, an early arthritis diagnosis can make a big difference for your health.
Timely diagnosis and effective treatment not only make daily life with arthritis easier and more pleasant, they can also help prevent further damage to your joints. The experts at Summit Orthopedics offer personalized guidance on arthritis management for people in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.
Recognizing the First Sign of Arthritis
Nearly everyone experiences occasional joint pain, but joint pain is also the most common sign of arthritis. How can you know when your pain is something more than a normal ache?
Because “pain” isn’t a one-size-fits-all symptom, people will experience arthritis-associated pain in different ways. Joint pain can be mild to severe and felt as burning, throbbing, aching or soreness. You may feel it only in your affected joints, or it may affect a larger part of the body around your joints.
Other Early Signs of Arthritis
While joint pain is the most common symptom of arthritis—and usually the first one people notice—the inflammation associated with the disease also causes other joint-related symptoms. Symptoms of arthritis may include:
- Difficulty moving the joint
- Diminished range of motion
- Joint deformity
- Joints that are tender to the touch
- Morning stiffness
- Redness around the affected joint
- Skin around the joint that’s warm to the touch
- Swelling
Pain and stiffness are common among all types of arthritis, but rheumatoid arthritis and other forms of inflammatory arthritis may also cause symptoms affecting other parts of the body. These can include fever, rash, hair loss, fatigue and weight loss.
The Arthritis Foundation recommends seeing a medical provider if you experience the symptoms of pain, swelling, stiffness and difficulty moving. They also suggest seeing a doctor if you have joint swelling that lingers for longer than three days or if youhave joint swelling that recurs multiple times within a month. Fever along with other arthritis symptoms is a reason to see a doctor promptly.
The Benefits of an Early Diagnosis
Any time you’re experiencing something out of the norm for your health, it’s worth discussing with your primary care provider (PCP). That’s definitely the case when it comes to joint pain and other symptoms.
When symptoms such as pain and swelling first develop, they may be mild and more of an annoyance than anything else. Over time, though, these symptoms can become disruptive and even debilitating, especially when they impact weight-bearing joints or joints you use frequently, such as joints of the hands.
If arthritis is going to develop no matter what you do, what’s the point of seeking medical attention early? There are two key reasons to seek an early diagnosis of arthritis signs. For one, once you’ve been diagnosed with arthritis, a medical provider can create a treatment plan for alleviating joint pain and other symptoms.
The second reason is perhaps even more important when it comes to the early signs of osteoarthritis in particular. Being diagnosed with arthritis in an early stage can help you develop a plan for preventing further damage to commonly affected joints like your hips and knees.
A Plan for Protecting Your Joints
Because there’s no cure for arthritis, making lifestyle changes to protect your joints is an important part of an arthritis treatment plan. The basics of a joint-friendly lifestyle include:
- Exercise regularly. Your workouts should include cardiovascular exercises, balance exercises and strength training. Strength training using your body weight, resistance bands or hand weights can help you strengthen the muscles around your joints, which takes pressure off your joints.
- Find your healthy weight. Talk with your PCP about what a healthy weight looks like for you. Excess weight puts extra pressure on your joints, so even a small amount of weight loss can help protect them.
- Choose your physical activities wisely. Health experts recommend getting at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week. To protect your joints, choose joint-friendly activities. Exercises in water take pressure off your joints while still giving you a good workout, so consider swimming, water aerobics or even simply walking in the pool.
- Eat anti-inflammatory foods. Yes, what you eat can have an impact on your joints! Foods that can lower inflammation in the body include antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. Add a couple servings of fatty fish, such as tuna, salmon or trout, to your meals each week. These fish contain omega-3 fatty acids, a natural anti-inflammatory.
- Do your best to avoid joint injuries. Most cases of osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, are caused by cartilage breakdown in the joints. This can sometimes be associated with injuries. While you can’t totally avoid wear on your joints, you can take steps to lessen the damage. Warm up before exercising and cool down afterward, choose supportive shoes and orthotics if needed to support your joints, and wear protective equipment when needed.
Continue the Conversation
These lifestyle tweaks can help you minimize further damage caused by osteoarthritis and other common types of arthritis. If you’re diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, your provider can also suggest other changes that may help you protect your joints, including activity modifications and the use of assistive devices.
Identifying signs of arthritis is just the first step. Along with lifestyle modifications, your provider can help you access other treatments as needed. Thoughtfully managing your arthritis early can lead to improved quality of life and delay or remove the need for surgery later on.
An early arthritis diagnosis starts your journey toward relief. Find an arthritis expert or request an appointment online to schedule a consultation.
