Presenting Symptoms

Part of Body

(Usual)

Affected

Disease Name

1

Osteoarthritis and Degenerative Diseases: Classified by Symptom

Medical data is for informational purposes only. You should always consult your family physician, or one of our referral physicians prior to treatment.

®

Bone Proliferation at Margins of Joints

Hands, Hip, and Spine Osteoarthritis; Degenerative Disease

Deadening of Bone Beneath Cartilage

Deformity and Dislocation Occur

Joints Become Larger

Joints May Be Heated

Joint Motion Can Be Severely Limited

Joints Often Affected Are: Joints Closest to

Nails (Distal Interphalangeal); Middle Joints;

(Proximal Interphalangeal); Closest to Thumb

(Carpometacarpal); Hip

Loss of Joint Cartilage

May Have Referral Pain At Knee With Referral

Pain Along Leg Muscle Nerve, With Pain,

Swelling and Instability

May Limp With Pain

Pain Is Usually Earliest Symptoms After Great

Exercise

Painful Gelatinous Cysts May Be Present

Spinal Osteoarthritis May Produce Compression

On Nerves From Growth of Bone or From

Degenerative Disc

Stiffness or Fibrositis Follows Inactivity But

Usually Lasts for 15 to 30 Minutes

Tenderness and Grating of Bone on Bone Are

Present

Women Affected Ten Times More Frequently

Than Men

Fracture, Infection, or Tumor May Be Cause Low Back

Low Back Pain; Spondyloisthesis

Increases With Age, About 50% Over Age 60

May Be Ligament Strain, Muscle Tear or

Ruptured Disc, Causing Inflammation

or Direct Mechanical Nerve Pressure

Pain May Follow Coughing or Sneezing or

Limitation of Straight-Leg Raising and

Limitation of Back Motion

Radiates Along Sciatica Nerve

Slipped Fifth Lumbar Vertebra

Usually Begins 2 to 24 Hours After Heavy

Lifting, or Other Strenuous Exercise

The Arthritis Trust of America

®

/Rheumatoid Disease Foundation, 7376 Walker Road, Fairview, TN 37062