Do I Have Arthritis? 12 Symptoms Men Should Never Ignore

There are many types of arthritis, the most common being osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis symptoms differ with the type. Osteoarthritis develops slowly and gets worse over time. The worst symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis often occur upon waking with stiffness that can last for hours.

Here are 12 symptoms men should watch for to seek medical advice and treatment if necessary:

With osteoarthritis, the protective cartilage on the ends of your bones begins to wear down, causing damage to the cartilage. It can affect the joints in the hands, knees, hips and spine.

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Osteoarthritis symptoms include:

1. Joint stiffness usually occurs in the morning after waking up. It can also occur after periods of inactivity.

2. Pain in the joint can be felt when you move it or after movement.

3. Tenderness is noticeable when you apply light pressure to the joint. Swelling may also occur around the joint.

4. Hard lumps may form around the arthritic joint. The extra bits of bone create bone spurs.

5. You might find it difficult to move the joint through its normal motion because of a loss of flexibility.

6. The damaged cartilage can cause a grating sensation whenever you use the joint.

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In cases of rheumatoid arthritis, painful swelling develops because of damage to the lining of the joints. It’s an immune system disorder in which your body’s immunities mistakenly attack the joints, says Medical News Today.

Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms include:

7. Hard bumps develop on the skin tissue under your arms from the formation of rheumatoid nodules.

8. Morning stiffness can occur for 30 minutes or sometimes last for hours.

9. The joints become tender, warm and swollen.

10. Fatigue, weight loss and fever may occur in many patients.

11. Smaller joints in the fingers and toes are usually affected first while the disease can spread to the wrists, knees, ankles, elbows, hips and shoulders as it progresses.

12. Swelling and pain may fade during periods of time but return with flare-ups. The joints may eventually become deformed or shift out of place over time.

This article is for information only and is not intended as medical advice. Talk with your doctor about your specific health and medical needs.

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