Osteoarthritis Symptoms & Diagnosis

Symptoms

Symptoms include:

• Mild to severe pain in a joint, especially after overuse or long periods of inactivity, such as sitting for a long time
• Creaking or grating sound in the joint
• Swelling, stiffness, limited movement of the joint, especially in the morning
• Weakness in muscles around the sore joint
• Deformity of the joint

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam.

Tests may include:

• X-ray —a test that uses radiation to take a picture of structures inside the body, especially bones
• Blood tests
• Arthrocentesis —a procedure that involves withdrawing fluid from a joint