Inflammation in the joints and the wear and tear on the girds are the causes of arthritis. Pain and swelling in your joints are some early signs.

The disease begins.

An estimated 1 in 5 Americans over the age of 18 has arthritis in at least one joint, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Arthritis develops when the shock-absorbing cartilage that normally cushions your bone is not able to function normally. This can be due to a wearing down of the cartilage over the years or inflammation in the joint.

The joint can swell if it is impaired. It can be difficult to walk, open jars, or do other everyday tasks if you have arthritis.

There are more than 100 different conditions of arthritis. Arthralgia is the first sign of arthritis and is the most common sign. This can feel like a burning sensation. If you have been gardening or walking up stairs, you will most likely start to experience pain after you have used the joint a lot.

Some people feel achy in the morning. People report achy feelings when it rains or the humidity changes.

Your joints may swell up as they become painful. Increased fluid in the joint causes swelling. Synovial fluid is a natural lubricant and cushion. You may have too much fluid in your joints due to arthritis. The swelling can make you feel unwell.

Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that usually affects larger, weight-bearing joints, such as:

  • The hips are not straight.
  • The knees.
  • Lower back.

It can affect the joints.

  • The neck is tight.
  • The fingers of the person.
  • Toes.

“Only one joint may be affected. If you haven’t used the arthritic joints in your knee for a while, they feel sore and stiff. It can take a few minutes for your joints to get moving after you wake up.”

Rheumatoid arthritis also causes pain and swelling in the joints. Usually, the small joints of the The fingers of the person. and Toes. are affected first. The most common symptom is stiffness, and it takes a long time to get the joints moving, especially in the morning.

The disease is symmetrical, meaning that if your left index finger is swollen and painful, you will usually have the same symptoms in the right index finger.

Rheumatoid arthritis can affect the whole body.

Other non-joint symptoms can include:

  • The breath was very thin.
  • There is a high degree of fever.
  • There is chest pain.
  • Eye inflammation or dry eye.

Like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune condition. That means instead of protecting your body from disease, the immune system turns against your body and attacks itself.

The condition can cause a variety of symptoms, including swollen joints, eye redness, and changes to the nails. Doctors refer to swelling of the finger or toe as “sausage-like.” This may help distinguish this condition from other types of arthritis.

Gout is a unique form of arthritis because it often attacks the large joint of the big toe. But it can also affect other joints, such as the ankle or knee. Gout flares are typically very intense pain in one joint, with redness and swelling.

People can get gout flares in the same joint or different joints. Gout flares can be prevented with medicines that relieve gout.

You may not even realize you have the condition if the symptoms come on slowly. You may feel a little tired or sore. It is important to see a doctor when you start to feel pain.

Over time, arthritis becomes a progressive disease. If you get treatment as soon as possible, you can prevent your joints from getting damaged permanently.

The Healthline FindCare tool can provide options in your area if you need help finding a primary care doctor or a rheumatologist.