Most often, osteoarthritis develops gradually and commonly affects one or a few joints. Many people do not realize that they have osteoarthritis until they experience joint soreness or stiffness that seems more of a nuisance than a medical concern.

The signs and symptoms vary among individuals and are l ikely to appear when you are in your 50s and 60s. These include:

  • Joint pain (often a deep, aching pain), usually in the morning and worse in the evening
  • Stiffness after being inactive for more than 15 minutes
  • Morning stiffness, usually lasts less than 30 minutes
  • Joint inflammation
  • Joint swelling or tenderness
  • Joints that are warm to touch
  • Joints may creak or grind when they move
  • Limited range of movement
  • Muscle weakness
  • Abnormal bony growths near joints causing deformity