{"id":126,"date":"2018-01-08T06:31:22","date_gmt":"2018-01-08T06:31:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/besthealth.guide\/?p=126"},"modified":"2021-10-06T07:19:55","modified_gmt":"2021-10-06T07:19:55","slug":"15-arthritis-symptoms-that-will-surprise-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/15-arthritis-symptoms-that-will-surprise-you\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Arthritis Symptoms That Will Surprise You"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Arthritis is a painful and debilitating condition that causes swelling, stiffness, and discomfort in one or more joints. There are a number of different types of arthritis and a number of different potential causes \u2013 and for this reason, it can present itself in a variety of different ways.<\/p>\n

In autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, for instance, the body is actually attacking itself and it is the patient\u2019s own immune system that is responsible. On the other hand, however, osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition that is caused over many years of repeated use \u2013 or which may be triggered by an old injury or accident. Fibromyalgia is a condition that is closely related to arthritis and for which the precise cause isn\u2019t fully understood. Fibromyalgia appears to increase an individual\u2019s sensitivity to pain generally and is likely linked to depression and stress via changes in the brain.<\/p>\n

For this reason, it\u2019s easy to mistake symptoms of arthritis for other conditions or to mistakenly assume that certain symptoms aren\u2019t related.<\/p>\n

In this post, we will take a look at 15 different arthritis symptoms that many people find more surprising.<\/p>\n

1. Tiredness<\/h3>\n

One of the lesser-known symptoms of arthritis is tiredness<\/a>, which can actually occur in many forms and for many reasons.<\/p>\n

One reason for tiredness is simply lack of sleep. When you experience chronic pain, you will find it harder to get to sleep and to stay that way: and this can cause you to wake to feel unrested and even somewhat ill.<\/p>\n

Tiredness can also be caused by the body fighting itself, by infections or by hormonal changes.<\/p>\n

\"\"2. Temperature<\/h3>\n

In the case of autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis<\/a>, the swelling and pain are actually caused by the patient\u2019s own body turning on itself. This is the same thing that happens during an allergic reaction.<\/p>\n

And in fact, it\u2019s also why we feel unwell when we have an infection: the symptoms aren\u2019t caused by the infection itself, but by the body, as it attempts to drive out said infection.<\/p>\n

Thus you may feel as though you have the flu or a cold during this kind of arthritis and with that comes a high temperature, sweating, and the rest!<\/p>\n

\"\"3. Stiffness<\/h3>\n

Don\u2019t just look for pain and discomfort<\/a>: look also for stiffness. In fact, this is often one of the first signs you should be on the lookout for, which causes you to struggle to move your limbs as usual and to feel uncomfortable as you do.<\/p>\n

This can make regular tasks more difficult and you might also find that it is worse at certain points during the day. In particular, stiffness often affects your worst first thing in the morning when you wake up.<\/p>\n

\"\"4. Morning Stiffness<\/h3>\n

And this is another thing to look out for in which case. Morning stiffness can have a number of causes and might also mean that your bed isn\u2019t offering the right amount of cushioning and support. However, if you notice this morning stiffness which subsides somewhat throughout the day and it presents alongside the other symptoms on this list, that is a strong sign that you might be developing arthritis<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In general, you should consider all of these symptoms in the context of one another. Don\u2019t look for individual problems!<\/p>\n

\"\"5. Muscle Loss<\/h3>\n

As you become stiffer or more painful in specific joints<\/a>, this can of course cause limited movement. You may begin to struggle to perform specific tasks and may find you become less active.<\/p>\n

And of course, this can lead to the side effect of muscle loss, as the parts of the body you aren\u2019t using regularly begin to lose strength and size.<\/p>\n

This can also lead to other problems. For instance, if you have arthritis in one part of the body, this can actually cause pain elsewhere as you \u2018compensate\u2019 for that weakness and end up moving incorrectly. This can also lead to injury if it causes you to stumble or if uneven pressure pulls on the joints more.<\/p>\n

\"\"6. Depression<\/h3>\n

A common side effect of many different kinds of arthritis is depression<\/a> and this can be either a direct side effect or an indirect one.<\/p>\n

Of course, chronic pain can cause symptoms of depression and frustration, as everyday tasks become more difficult, and as you feel exhausted and stressed by the constant pain. Pain takes up energy!<\/p>\n

At the same time, arthritis can cause depression for other reasons. It can impact negatively on sleep for instance, or it might alter your hormonal balance and cause inflammation in the brain \u2013 especially in the case of autoimmune forms of arthritis or in fibromyalgia which is actually very closely linked with depression generally.<\/p>\n

\"\"7. Irritability<\/h3>\n

Just as arthritis<\/a> can impact on your mood to make you feel depressed and slow, so too can it lead to irritability and a short temper. Again, this has both direct and indirect causes.<\/p>\n

For one, the neurotransmitters linked with pain are actually also linked to anger. This is why we often become irritable when spending lots of time in pain. At the same time, poor sleep and hormonal changes can also cause us to be less sympathetic and patient than normal.<\/p>\n

This can end up actually having negative impacts on your relationships and even your employability, underlining just what a huge impact the condition has on every aspect of your life.<\/p>\n

\"\"8. Deformity<\/h3>\n

One of the most unsettling symptoms of arthritis is how it can physically change the appearance of joints and other body parts. One of the early symptoms<\/a> you\u2019ll often notice for instance is a finger protruding in the wrong direction, or a single swollen finger knuckle. This can leave you looking somewhat unusual in the affected areas and can once again have further impacts if it makes the person feel self-conscious.<\/p>\n

\"\"9. Nodules<\/h3>\n

Nodules<\/a> are lumps that can appear around affected joints. These will often appear behind the knees, around the knuckles, or even on the soles of the feet which is particularly uncomfortable. The nodules can be painful if they get in the way of the joint or if you are forced to put pressure on them and they can also be unsightly. IN many cases, these will actually subside on their own without intervention.<\/p>\n

\"\"10. Pale Skin<\/h3>\n

One of the least expected side effects of arthritis is that your skin may appear paler and especially beneath the nails or under the lower eyelids.<\/p>\n

The reason for this is anemia<\/a>: anemia being a condition caused by low iron or low vitamin B12, which causes the body to produce lower amounts of red blood cells. This in turn makes it harder for the body to circulate oxygen, energy, and nutrients and as such, you can end up feeling lethargic and ill.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the reduced red blood can leave you looking paler and sickly, which is one of the main symptoms of anemia.<\/p>\n

There are other causes of anemia \u2013 such as malnutrition or even poor absorption of nutrients: but again, if this occurs alongside joint pain, tiredness, temperature, etc., then you should consider arthritis as a potential cause.<\/p>\n

\"\"11. Susceptibility to Illness<\/h3>\n

When you experience arthritis, your body is constantly fighting itself or fighting the cause. You are constantly operating at a lower level as a result, as much of your attention and energy are going into healing the wound and coping with it.<\/p>\n

It should come as no huge surprise then, that you will be more susceptible to illness. Your immune system will be suppressed and thus you will be far more prone to colds<\/a>, flu, infections, and more.<\/p>\n

\"\"12. Brain Fog<\/h3>\n

Brain fog<\/a> describes the difficulty in concentrating, poor mood and energy, affected memory, etc. All of these things can commonly come from arthritis due to the fact that arthritis is linked with inflammation. Inflammation meanwhile is actually controlled by something called \u2018pro-inflammatory cytokines\u2019 in the body.<\/p>\n

These are signals that promote inflammation but they also cause inflammation in other places that we don\u2019t see \u2013 including the brain.<\/p>\n

This brain inflammation is thought to be one of the primary causes of brain fog and is also one of the main reasons that we experience depression and low mood during colds and flu.<\/p>\n

\"\"13. Catching<\/h3>\n

Catching is an unpleasant term that describes quite an uncomfortable experience. When the joints catch, it means that they get caught on another part of the bone, on a protrusion, on swelling<\/a>, or even on a nodule.<\/p>\n

This can limit movement and is a very unsettling feeling but it can also be more serious over time as it potentially grinds down the joints and exacerbates the condition. Another common term is \u2018grinding\u2019, which describes how a joint can move painfully through its range of motion as it rubs against nodules or body parts.<\/p>\n

This goes beyond stiffness to the point where you can actually lose some faith in your own movements and joints. This can be worsened by weakened joints and muscles too.<\/p>\n

\"\"14. Weight Loss<\/h3>\n

Weight loss is a common side effect of arthritis for a number of reasons. The first is that it often leads to low appetite<\/a>. As mentioned, arthritis in some of its forms can lead to feeling similar to having an infection or a cold\/flu. This can leave you feeling ill, too hot, cold, and generally sick and that makes you not want to eat.<\/p>\n

Likewise, the heart rate will often be raised as the body is fighting itself and you are likely to experience muscle loss due to reduced movement and lessened activity. All these factors combined can lead to rapid and noticeable weight loss, eventually causing you to appear thinner and generally less healthy.<\/p>\n

\"\"15. Skin Changes<\/h3>\n

Finally, it\u2019s common to notice changes in the skin. We\u2019ve already seen that the skin can become paler due to lower iron and B12 content, but on top of this it is common for the skin to appear red and inflamed. This can even appear slightly blue in some cases, especially if the flow of blood<\/a> and nutrients to the area is being restricted.<\/p>\n

Finally, you might find that you notice a rash or damage to the skin. This can be the result of the skin being pulled taut over the affected area, or of the immune response itself.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Arthritis is a painful and debilitating condition that causes swelling, stiffness, and discomfort in one or more joints. There are a number of different types of arthritis and a number of different potential causes \u2013 and for this reason, it can present itself in a variety of different ways. In autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":26,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n15 Arthritis Symptoms That Will Surprise You<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"15 Arthritis Symptoms That Will Surprise You\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Arthritis is a painful and debilitating condition that causes swelling, stiffness, and discomfort in one or more joints. 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