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All the body's joints may potentially be damaged by osteoarthritis, but it is most commonly found in the knees, hips, lower or lumbar spine, and fingers. Symptoms include:
- Joint stiffness in the morning and after prolonged periods of rest.
- Progressive loss of joint function.
- Swelling.
- Cracking and grating in the joints.
- Reduced mobility.
Symptoms vary with each person, but the general pattern at OA's onset is pain accompanied by a sense of "cracking" and "grating" in the joints, especially the knees. Joint movement is reduced due to swelling. Pain, joint stiffness and swelling are the result of joint deterioration and unfortunately are likely to increase over time. Pain typically appears when the affected joint is moved, and dissipates after a few minutes of rest. Pain returns, however, after prolonged rest, such as a night's sleep, but can be reduced with light exercise. Joint stiffness is also present in the morning after sleeping and will reappear if the joint is kept immobile for too long (while sitting, for example). The symptoms tend to worsen with fatigue, which is why the worst time is at the end of the day.
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