Table 2.
Description of Arthritis symptoms
| Category | Descriptors |
|---|---|
| Symptoms | Pain |
| Joint Swelling | |
| Stiffness or “locking of limbs” | |
| Fatigue | |
| Weakness (e.g. in hands) | |
| Erythema of affected joint | |
| Locations | Knees |
| Fingers | |
| Wrists | |
| Ankles | |
| Feet | |
| Hips | |
| Shoulders | |
| Elbows | |
| “virtually every joint” | |
| “places where I had old injuries” | |
| Onset/Course of arthritis | Very acute |
| Gradual worsening over months, even after treatment ended | |
| Progressive | |
| Migratory | |
| Descriptors of Pain | Intense |
| Horrible | |
| Inflamed | |
| Aggravating factors | Worse in dominant hand |
| Morning (worse for stiffness) | |
| Fatigue worse as day goes on | |
| Exercise | |
| Cold weather | |
| Alleviating factors | Better when distracted |
| Ice | |
| `Medicine (NSAIDs, prednisone, DMARDs) | |
| Hot shower |