Arthritis Signs and Symptoms

For women, the key to living well with arthritis is to receive an early and accurate diagnosis and build a holistic treatment plan. 

To help women understand their personal risk of arthritis, Shoppers Drug Mart has partnered with Arthritis Consumer Experts and the Arthritis Research Centre of Canada to develop an arthritis-screening program designed specifically for women. 

Who should take the WOMEN Arthritis Screening?

If you think you have arthritis or are experiencing joint pain, we encourage you to click on the ArthritisID Screening. An interactive joint exam and questionnaire, the WOMEN Arthritis Screening will analyze your responses and provide you valuable results to help detect arthritis, track symptoms and provide information to manage your type of arthritis. 

If you recently started a new arthritis medication, the WOMEN Arthritis Screening* is also an excellent tool to help you and your Pharmacist monitor your symptoms and the effectiveness of your treatment over time

While the nature and intensity of arthritis signs and symptoms in women may differ among the types of arthritis, several are commonly associated with inflammatory arthritis and
osteoarthritis - the two most common forms of arthritis. 

Osteoarthritis (OA):
Osteoarthritis can affect any joint, but hands and weight-bearing joints—including the spine, hips and knees—are most often affected. Other joints, like shoulders, elbows, and ankles, are less likely to be affected unless the joint has been damaged by injury.  The most common signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis are:

Pain and stiffness in a joint or in several joints lasting more than two weeks
Joint stiffness when getting up in the morning or after a period of inactivity, lasting less than 30 minutes
Very early symptoms of OA are intermittent pain with strenuous activity; with time, the pain is present more often
Joint crepitus (grinding)


Inflammatory Arthritis:

While there are specific signs and symptoms that are associated with various types of inflammatory arthritis, several are found in most people with inflammatory arthritis. These include:

Morning stiffness in and around the joints lasting at least one hour
Pain and stiffness in more than one joint area
Pain and stiffness that worsens with immobility
Pain and stiffness that improves with physical activity
Reduced range of motion
Joint swelling

If you are experiencing one or more of these signs, see your Doctor, Pharmacist, or other member of your health care team about assessing your symptoms.