Symptoms of Osteoarthritis Symptoms of osteoarthritis vary, depending on which joints are affected and how severely they are affected. However, the most common symptoms are pain and stiffness, particularly first thing in the morning or after resting. Affected joints may get swollen, especially after extended activity. These symptoms tend to build over time rather than show up suddenly. Some of the common symptoms include: 1.Sore or stiff joints – after inactivity or overuse 2.Limited range of motion or stiffness that goes away after movemen 3.Clicking or cracking sound when joint bends 4.Mild swelling around a joint 5.Pain that is worse after activity or toward the end of the day 6.Deformity (bending or bowing of joints. How is osteoarthritis diagnosed? Osteoarthritis is usually diagnosed based on your symptoms and the physical signs that your doctor finds when examining your joint, for example: • tenderness over the joint • creaking or grating of the joint (crepitus) • bony swelling • excess fluid • restricted movements • joint instability • weakness and thinning of your thigh muscle. X-rays are taken to assess the severity of the changes caused by osteoarthritis, although often they won’t be needed. They may show changes such as bony spurs or narrowing of the space between the bones where the cartilage has worn thin.They may also show whether there are any calcium deposits within the joint.