Mild pain can be controlled by mild analgesics. One of the typical features of the pain is that it aggravates with the movement and relieves with the rest. There may be some redness and slight swelling on the surface of the affected joint. The involved joint may be tender to press. In some instances fluids accumulates and swells the joint.
Stiffness is characteristically of short duration.
Usually, it goes away soon after the involved joints are used. As the disease aggravates further, span of the movement gradually decreases and the joint becomes increasingly stiff and the stiffness may persist for hours. The damaged bony ends may cause deformity. The joint that are involved may produce bony spine in some instances, which can cause pressure on never or tissue structures causing pain. This deformed joint may cause abnormal movement and irritable muscle leading to muscular spasm and pain.