Hi Carmen,

I am not a doctor, but I can give you some information that might help you when you visit your doctor to talk about your pain.

Osteoarthritis pain typically acts like this: the pain worsens during activity and gets better during rest.

It may feel like as aching, stiffness, and loss of mobility. The pain also seems to increase during humid weather. Finally, you may have bad spells of pain followed by far less painful periods.

Does that sound like you?

You should talk to your doctor about your symptoms so you can get a thorough examination. Your doctor may take X-rays to examine the painful joints.

Dr. Matthew Thompson on this site wrote about what to expect on your first few doctor visits when you suspect that you have osteoarthritis, including what questions your doctor may ask. Click the blue letters to read the article.

I hope you feel better! Good luck.

Joy B.

• The pain may behave like a roller coaster, with bad spells followed by periods of relative relief.
• Pain seems to increase in humid weather.