Osteoarthritis is characterized primarily by stiffness and pain in the joints, although not everyone with osteoarthritis actually experiences pain and disability. The stiffness and pain tend to be worse in the morning (particularly for about 30 minutes after waking up) and again in the evening, often called "first movement pain" with improvement during the day as the person carries on his or her daily activities. Pain that disrupts sleep is often an indicator. Other symptoms can include:

-- Loss of flexibility of a joint, such as inability to bend and pick something off the floor
-- A crunching feeling or sound of bone rubbing on bone when the joint is moved
-- An abnormal curve in the spine which may be due to unbalanced muscle spasm
-- A sensation of pinching, tingling, or numbness in a nerve or the spinal cord
-- Swelling and warmth in one or more joints, particularly during weather changes
-- Localized tenderness when the joint or affected area of the spine is pressed
-- Steady or intermittent pain in a joint, which is often described as an aching type of pain.