Accompanying symptoms

Morning stiffness is a symptom which, as with most diseases, does not occur alone. Depending on the underlying disease, morning stiffness is usually accompanied by other symptoms, which together can provide the overall picture of the disease. Usually, inflammatory diseases of the joints (see: arthritis) are the cause of morning stiffness.

These diseases are often accompanied by pain in the joints. Swelling and redness as well as overheating can also occur at the affected area.If rheumatism is responsible for the occurrence of morning stiffness, tendonitis and sensory deficiencies as well as pain in the hand occur relatively frequently. Since rheumatism is an illness that is not necessarily limited to the joints, symptoms of other organs can also occur. The other accompanying symptoms, in addition to a series of further diagnostic tests, can help the attending physician to find out which disease could be responsible for the individually occurring morning stiffness.

Morning stiffness and muscle pain

When morning stiffness occurs and is accompanied by muscle pain, it can have a number of different causes. Which of the possible causes applies in an individual case can only be found out through extensive diagnostic examinations and tests, which is why a doctor should definitely be consulted when experiencing these symptoms. If there is morning stiffness and muscle pain, the onset of a so-called rheumatic disease could be behind the symptoms.

Since rheumatism can affect not only the joints but also the muscles and other organs, the possible symptoms of the disease are manifold. Likewise the beginning of the menopause can be behind suddenly beginning morning stiffness as well as the occurrence of muscle pain. In this case, a hormonal change in the body causes the symptoms, which should improve after the body has adjusted to the changes. In rare cases, a neurological disease such as multiple sclerosis can also be the cause of the complaints.

Morning stiffness on hands/fingers

In principle, morning stiffness can occur in any joint of the body. Depending on the disease, different parts of the body are typical for a pronounced morning stiffness. Thus the complaints with rheumatism often occur first at the small joints, such as the finger joints.

With arthrosis, on the other hand, it is typical that the large joints such as the hip or knee are affected. Morning stiffness, which occurs mainly in the hand and fingers, is therefore typical of rheumatoid arthritis. In order to be sure that this clinical picture is the cause or that another cause is responsible for the symptoms, a doctor should be consulted for further clarification.