 you and 21 million others  osteoarthritis oa is the most common form of arthritis in the united states affecting an estimated 21 million adults oa begins with the breakdown of joint cartilage resulting in pain and stiffness oa commonly affects the joints of the fingers knees hips and spine other joints affected less frequently include the wrists elbows shoulders and ankles when oa is found in a lessfrequently affected joint there is usually a history of injury or unusual stress to that joint workrelated repetitive injury and physical trauma may contribute to the development of oa for example if you have a strenuous job that requires repetitive bending kneeling or squatting you may be at high risk for oa of the knee what are the symptoms of osteoarthritis the most common symptoms of oa include steady or intermittent pain in a joint stiffness after periods of inactivity such as sleeping or sitting swelling or tenderness in 1 or more joints crunching feeling or sound of bone rubbing on bone called crepitus when the joint is used oa usually comes on slowly early in the disease joints may ache after physical work or exercise if you are experiencing symptoms such as joint pain and stiffness see a doctor to find out if you have oa where do symptoms of osteoarthritis typically appear although oa can occur in any joint most often it occurs in the following areas fingers oa of the fingers is often hereditary meaning it runs in families fingers may ache or be stiff and numb the base of the thumb joint is commonly affected fingers can become enlarged and gnarled small bony knobs called heberden s nodes may also appear on the end joints of the fingers similar knobs called bouchard s nodes can appear on the middle joints of the fingers more women than men have oa of their fingers women become especially susceptible to oa after menopause knees because knees are primary weightbearing joints they are very commonly affected by oa they may be stiff swollen and painful making it hard to walk climb and get in and out of chairs and bathtubs hip oa in the hip can cause pain stiffness and severe disability in addition to your hip you may feel the pain in your groin inner thigh or knees this can lead to difficulty moving bending and walking spine oa of the spine can cause stiffness and pain in the neck or in the lower back as well as weakness or numbness in your arms or legs  getting comfort  