In taking the health history of a client with severe painful osteoarthritis, the nurse would expect the client to report which of the following?
1. A gradual onset of the disease, with involvement of weight-bearing joints
2. A sudden onset of the disease, with involvement of all joints
3. Complaints of joint stiffness after periods of activity
4. Pain that improves with use of the joint
Answer: 1
Osteoarthritis has a gradual onset and affects weight-bearing joints with pain that is more pronounced after exercise. The onset of osteoarthritis is gradual, not sudden. The client will usually complain of increased stiffness in the morning and also following periods of inactivity, with improvement following activity. Joint pain generally worsens with joint use and in the early stages of osteoarthritis, joint pain is relieved by rest. (Lewis 8 ed, p. 1642).