Arthritis pain is more likely develop slowly over an extended period of time. You tend to feel the pain when you kneel, climb stairs or stand up from your seat. It may hurt when you walk a long distance, or stiff when you’ve been doing nothing.

Knee osteoarthritis may cause periodic inflammation, due to the formation of bone spurs in the knee. The swelling may be more obvious after a long period of inactivity, such as when you first wake up in the morning.

As the muscles in your knee weaken over time, the entire joint structure can become unstable. This causes your knee to give way or buckle. You may feel like your knee locks up, preventing you from bending or straightening it.