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- Juvenile arthritis sufferers less active, study suggests
Published Friday 14 November 2008 - New breakthrough in understanding arthritis made, scientists state
Published Wednesday 12 November 2008 - Rise in rheumatoid arthritis linked with environmental factors
Published Friday 31 October 2008 - Advice offered on arthritic conditions
Published Friday 31 October 2008
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Diagnosing
How is osteoarthritis diagnosed?
If you experience joint pain, stiffness and/or swelling for more than 2 weeks, you should make an appointment to see your doctor. It is important to find out if you have arthritis and, if so, what type. Early diagnosis can help minimize pain and disability.
When you see your doctor for the first time regarding your symptoms, he or she will ask questions about when and how the condition started. The doctor will probably give you a physical examination to check your general health and to examine the joints that are bothering you. You may also need other tests to help confirm the diagnosis of OA and determine the extent and severity of joint damage.
Tests that your doctor may perform include:
- X-rays. X-rays can help the doctor determine whether you have OA or RA. A series of X-rays obtained over time can show how rapidly joint damage is progressing. X-rays of the affected joints can show cartilage loss, bone damage, and bone spurs.
- Joint aspiration. If your doctor is still uncertain about the diagnosis or suspects that you may have an infection, he or she may perform joint aspiration. In this procedure, your doctor withdraws and examines synovial fluid from affected joints using a needle.
How is rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed?
If you have persistent discomfort and swelling in multiple joints on both sides of your body, make an appointment to see your doctor. Early intervention can ensure that you receive the right diagnosis and help you to start feeling better, sooner. Early intervention can also help prevent irreversible joint damage.
To determine if your symptoms are due to RA, your doctor will most likely:
Review your medical history and conduct a physical examination.
- Request a blood test that looks for an antibody called rheumatoid factor. About 70% to 90% of people with RA have this antibody. However, it is also possible to have the rheumatoid factor in your blood and not have RA.
- Perform a blood test that measures your erythrocyte sedimentation rate (or sed rate), which will indicate the presence of an inflammatory process in your body. People with RA tend to have abnormally high sed rates.
- Take X-rays of your joints to determine the extent of damage in your affected joints. A sequence of X-rays obtained over time can show the progression of RA.
If you have joint pain, stiffness, and/or swelling for more than 2 weeks, you may have arthritis. Talk with your doctor about your symptoms.