An Overview of Diagnosing Arthritis
There is no one specific test that can be used for diagnosing
arthritis. Therefore, in order to make an arthritis diagnosis, the healthcare provider will begin by asking a number of questions. This is known as taking a person's medical history. Some of these questions may be related to:
- Recent symptoms, including any fever or other general symptoms
- Other medical conditions
- Current medications
- A history of any trauma
- A family history of any medical conditions, including arthritis.
After asking a number of questions, the healthcare provider will perform a physical exam looking for signs of arthritis. As part of this physical exam, the healthcare provider will examine the joints, skin, reflexes, and muscle strength.
Tests Used in Making an Arthritis Diagnosis
After the medical history and physical exam, the healthcare provider may recommend certain tests to help determine whether the patient has one of the many
types of arthritis, or another medical condition. Some of the tests that your healthcare provider may recommend include:
- X-rays or other imaging tests
- Blood tests
- Other tests.
X-Rays or Other Imaging Tests
X-rays are used to determine the degree of joint destruction, if any. They are usually not useful in the early stages of arthritis before bone damage is evident, but they can be used later to monitor the progression of the disease.
On occasion, your healthcare provider may recommend a magnetic resonance imaging test (MRI). This test can be used to detect joint and soft-tissue inflammation that cannot be seen on x-rays.
