Diagnosis of Arthritis

The diagnosis of arthritis is usually made with a physical examination, x-ray, joint aspiration procedure or blood test. It is important to find out whether or not you have arthritis, and, if diagnosed, what type of arthritis you have. If swelling or stiffness occurs in your joints for more than two weeks, you should contact your doctor for a physical examination of affected joints.

Arthritis can range from mildly moderate to severe in symptoms. If your doctor suspects that you have joint damage, he or she may perform additional tests to assess the severity. X-rays of the affected joints show the cartilage loss, bone damage and bone spurs. Additionally, x-rays can often help doctors determine whether you have osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. A joint aspiration procedure involves removing synovial fluid from the affected joints using a needle. This test is usually performed when your doctor has a difficult time determining your diagnosis or suspects that you may have an infection. Although there is no cure for arthritis, early diagnosis and self-management can significantly reduce arthritis pain and symptoms.