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- What is arthritis?
- Symptoms of arthritis
- Causes of arthritis
- Prevention of arthritis
- Risk factors for arthritis
- Complications of arthritis
- When to see a doctor about arthritis
- Diagnosis of arthritis
- Conventional treatment of arthritis
- Alternative/complementary treatment of arthritis
- Living with arthritis
- Caring for someone with arthritis
Arthritis is diagnosed through the following methods:
- Medical history - the doctor will ask a series of questions about severity and duration of symptoms and the onset of symptoms, including severity of pain
- Physical examination - the doctor may examine the exterior of the joint(s) which are affected and perform some simple mobility tests to determine how much mobility has been affected in the joint(s)
In addition to these preliminary tests, some others can be requested to help better confirm arthritis:
- Blood tests - the doctor may request a blood test to help determine the underlying cause of the joint pain. A blood tests helps to rule out rheumatoid arthritis
- X-ray - an x-ray can provide a good visual image of the affected joint and associated bones, which means any narrowing of the space between the bones (indicating breakdown of cartilage) will be shown, as will any bone spurs around a joint. An x-ray is often the one of the most commonly requested diagnostic tests for arthritis
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Further tests can be done to provide more information about the severity of the condition, how far along it has progressed and which type of arthritis is involved:
- Arthroscopy - this diagnostic test is sometimes recommended to view the inside of the joint in order to determine the cause of the joint pain. This test involves cutting some small incisions around the painful joint and and a tiny camera is inserted into the incision to be able to view the tissue inside the joint (the camera is appended at one end to a tiny tube which allows the surgeon to move it around the joint and remove it once the test is completed). Once the camera is inside the joint, it transmits images from within the joint to a computer screen which the surgeon views to determine the cause of the arthritis. This surgical diagnostic test is performed by an orthopaedic specialist (or rheumatologist)
- Joint fluid analysis - this diagnostic test is used to examine the fluid in the joint to determine if the pain is caused by gout, an infection or another type of arthritis. This test involves the use of a very thin, long needle to draw out some of the joint fluid in the affected joint(s)
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< 7: when to see a doctor 9: conventional treatment > Last reviewed: 3 January 2009 || Last updated: 8 February 2009
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NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.
