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How Do
Doctors Diagnose Osteorarthritis?
No single test can diagnose osteoarthritis. Most doctors use
a combination of the following methods to diagnose the disease
and rule out other conditions:
Clinical History: The doctor begins
by asking the patient to describe the symptoms, and when and
how the condition started. Good doctor-patient communication
is important. The doctor can give a better assessment if the
patient gives a good description of pain, stiffness, and joint
function, and how they changed over time. It is also important
for the doctor to know how the condition is affecting the
patient’s work and daily life. Finally, the doctor also
needs to know about other medical conditions and whether the
patient is taking any medicines.
Physical Examination: The doctor will
check the patient’s general health. Joints bothering
the patient will be examined, including checking reflexes
and muscle strength. The doctor will also observe the patient’s
ability to walk, bend, and carry out activities of daily living.
X rays: Doctors take x rays to see how much joint damage has
been done. X rays of the affected joint can show such things
as cartilage loss, bone damage, and bone spurs. But there
is often a big difference between the severity of osteoarthritis
that the x ray shows and the degree of pain and disability
the patient has. And x rays may not show early osteoarthritis
damage (before much cartilage loss has taken place).
Other Tests: The doctor may order blood
tests to determine the cause of symptoms. Another common test
includes “joint aspiration,” where fluid is drawn
from the joint for examination.
It is usually not difficult to tell
if a patient has osteoarthritis. It is more difficult to tell
if the disease is causing the patient’s symptoms. Osteoarthritis
is so common, especially in older people, that other conditions
may play a role in the symptoms. The doctor will try to find
out what is causing the symptoms, ruling out other disorders
and identifying conditions that may make the symptoms worse.
The severity of symptoms in osteoarthritis is greatly influenced
by the patient’s attitudes, anxiety, depression, or
daily activity level.
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