diagnosing arthritis

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Home Alternative Treatments for Arthritis Holistic Medicine Prevention against Arthritis Acupuncture For Arthritis Arthritis Relief Treatment Research	Diagnosing Arthritis The first step towards diagnosing arthritis is to understand the symptoms. There are two main types of this disease, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid. Both have similar symptoms but they have different causes. While you may have some of the symptoms of this disease only a doctor can give you a complete analysis. Pain Pain is the most common symptom in every type of this disease. It can be intense pain that quickly tapers off or most often chronic pain that is always present. During the beginning stages of this disease the pain will come and go. You may notice pain after you exercise too much or overwork your joints. When diagnosing arthritis it is important to note that the most common joints affected by this disease are the fingers, knees, feet and hips although this disease can attack any joints of the body. The pain most often associated with arthritis is a deep-rooted one that radiates from within the joint. It may subside and then reappear for no apparent reason. Remember that joint pain can also be an indication of other problems or injuries. Inflammation and swelling This disease causes inflammation or swelling and redness in the affected joints. The joints may be painful to the touch. Inflammation may be barely noticeable or can be quite profound. The joints may have redness to them and may even look misshapen. Stiffness When diagnosing arthritis you will notice that the joints that are affected by the disease start to become stiff and hard to move, this stiffness is often most intense after periods of non-use such as overnight. The rigidity often subsides once you start moving your joints. Joint inflexibility increases as the disease becomes worse. Loss of function When this disease becomes very bad it can lead to loss of joint function. The stiffness of the joints can turn into frozen joints if left alone. Lack of movement can cause the joints to freeze in place. This is most common with rheumatoid arthritis although it can happen with either type. Joint damage When diagnosing arthritis you will see that joints affected by arthritis can become misshapen or out of alignment. If the muscles and tissue surrounding the joints are weak the disease can cause the joints to become misaligned. The result is joints that look crooked. Fatigue Fatigue is a symptom that is associated with rheumatoid type. With rheumatoid disease there can be low grade fever and infection. This can cause the body to become fatigued in constantly trying to fight the disease. Many people report becoming most fatigued in the middle of the day. Testing for arthritis If you feel that you may have arthritis you should seek the diagnosis of a doctor. Your doctor will take a complete medical and family medical history. This disease is often genetic so if you have family members who had it you are more likely to get it. Your doctor may take x-rays of the affected joints and may order an MRI to get a better look at them. Blood tests are another way your doctor can make a clear analysis of the disease. This is especially helpful to test for the rheumatoid type. It is important to get an analysis as soon as possible so that you can begin to make changes to care for this disease.

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Diagnosing Arthritis

The first step towards diagnosing arthritis is to understand the symptoms. There are two main types of this disease, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid. Both have similar symptoms but they have different causes. While you may have some of the symptoms of this disease only a doctor can give you a complete analysis.

Pain

Pain is the most common symptom in every type of this disease. It can be intense pain that quickly tapers off or most often chronic pain that is always present. During the beginning stages of this disease the pain will come and go. You may notice pain after you exercise too much or overwork your joints. When diagnosing arthritis it is important to note that the most common joints affected by this disease are the fingers, knees, feet and hips although this disease can attack any joints of the body.

The pain most often associated with arthritis is a deep-rooted one that radiates from within the joint. It may subside and then reappear for no apparent reason. Remember that joint pain can also be an indication of other problems or injuries.

Inflammation and swelling

This disease causes inflammation or swelling and redness in the affected joints. The joints may be painful to the touch. Inflammation may be barely noticeable or can be quite profound. The joints may have redness to them and may even look misshapen.

Stiffness

When diagnosing arthritis you will notice that the joints that are affected by the disease start to become stiff and hard to move, this stiffness is often most intense after periods of non-use such as overnight. The rigidity often subsides once you start moving your joints. Joint inflexibility increases as the disease becomes worse.

Loss of function

When this disease becomes very bad it can lead to loss of joint function. The stiffness of the joints can turn into frozen joints if left alone. Lack of movement can cause the joints to freeze in place. This is most common with rheumatoid arthritis although it can happen with either type.

Joint damage

When diagnosing arthritis you will see that joints affected by arthritis can become misshapen or out of alignment. If the muscles and tissue surrounding the joints are weak the disease can cause the joints to become misaligned. The result is joints that look crooked.

Fatigue

Fatigue is a symptom that is associated with rheumatoid type. With rheumatoid disease there can be low grade fever and infection. This can cause the body to become fatigued in constantly trying to fight the disease. Many people report becoming most fatigued in the middle of the day.

Testing for arthritis

If you feel that you may have arthritis you should seek the diagnosis of a doctor. Your doctor will take a complete medical and family medical history. This disease is often genetic so if you have family members who had it you are more likely to get it. Your doctor may take x-rays of the affected joints and may order an MRI to get a better look at them. Blood tests are another way your doctor can make a clear analysis of the disease. This is especially helpful to test for the rheumatoid type. It is important to get an analysis as soon as possible so that you can begin to make changes to care for this disease.