How To Diagnose Rheumatoid Arthritis And Osteoarthritis

Additionally check for swelling in your smaller joints like the ones in your fingers and toes. Your doctor may also draw joint fluid or do a skin or muscle biopsy to help diagnose certain forms of arthritis.

What Is The Difference Between Osteoarthritis And Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis Ra Signs And Symptoms

Rheumatoid Arthritis Vs Osteoarthritis Rheumatoid Arthritis Vs Osteoarthritis Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms Arthritis Symptoms

X rays and mris show the progressive damage and deterioration happening the joints.

How to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Doctors may also look for and ask about symptoms like fatigue low grade fever loss of appetite and even feelings of depression and malaise. Rheumatoid arthritis ra and osteoarthritis oa are two common types of arthritisboth cause pain and joint damage but theyre very different diseases. Making an arthritis diagnosis may take some time.

There is no one blood test or physical finding to confirm the diagnosis. Arthrocentesis which involves removal and analysis of joint fluid can evaluate for either condition with the results differentiating which type of arthritis you have. However blood tests can help rule out ra or other diseases that also cause joint pain and inflammation.

Doctors look for certain proteins that. Oa cant be diagnosed with a specific blood test. During the physical exam your doctor will check your joints for swelling redness and warmth.

X rays of affected joints can show joint damage associated with both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Other tests that may help rule out other causes include a cbc erythrocyte sedimentation rate ers chemistry profile urinalysis serum calcium serum phosphorus uric acid alkaline phosphatase and rheumatoid factor tests. Oa is also diagnosed with imaging tests.

Before determining rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis treatment plans your doctor will examine your painful joints looking for tenderness redness warmth or a buildup of fluid. Your doctor also will be trying to get a sense of any limited motion deformity or instability. The doctor will check your joints for swelling tenderness and range of motion.

To diagnose rheumatoid arthritis look for signs of pain or tenderness in your joints when you bend them. Rheumatoid arthritis for instance may cause similar symptoms and can be diagnosed with a blood test. Ra is an autoimmune diseaseit happens.

If these symptoms have been present for more than six consecutive weeks doctors may consider these as symptoms specific to ra as opposed to other types of arthritis like osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis can be difficult to diagnose in its early stages because the early signs and symptoms mimic those of many other diseases. Ra tends to strike several joints.

Blood tests are not needed to diagnose all types of arthritis but they help to confirm or exclude some forms of inflammatory arthritis.

Clinical Presentation On Rheumatoid Arthritis Amavata