Making the Diagnosis
To diagnose arthritis, your doctor will take a thorough history and conduct a physical examination to determine which joints are affected and what other organs or tissues might be involved, and to rule out other possible diseases.
The joints may not show any abnormalities, or may show tenderness, swelling, redness or heat, or limited range of motion.
Because there is no specific test to diagnose arthritis, almost all kinds of arthritis are based on the clinical diagnosis of the doctor. Doctors make a firm diagnosis based on the cumulative pattern of the person's own medical history, family history, environment, physical exam, tests, and course of condition over time.
X-rays may show nothing or may show characteristic changes of OA, RA, and other types. MRI and ultrasound may show more information than an X-ray. Sometimes, it is necessary to withdraw a fluid sample from a swollen joint to examine it under the microscope and to send the sample to the lab for analysis of white blood cells and other factors.