Making the Diagnosis
If you have symptoms like those described above, see your doctor as soon
as possible; an early diagnosis means faster treatment and less damage to your
joints. Your doctor will first do a physical examination and ask about your
medical history and signs and symptoms such as morning stiffness that may alert
him to the diagnosis. A blood test is used to determine the presence of an antibody
called rheumatoid factor, which is found in 80% of rheumatoid arthritis sufferers.
An erythrocyte sedimentation rate or "sed rate" test is often
done to identify whether inflammation is present. This helps the doctor differentiate
between rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. This is important so that
your condition can be properly treated. One obvious clue is that while rheumatoid
arthritis usually strikes symmetrically, affecting both right and left sides,
osteoarthritis can develop in joints on only one side of the body.
An X-ray can show how much damage has already been done to hand or wrist joints.