Diagnosing Arthritis: Arthritis
Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School
Diagnosing arthritis
Diagnosing arthritis poses a significant challenge to any physician because of the sheer number of conditions that can cause joint discomfort and because there are rarely tests available to establish a definitive diagnosis. Consequently, a doctor must rely heavily on your description of symptoms and other relevant information, plus a physical examination. That's why you should prepare for your appointment by making a list of your symptoms and the circumstances under which they occur. Do you notice them during or after a particular activity? Or first thing in the morning?
Primary care doctors can usually determine at the first visit whether the problem is a form of arthritis or some other musculoskeletal problem. But it may take several visits for your physician to make a more specific diagnosis. While this delay can be frustrating for the patient and family, charting the course of your symptoms is often the only way a doctor can accurately diagnose arthritis.
| Last updated: | September 05, 2008 |
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Medical content reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School. Harvard Health Publications, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Used with permission of StayWell.
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