Arthritis Diagnosis and Symptoms
Image via Wikipedia
Spotting The Signs
Arthritis is often difficult to diagnose. The problem is that the symptoms vary from patient to patient, and there are many different types of arthritis (around 100) sometimes making an accurate diagnosis pretty difficult. The most common symptoms of arthritis are;
- pain – especially in or around the joints
- inflammation of the joints
- swelling of the joints
- redness and heat in the joints
- tenderness . . . you’ve guessed it, in the affected joints
- limited movement
However, some forms of arthritis are rheumatic diseases which cause symptoms in other parts and organs of the body;
- fever
- swollen glands
- fatigue
- loss of weight
- feeling generally unwell
- problems with lungs, kidneys or heart
These are often the symptoms which are difficult to diagnose.
Diagnosis of Arthritis
Some forms of arthritis are pretty easy to diagnose, others are not. Sometimes arthritis is a very serious business, sometimes it is more of an inconvenience, but how do you know whether you are suffering from arthritis.
The first step towards diagnosing arthritis is a trip to the doctors. The doctor will check out the symptoms, review the history of any recurring symptoms and give a physical examination. Some types of arthritis can affect many different parts of the body and the doctor will need to check out all of these areas. He may organize for other tests to determine whether or not you are suffering from arthritis, and the type and severity of the disease. Blood tests, urine tests, testing on the joint fluid and x-rays can all be used for the diagnosis of arthritis, although it might take a few visits to the medical center before the doctor can give an accurate diagnosis.
C-Reactive Protein Test (CRP)
The CRP test can be used to help diagnose various diseases, including some types of arthritis. Although the test is not generally accurate enough to give a complete diagnosis, it can certainly point the doctors in the right direction and thus instigate the need for further tests where there is inflammation and infection.
Basically, the amount of CRP increases where there is a serious amount of inflammation, so if there is acute risk of infection (ie after surgery) or the patients symptoms warrant such a test (the symptoms of arthritis for example) then the test may be done. The CRP test can also be repeated after treatment to determine the effectiveness . . . CRP decreases quite dramatically as the inflammation subsides. If you have a high or increasing level of CRP then you have a serious infection or heavy inflammation, and if the level starts to drop then you are on the mend. Of course, as with many other diseases, an early diagnosis of arthritis can help to prevent damage becoming irreversible and causing disability.
Some Other Lab Tests Which Are Used in The Diagnosis of Arthritis
- Rheumatoid Factor (RF) – this test detects and measures levels of an antibody known to act against gamma globulin, a component of the blood. People with rheumatoid arthritis often test positive with this RF test.
- Uric aid – this test is used to help diagnose gout. Gout occurs when there is too much uric acid crystallizing and forming deposits in joints and tissues, the cause of severe pain and inflammation.
- Antinuclear Antibody – what a lot of “anti’s” . . . . these are generally present in the blood of patients who are suffering from lupus as well as many other diseases.
- Skin biopsy – is useful for patients who are suffering from forms of arthritis which involve the skin like lupus. Small samples of the skin are taken for examination under a microscope.
- Joint fluid tests – can sometimes help to give a clearer picture of the reasons for the joint inflammation. The fluid will be withdrawn from the joint with a needle.
- Muscle biopsy – a little more intrusive than both the skin biopsy and the joint fluid test, a muscle biopsy can be performed when a surgeon has removed a sample of the affected muscle to be examined, particularly for signs of damage to the fibers of the muscle.
