Osteoarthritis Diagnosis

Several conditions, including osteoarthritis or fracture, can cause bone marrow edema. Learn more.

Synovial crystals help diagnose the type of arthritis. Synovial crystals are usually associated with gout but they also are related to osteoarthritis.

Medical history, physical examination, and imaging studies help diagnose osteoarthritis. What do doctors look for during the physical examination for osteoarthritis?

Many people suspect that any arthritis-type pain is osteoarthritis. That's often based on self-diagnosis. But self-diagnosis leaves uncertainty because it lacks the input of an expert physician.

If you have severe osteoarthritis, x-rays may show your painful joint is bone-on-bone. What does bone-on-bone mean?

Should people see a rheumatologist for osteoarthritis? The answer may be different if you are experiencing early symptoms or if you have an advanced case of osteoarthritis. Consider the following advice when deciding if you should see a rheumatologist for osteoarthritis.

Does your doctor intimidate you? Does your doctor encourage you to ask questions or does he shut you down? Communication is important -- but never more important than between a doctor and patient. Think about the question for a moment before answering. How do you feel in your doctor's office? Intimidated? If you do feel your doctor tries to intimidate you, how do you react? Do you become quie…

A multidiscplinary team approach is best for treating osteoarthritis. A multidisciplinary team is a group of various health care professionals who become part of your health care team.

Subchondral sclerosis is a medical term often seen on x-ray reports. What is subchondral sclerosis and how is it related to osteoarthritis?

Arthrocentesis is used to diagnose and establish the cause for monoarthritis (arthritis in a single joint) or polyarthritis (arthritis in many joints). Arthrocentesis is also used as a treatment to drain large amounts of fluid in a joint and at the same time inject the joint with a corticosteroid.

MRI scans are being ordered in excess, according to some experts. In certain cases, a much less expensive, routine x-ray is just as telling as an MRI. Is an MRI needed to diagnose osteoarthritis?

When you talk to your doctor, what do you talk about? Do you find it difficult to talk to your doctor? Many patients don't share important information with their doctors and make a concerted effort to keep conversation light. If that's what you do, is enough being accomplished?

By delaying osteoarthritis diagnosis and treatment, joint damage can become severe and disabling. Osteoarthritis patients must face whatever causes them to procrastinate about getting quality medical care.

Joint space narrowing can be seen on x-rays -- a common diagnostic procedure for evaluating arthritis. Joint space narrowing correlates with worsening osteoarthritis.

When osteoarthritis patients experience early symptoms, they tend to think it's ordinary aches and pains. When symptoms persist, it's time to ask a doctor. Here are guidelines which suggest when it's time to ask a doctor.

Early diagnosis of osteoarthritis is important. Osteoarthritis diagnosis precedes consideration of effective treatment options. Learn about osteoarthritis diagnosis.

Osteoarthritis shows on x-ray. The appearance of joints on x-ray help diagnose osteoarthritis. Joint damage has a characteristic appearance on an osteoarthritis x-ray.

Generally speaking, range of motion refers to the distance and direction a joint can move to its full potential. Each specific joint has a normal range of motion, expressed in degrees after measured using a goniometer.

What's a rheumatologist? What can you expect from your first appointment with the rheumatologist?

Are you confident in your doctor's ability? Do you feel that you understand the directives and decisions made by your doctor? Are you encouraged to ask questions? Is the overall experience at your doctor's office positive? If you're answering no to most of these questions it may be time for a change.

Since arthritis is chronic, and without a cure, regular appointments are scheduled with your doctor to diagnose and problem-solve. It's imperative that your needs are being met.

Being an informed patient is not a substitute for trusting your doctor. Is it possible though for a patient to know too much? Is it possible that a patient can believe they are more knowledgeable than they actually are?

The adherence to a treatment plan by a patient and the success of the treatment can be impacted by the patient-physician relationship.

It usually is not difficult to tell if a patient has osteoarthritis. It is more difficult to tell if the disease is causing the patient's symptoms.

As the population grows older, more people will develop arthritis and seek effective treatment. It has been projected that the increased need for practicing rheumatologists will result in a shortage during future decades.

Diagnosing arthritis pain can sometimes be a difficult and long process. Identifying which joint is damaged and causing pain can be tricky. You're probably wondering what can be so tricky. If your knee hurts, your knee hurts. That may be, but it's not always that simple. Referred pain can cause confusion.

It's hard to know what to expect when you are first told you have osteoarthritis. Patient expectations can align with the reality of what lies ahead or it can be hard to know what lies ahead. Describe your expectations when you first were diagnosed with osteoarthritis.