It is imperative to see a doctor when:
- The affected knee is unable to bear your weight.
- Severe pain persists despite taking weight off the joint.
- Knee buckling, clicking, or locking.
- The knee appears misshapen or malformed.
- Symptoms of fever, and redness, warmth and swelling in and around the knee area.
- Constant pain, swelling, a lack of sensation, tingling, or bruising and discoloration of the calf beneath the affected knee.
- Pain persists despite more than 3 days of home care.
How Your Doctor Assesses and Diagnoses Arthritis
During your initial medical consultation, your primary doctor will determine whether the pain you have stems from an arthritic condition, or from some other form of injury or disease. If the findings point to arthritis, your doctor will need to determine the type of arthritis condition you have. There are over 100 identifiable types of the disease which range from mile to severe, and your doctor will subject you to the following:
- assessment of your medical history, a list of existing medication, and the kind of lifestyle you lead.
- complete physical examination of your body, including the hands and feet.
- laboratory tests and x-rays as needed.
Questions Your Doctor Will Ask You
Be prepared to answer all the questions your doctor will ask to be able to make an accurate assessment of the type of arthritis you’re suffering from. It is advisable to bring with you any information related to your ailment that your doctor might need to see. Your doctor may ask you the following:
- exact location of the pain
- the time of the day when the pain starts
- length of time you’ve been experiencing pain
- incidences of swelling or reddening of the affected area
- family history of arthritis
It can help if you have taken pictures of any appearance of redness or rashes accompanying your pain symptoms. These manifestations may be absent or disappear during your medical consultation.
To have an idea of your available range of motion, your doctor may request you to move the affected joints. A thorough examination of the pain site will be made to ascertain the presence of swelling, rashes, soreness and weak muscles.
Other Tests Used To Diagnose Arthritic Disease
Physical examination is not the only method used to diagnose arthritis. Doctors will normally have your x-ray taken to gain a better internal view of your joints. X-rays will enable a more accurate assessment of the stage and severity of the disease, and to verify if there has been any cartilage impairment. Blood tests are another series of tests used to make an isolated diagnosis for rheumatoid arthritis. Depending on your symptoms, the doctor will order the appropriate diagnostics to determine the type of arthritis you have.
More than 100 known types of arthritis can mean an additional number of medical consultations to get the exact diagnosis. You primary doctor may refer you to a rheumatologist for a more precise evaluation and treatment advise. Rheumatology is an area of medical specialization that deals with arthritic diseases and their management.
Recommended Products:
Arthritic Knee Wrap
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