Osteoarthritis
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Health's Top Stories
Get a weekly look at the most popular stories on Health.com.
Osteoarthritis
content provided by
Healthwise
Exams and Tests
Doctors usually diagnose osteoarthritis by evaluating your symptoms and doing a physical exam. Sometimes your doctor will include other tests in the evaluation. The following tests can confirm the diagnosis or rule out other conditions with similar symptoms:
- Joint fluid analysis
- X-ray. See X-rays showing
osteoarthritis of the hip
and
osteoarthritis of the knee . - Arthroscopy (rarely done)
- Urinalysis
- Blood tests
If you have symptoms in more than one joint, your doctor should evaluate each joint individually so that he or she does not overlook any other medical cause for your symptoms.
PREVIOUS
Last Updated:
April 17, 2009- Author:
- Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH
- Medical Review:
- Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine
Richa Dhawan, MD - Rheumatology
© 1995-2009 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
