Arthritis
Alternate Names : Joint Inflammation
How is the condition diagnosed?
Diagnosis of arthritis starts with a medical history and physical examination.
Joint X-rays may be
normal
at first, perhaps showing some swelling. Later the X-rays may show narrowing of
the joint space, roughness of the joint surface, or poor alignment of the joint.
Bone spurs, which are calcium deposits at the edge of the joint, may also be
seen.
Blood tests, including a complete blood count, or CBC, can help detect some types of arthritis.
Joint
aspiration, which means removing joint fluid with a needle under
local anesthesia, can
sometimes provide useful information. Rarely, a magnetic resonance
imaging, or MRI, is needed to determine the cause or extent of the
arthritis.
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