Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Diagnosis

To diagnose rheumatoid arthritis, your doctor will conduct a physical examination to check for joint swelling, pain, and warmth; affected joints tend to be warm to touch due to inflammation. He or she will perform tests to determine your... Full Answer

Your medical history and current medical condition help your doctor diagnose and/or evaluate rheumatoid arthritis. To assess your medical history, your doctor may ask: How long symptoms have been present and whether there has been any pattern to them.... Full Answer

Diagnosing and treating rheumatoid arthritis can sometimes be difficult. It may require a team effort between you and several types of healthcare professionals, including a rheumatologist, a physician who specializes in arthritis and other diseases of... Full Answer

If you think you may have rheumatoid arthritis (RA), you should visit a healthcare professional. He or she will take several elements into consideration before rendering a diagnosis: Medical history. Your description of the symptoms -- including their... Full Answer

In diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis, your doctor may order some blood tests to confirm what is discovered during the physical exam. There are several different tests that the doctor may choose from: ESR-erythrocyte sedimentation rate. This shows that... Full Answer

When going to an appointment to diagnosis or evaluate rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, be prepared with your medical history and a list of questions. Your doctor will need to know details about your symptoms, such as when they started and when they occur.... Full Answer

Important findings in the physical examination include the: Pattern of symptoms in the affected joints. Presence of swelling or tenderness in the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis often causes painful, swollen, "hot" joints and often affects the same... Full Answer

A new test, which measure the levels of antibodies that bind to citrulline modified proteins (anti-CCP), is more specific and tends be elevated only in persons that have rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Other tests, such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate... Full Answer

The anti-CCP blood test, a new test for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), measures the level of antibodies that bind to citrulline modified proteins. These proteins tend to be elevated only in patients who have or will have RA. The anti-CCP blood test... Full Answer

The need for a second opinion of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) diagnosis is a very personal matter. You need to feel comfortable with your physician and treatment plan. If you are not, then seek a second opinion. When getting your second opinion, involve the... Full Answer