Making the Diagnosis
Most doctors use a number of methods to diagnose OA including:
- your description of signs and symptoms, when it started and how it is affecting your life
- a physical examination of affected joints, including an assessment of flexibility, mobility, and deformity
- analysis of X-rays of the joints to identify cartilage loss, bone damage, and the presence of osteophytes; in some cases, doctors may also request an MRI
- analysis of fluid from the affected joint (joint aspiration)
- blood tests to rule out other causes of joint problems
- bony protrusions of the middle joints (called Bouchard's nodes) and the end joints (called Heberden's nodes) of fingers