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Arthritis Diagnosis: Understanding Tests and Imaging for Joint Health
Diagnosis
Doctors examine your joints physically to check for warmth, redness, and edema. Additionally, they’ll check your range of motion.
Laboratory tests
The type of arthritis you may have can be determined with the use of several body fluid analyses. Commonly studied fluids include joint fluid, blood, and urine. Before drawing fluid out of the joint space with a needle, medical professionals clean and numb the affected area.
Imaging
These tests are able to identify joint issues that can be the source of your symptoms. As examples, consider:
CT scans. X-rays can display bone spurs, bone deterioration, and cartilage loss by using low radiation doses to see bone. X-rays are frequently used to monitor the course of arthritis, even though they may not always show early damage.
CT, or computerized tomography. CT scanners combine data from many X-ray angles to produce cross-sectional pictures of interior structures. Bone and surrounding soft tissues can both be seen on CT scans.
imaging using magnetic resonance (MRI). MRIs can create more accurate cross-sectional pictures of soft tissues like cartilage, tendons, and ligaments by combining radio waves with a strong magnetic field.
ultrasonic. With this method, soft tissues, cartilage, and fluid-containing structures close to the joints (bursae) can be imaged using high-frequency sound waves. In order to remove joint fluid or inject medication into the joint, ultrasound is also used to guide the placement of the needle.