How can i tell if i have arthritis?

X-rays and exam: Arthritis is a broad term for loss of cartilage. Most of the time when people say arthritis, they mean bone on bone type arthritis, but technically arthritis spans from just softening of the cartilage to bone on bone. There is a lot in between. After a thorough physical exam you will need a set of x-rays.

Symptoms: You can tell if you likely have symptomatic arthritis if you have pain, swelling, and or stiffness in your joints. There is blood work that can check for certain types of arthritis as well.

See your doctor: Symptoms of arthritis include pain and limited function of joints, characterized by joint stiffness, swelling, redness, and warmth to touch. Many forms of arthritis, can cause symptoms affecting various organs (kidney, lungs, heart) of the body that do not directly involve the joints. Therefore, symptoms in some patients with certain forms of arthritis can also include fever, and rashes.