Arthritis::Diagnosis and Treatment
Arthritis is a painful and debilitating disease, so early diagnosis and
treatment is important to those who suffer from it. The earliest a diagnosis is made of which type of
arthritis a person has, the much better chance there is for them for a successful early remission and lesser
disability, unfortunately however there are over a hundred types of arthritis which can make diagnosis of a
specific type of arthritis sometimes difficult.
To be able to complete a successful diagnosis your doctor has to take a number of
things into consideration especially your medical history.
. Therefore it’s important that any relevant medical history is completed
accurately and carefully. It’s a good idea when first visiting your doctor for arthritis tests to have your medical
history prepared so take your time with it, ask other close family members if they can recall any relevant
childhood illnesses you may have had as some childhood illnesses can precipitate certain forms of arthritis in
later life.
Surprisingly your diet can also have an effect on whether you develop arthritis,
so try keeping a daily diary of what you eat, keep a pain diary as well then compare the two, look for certain
'triggers' that may make your pain worse, you may be surprised at what you find.
Certain activities may also make the pain worse, so you also need to note these
down as well. Let your doctor know the results as it will help him in his diagnosis.
When you visit your doctor for the first time with your arthritis symptoms he will
also need to give you a thorough physical examination. He’s going to be looking for certain indications on your
body that tell him you have arthritis, this will include areas of pain, swelling, redness and stiffness in the
areas where you say you have pain, he may also note signs of deformity especially if you have delayed in seeking
his help, this includes checking the range of motion of the affected limbs.
Other signs and symptoms he will be looking for include anaemia,
and fatigue. He will also check areas such as your neck, groin and underarms to see if you have any swelling of
your glands.
You’ll also need to have some blood work done and also of course X-rays so he can
get a clearer picture of any damage sustained to the affected joints and limbs. MRI scans are now used more
frequently to aid in the diagnosis of a specific type of arthritis as they give a much more in-depth view of the
musculo skeletal system. X-rays and MRI scans are also a good tool to use once treatment commences to see how well
it is working.
So you have your diagnosis and unfortunately you have been diagnosed with a
specific type of arthritis. However, it’s not as bad as it sounds, there are some excellent
treatments nowadays on the market for arthritis and the only problem you should have is finding the one
that suits you the best. Your doctor will discuss your options with you and together you can decide on the course
of treatment which is best for you whether it is a conventional or alternative type of medication.
The onset of arthritis in most people shouldn’t be treated with despair. Therapies
and treatment for most people work very well and in some cases though arthritis can’t be cured it can often be sent
into remission for weeks, months and sometimes years. If not into remission, then the pain can usually be
controlled very well. You just need to find the combination that suits you the best. Arthritis Information
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