Diagnosis

Diagnosing rheumatic diseases presents a challenge since some symptoms and signs are common to a variety of medical conditions. A general practitioner or family physician may evaluate the constellation of symptoms only to determine it is in the person's best interest to provide a referral to a rheumatologist (a physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating rheumatic diseases). The overlapping symptoms and treatment approaches can be complex and multifaceted, involving potent medications (e.g., chemotherapy drugs) with dangerous side effects, requiring ongoing monitoring by a specialist. Obtaining an accurate diagnosis involves a medical history, physical examination, laboratory tests, and X-rays or other imaging tests with potentially multiple visits to health professionals.

Medical History
For instance, to accurately diagnose the type of arthritis, the following information will be gathered about joint pain:
• Pain location
• Pain occurrence
• Pain duration
• Timing of pain onset
• Activity at time of pain onset
• Joint appearance
• Activity associated with symptom exacerbation
• Medical history accounting for pain
• Familial history of arthritis
• Current medication regimen

X-Rays and Other Imaging Procedures
X-rays offer an image of the joint bones, without showing the joint cartilage, muscles, and ligaments. Noninvasive imaging methods, such as computed tomography (CT or CAT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and arthrography (joint X-ray) provide images of the entire joint. An arthroscope (a small, flexible tube that transmits the image of the inside of a joint to a video screen) allow orthopedic surgeons the ability to examine damage of an affected joint. Arthroscopy, involves inserting an arthroscope through a small incision in an affected joint to allow thorough examination of the inside of the joint. Arthroscopy may be used to perform surgery on certain types of joint injury.