What Are the Diagnostic Tests for Osteoarthritis?

How can your doctor say that you have osteoarthritis?

Doctors look at your symptoms to diagnose osteoarthritis. The symptoms often include knee pain and stiffness, especially when you stand up after sitting for a long time. If you’ve had knee pain that comes and goes for a long time, or if your knees look bent or have extra bumps, it’s usually a sign of osteoarthritis.

To confirm, your doctor might take an X-ray of your knee. This X-ray helps them see if the space inside your joint is getting smaller, a common sign of osteoarthritis. You might sometimes need an MRI of the knee, especially if a torn ligament or meniscus is suspected.

Sometimes, doctors perform blood tests to rule out other causes of symptoms. They might also take a fluid sample from your joint to check for other causes of joint pain, like infection or gout.

If you’re having joint pain or think you might have osteoarthritis, Get it checked out.