Joint Pain or Arthritis: What it is, How to Know and How is it Treated

Suffering from joint pain – Know about symptoms, lifestyle habits and diagnostic tests will help determine the type of arthritis you have.

Feeling pain and stiffness in your joints?

A symptom of arthritis varies from person to person. But joint pain is common in all individuals with arthritis.

Millions of people suffer from arthritis in India. There are many types of arthritis, and treatment of arthritis may need different treatment. Arthritis is more common in older adults, but it can develop in men and women and children of any age. Early detection is important for prevention and treatment to reduce symptoms and quality of life.

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is an inflammation of one or more joints which causes pain and stiffness in joints, making it difficult to move or stay active.

Causes of arthritis

Artheritis

Causes of arthritis depend on the type of arthritis developed in an individual. Arthritis may develop due to following reasons:

Have family history
Autoimmune conditions- Rheumatoid arthritis and Systemic lupus erythematosus
Viral infections
Elevated level of uric acid in your body causes Gout

Risk Factors

Risk of arthritis increases as the age increases
Women are more likely to develop arthritis than men
Previous joint injury- i.e. degenerative arthritis
Obesity
Lifestyle- smoking, lack of exercise

Symptoms of arthritis

Pain
Redness
Warmth
Tenderness
Swelling
Stiffness
Difficulty in joint movement

In case nerve arthritis individuals may experience- walking difficulties, deformity, and loss of sensation, limited range of motion.

Diagnostic tests for Arthritis

Generally, Physicians will evaluate the condition of arthritis by examining the patients thoroughly and detailed medical history, physical examination, laboratory test and imaging tests.

The best way to identify the type of arthritis so that an individual will get best preventive measures and treatment-

Blood test

Blood tests can’t identify arthritis, but blood tests detect the uric acid, protein and other parameters to rule out rheumatoid arthritis or gout.

Blood profile detects early changes in the body, so it is useful as a preventive measure and regular monitoring.

Complete Blood Count (CBC)
Rheumatoid factor
HLA antigens for HLA B27
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
Blood culture
Anti-CCP antibody
C-reactive protein
Antinuclear antibody (ANA)
Synovial fluid analysis
Cell Count Aspiration of Joint Fluid
Thyroid function tests
Uric acid – urine
Uric acid – blood
ESR (Westergren method)
CRP Quantitative
Serum calcium
24-Hour urine phosphorus
RA Factor qualitative
Serum uric acid
Dihydroxy vitamin D
Synovial biopsy
Tear Production Schirmer’s test
Urine analysis

Nerve test

Nerve test is used to determine if the electrical activity in the nerves has been disrupted.

Imaging test

X-Rays
CT scan
Bone Scan
Bone Dexa Scan
Arthrography
MRI scan

How is arthritis treated?

Arthritis can’t be treated because it causes permanent damage to the structure of bone joints. Treatment of arthritis depends on the severity of the symptoms of the arthritis and bony changes. It includes:

Medications

To reduce the pain and stiffness, anti-inflammatory and painkillers are used to relieve the patient’s discomfort.

Certain Biologic drugs (immunomodulators) can be advised by the doctors in Rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapists can help the patients by providing rehabilitation that can improve strength, range of motion and overall mobility.

Therapeutic injections

Certain medicated injections like corticosteroids or viscosupplementation, alcohol and many other medicines used to reduce the pain and inflammation in joints; Lubricants are injected to help the joints in movement.

Surgical

Severe cases of arthritis may need surgical intervention and joint replacement therapy.

How to prevent arthritis?

Arthritis can be prevented, also risk of advancement severity of arthritis can be reduce by following measures:

Exercises daily
Maintain healthy body weight
Avoid alcohol and tobacco products
Avoid injury
Consume healthy diet
Control blood sugar, cholesterol and uric acid
Eat omega 3 rich foods like nuts, seeds, plant oils and fish oil.
Get regular health check up test

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Why to choose arthritis panel test in joint pain?

As arthritis is most common disorder. Arthritis test panel test includes many tests which is important for diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis and assess the severity.

If it is done in early stages than it may detect the exact cause of limited movement of joints. Early detection is for better treatment and management.

Q. How can I Book my test?

If you are planning to book a test for joint pain in Ganesh diagnostic, then you can call us or book the test online by visiting our website. As soon as you schedule your appointment with us, our customer executive will contact you as early as possible to book the appointment at your convenience.

Q. Is home sample collection available for arthritis panel test?

Yes, Ganesh Diagnostics provides free home sample collection service. Once you schedule an appointment with us as per your need, than our specialist will reach your given address to collect sample.

Q. How can anyone stop arthritis?

It's impossible to stop arthritis, but you can slow the progression by maintaining balanced diet and weight.

Q. What test we can take for arthritis?

Blood test, urine test, joint fluid tests, biopsies and Imaging test like X-rays, CT scan and MRI are important diagnostic tests that are important to rule out type and severity of arthritis. There is no single test that s gives confirmation of arthritis, it’s important to go through multiple test for joint pain evaluation for better treatment and management.

Q. How to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis?

Criteria to diagnose arthritis:

Morning stiffness in joints
Swelling in soft tissue of involved joints
Swelling in wrist joints
Rheumatoid nodules
Presence of rheumatoid factor in blood
Abnormal X-rays

Q. What is the cost of arthritis panel test?

The cost of arthritis test in Delhi varies according to test type and number of tests. Ganesh Diagnostic offers Arthritis test in most affordable price with 50% discount.

Note from Ganesh Diagnostics

Always consult with the doctor for best diagnosis and treatment. As soon as you feel the changes and stiffness in bone, pain doesn’t subside on its own after two –three days, or difficulty in movement of joints in the morning. As the pain increases it interferes with everyday activities or steadily gets worse.

To determine the joint pain seek immediate care.

And finally Stay hydrated; drink plenty of water as arthritis foundation reports high polyphenol level in green or white tea, which can preserve cartilage and bole.

GDIC offers a wide range of tests for detecting bone disease. We offer a wide range diagnostic test and health packages for our client’s health at a most affordable price.

Arthritis panel

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