NHS Choices Condition
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You should see your GP if you think that you may have osteoarthritis. There is no definitive test that can be used to diagnose the condition, so your GP will ask you about your symptoms and carry out an examination of your joints and muscles.
Your GP may suspect that you have osteoarthritis if you:
- are over 45 years of age,
- have persistent joint pain, which gets worse the more you use your joints, and
- have stiffness in your joints in the morning that lasts no longer than half an hour.
If your symptoms are slightly different from those listed above, your GP may think that you have another form of arthritis. For example, if you have joint stiffness in the morning that lasts for longer than an hour, you may have rheumatoid arthritis, which is caused by your body's immune system.
Further testing, such as X-rays, or blood tests, are not usually required to confirm a diagnosis of osteoarthritis. However, an exception to this may be made if your GP wants to rule out other possible causes of your symptoms, such as rheumatoid arthritis, or a fractured bone.
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view information about Osteoarthritis on www.nhs.co.uk »Important Notice
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