It's perfectly normal to experience occasional aches and pains. However, if the discomfort persists for more than a couple of days, hinders your daily tasks, or progressively worsens, it's advisable to consult a doctor.

To ascertain whether your joint pain and associated symptoms might be due to arthritis or a similar condition, your doctor will need some detailed information from you. Let's walk you through the kind of questions you can anticipate.

During your medical consultation, the doctor will delve into topics concerning your symptoms, overall health, familial medical history, and lifestyle habits. This will help them gain a comprehensive understanding of your situation. Here's a glimpse of what you'll discuss:

Medical History

Symptoms

• What are you feeling and any symptoms you've noticed?

• How long have these feelings been going on?

• Could you point out which specific joints seem to be affected? Do you notice if they are warm, look red, feel tender, or appear swollen?

• Did these sensations start all of a sudden or develop over time?

• Do you find that these symptoms get more pronounced after you've been active or after you've rested?

• Do these feelings tend to show up more in the morning, evening, or are they present all day?

• Lastly, has anything in particular helped in easing any discomfort or pain you're experiencing?

General Health

• Have you been feeling under the weather lately?

• Are you currently taking any medications, whether they're prescribed or over-the-counter?

• Have you ever received a diagnosis for any chronic or autoimmune conditions?

• Have any of your joints been injured recently?

• Does your job involve prolonged periods of standing or sitting, or repetitive movements like frequent kneeling?

• Have you lived in any areas lately where fungal infections are prevalent?

Family History

Your doctor would like to learn more about your family's health history, specifically if any family members have experienced:

• Arthritis 

• Autoimmune diseases 

• Chronic conditions 

• Anxiety or depression.

This will help ensure the best care for you.

Habits

• Do you have any smoking or substance use habits?

• How often do you engage in physical activity?

• What kind of diet do you typically follow?

• How would you describe your sleep quality?

• Do you often experience stress in your daily life?

Physical Exam

Your physician will be conducting a comprehensive check-up. Along with standard procedures like measuring your temperature, examining your eyes and throat, and assessing your heart rate and blood pressure, they'll also inspect any troubled joints for signs of swelling or redness. They might gently move these joints to gauge flexibility and check for any sensitivity.

If you've mentioned back discomfort, your doctor will evaluate the alignment of your spine. You might also be asked to stand and take a few steps, just to see if the pain influences your gait.

Based on the initial assessment, further tests might be recommended.

Imaging Tests

X-rays are commonly used for imaging, yet there are times when we might opt for an ultrasound or MRI. Your doctor will carefully assess for any indications of inflammation, erosion, or other joint concerns

Nerve Tests

Your doctor might suggest an electrodiagnostic study or a nerve test to check the electrical health of your nerves.

Blood, Fluid and Tissue Tests

In understanding arthritis, it's good to know that not every type requires a blood test for diagnosis. However, such tests can be instrumental in confirming or ruling out specific inflammatory arthritis forms. Additionally, your physician might opt for joint fluid tests or even skin or muscle biopsies to provide clarity on certain arthritis types.

Diagnosing arthritis can be a comprehensive process. It might necessitate consultations with various experts, such as your primary care physician, a rheumatologist, a pain specialist, and an orthopedist. Given that there are over 100 varieties of arthritis and related conditions, and many share similar symptoms, a series of tests might be needed. We appreciate your patience and understanding throughout this diagnostic journey.