How is osteoarthritis diagnosed?

Condition analysis:
The physician will begin with a complete medical history and a physical examination. During the exam, the doctor will look for an enlarged or bumpy joint, signs of swelling or decreased range of motion. Your health care provider may then order x-rays, which can show a decrease in the cartilage space, new bone formation or incorrect alignment. In some cases, your doctor may perform an aspiration – the removal of fluid from a swollen joint or bursa – to exclude infection, gout or Rheumatoid Arthritis as possible causes of your joint pain.

Instructions:
1) Ginger Tea:
Some people drink ginger tea to ease the symptoms of their osteoarthritis.

2) Tylenol:
Reach for a Tylenol to ease the pain of osteoarthritis, which provides relief with fewer side effects than other over-the-counter remedies.

3) Exercise:
To maintain the overall movement in your joints, regular exercise is very helpful for a patient with osteoarthritis. If light walks and riding a bike are too strenuous to start with – consider utilizing a swimming pool.

4) Hot and Cold Treatments:
Applying alternating treatments of heat and cold can provide relief for osteoarthritis pain.