Diagnosis

Choosing the right treatment option starts with obtaining a correct diagnosis. Your primary care physician will manage your joint pain. However, when standard treatments are not effective, you will likely be referred to an orthopedic surgeon for more options. The orthopedic surgeon will perform a number of tests to advise you on your best options. The tests include a complete family history, physical examination, and X-ray evaluation.

Through the process, the orthopedic surgeon will determine the causes of joint pain and how it affects your daily activities. They will also evaluate strength, range of motion, swelling, reflexes and skin condition.

X-Ray evaluation helps reveal additional information on the condition of the joint. Specifically, it can show narrowing of the joint space, bone cysts, bone spurs, and bone deformity and incorrect alignment.

If additional information is needed, the surgeon can use Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to further evaluate the joint. An MRI is a computerized bone scanning process that gives the surgeon different views of the affected area than are available from a standard X-ray.