How to Diagnose Rheumatoid Arthritis
To diagnose rheumatoid arthritis, look for signs of pain or tenderness in your joints when you bend them. Additionally, check for swelling in your smaller joints, like the ones in your fingers and toes. You should also pay attention if your joints are stiff in the morning, since RA can cause them to stiffen up while you're asleep. If you experience any of these symptoms, schedule a blood test with your doctor to confirm the diagnosis.
Pay attention to painful or tender joints. Joint pain is one of the most common symptoms of RA. If your joints feel tender, warm, or painful while you're bending them, you may have RA. Rheumatoid joints fill with excessive fluid, which can cause a feeling of joint tenderness even when you're not bending or using the joint. The inflammation caused by the buildup of fluid in the joint can eventually cause the bone and cartilage to deteriorate. The bones in the joint may end up grinding against each other instead of gliding smoothly, leading to damage, pain, and loss of function. Technically, joint pain is caused by the joint inflammation that occurs when your immune system attacks the lining of your joints. However, you can experience joint pain without visible joint inflammation. Look for swollen or inflamed joints. If a joint has become swollen, it's likely rheumatoid. Swelling is most often accompanied by stiffness, soreness, or pain in the joint. RA typically begins in smaller joints, so you're most likely to notice initial swelling in the bottom-most joints of your fingers and your toes. Joint swelling may also be accompanied by a loss of range of motion in the rheumatoid joint. Not all rheumatoid joints swell, and even when they do, they don't all swell to the same degree. Notice if your joints are stiff in the morning. This is a common and characteristic sign of RA. Your rheumatoid joints will set in place and stiffen up while you sleep, since you remain relatively motionless overnight. Your joints may also be stiff after other periods of inactivity. For example, if you've taken a nap, watched a movie, or sat still reading for 2 or 3 hours, your joints are likely to be stiff and sore afterwards. Be aware of frequent fatigue or tiredness. People who have RA often experience tiredness and periods of low energy. This may cause you to sleep more than you're used to, or to feel exhausted and lethargic for portions of the day. Fatigue from RA can also result in a loss of appetite. While it can be frightening to find yourself tired all the time, your doctor will be able to help you reverse this symptom. If you're experiencing fatigue from RA, you may find that you have a hard time being productive and are less interested in things you normally enjoy. If you have RA, you're most likely to be fatigued when your joints are swollen. These symptoms generally occur at the same time. Inspect joints for redness and warmth. If your joints feel warm to the touch, this is most likely a sign of active ongoing inflammation. Swollen, hot joints can be a sign of RA. The skin covering rheumatoid joints also often turns red in color. Redness occurs in rheumatoid joints because the joint inflammation causes the small capillaries in the skin covering the joint to become dilated and fill with blood. It may be difficult to tell if your own joints are warm to the touch or not. So, to determine if your joints are warm, ask a friend or family member to rest their hand on your inflamed joints. Describe your arthritic symptoms to your doctor. If you've experienced joint swelling, tenderness, or any of the other common signs of RA, list these symptoms to your doctor. They'll most likely want to know how long you've been experiencing the symptoms for and how severe the symptoms are. It may help to write down your symptoms before seeing your doctor. For example, you could jot down each individual symptom, when it began, and how severe it is. Explain your personal medical history to your doctor. Tell the doctor about any serious illnesses or diseases you've had. Also inform the doctor if you have any other autoimmune disorders, since these may have a bearing on your likelihood of contracting RA. Let your doctor know if you have any other ongoing health conditions and if you're currently taking any prescription medication. Tell the doctor about your familial medical history. RA is often passed genetically from one generation to the next. If any members of your family (e.g., your mother or an uncle) have had RA, be sure to tell your doctor. Also tell your doctor if other members of your family have experienced autoimmune disorders. Finally, tell the doctor if members of your family have been diagnosed with any other serious hereditary medical conditions. Undergo blood testing to help diagnose RA. Blood tests are often the first test that your doctor will administer if you suspect that you have rheumatoid joints. A blood test will allow doctors to analyze the chemical contents of your blood. Specifically, they'll test for a protein called Rheumatoid factor and other proteins and antibodies typically found in the blood of individuals with RA. You may experience some slight discomfort during a blood test. The doctor will need to insert a needle into a large vein in your arm. Ask your doctor about imaging tests to detect signs of RA. An imaging test will allow doctors to see the inside of your joints and inspect the swelling and inflammation. Typical imaging tests used to help diagnose RA include x-rays, an ultrasound, or a magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI). While imaging tests are a valuable means of diagnosing RA, they're not necessarily conclusive on their own. In its early stages, the joint inflammation from RA may be too subtle to be seen via an imaging scan. All of the imaging tests are painless. Confer with your doctor about medicinal pain-management options. The disorder itself cannot be reversed, although many of the symptoms of RA are treatable. Various types of medication can help manage the pain and discomfort associated with rheumatoid joints. The doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs, or may suggest that you take a steroid or anti-rheumatic drug. As a first step, the doctor may recommend that you try over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs, like Advil or ibuprofen. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully, and never take more than the recommended dose of any pain medication. Your doctor may recommend alternating types of pain medication to reduce the risk of problems like dependency or stomach issues. Supplement medicinal pain management with natural remedies. Talk to your doctor about using natural or homeopathic remedies alongside other forms of pain management. Certain dietary supplements and foods are effective in helping many people safely manage their RA symptoms. A few options include dietary supplements SAM-e and GLA, and anti-inflammatory foods like turmeric and ginger. See if physical therapy would help your joints. This is a common and beneficial option for RA patients. If your doctor agrees that physical therapy is a good option, they may refer you to a professional physical therapist. Physical therapy can help keep your joints limber, and can prevent the symptoms of RA from worsening. Without physical therapy, joints may become immobile or increasingly stiff. A physical or occupational therapist can also suggest new ways of completing tasks that are difficult with rheumatoid joints—e.g., buttoning up a shirt. Use wax baths to manage pain and increase joint function. Ask your physical therapist about wax baths for your joints. During a wax bath, your therapist will have you dip your affected joints into warm, melted wax. They will then ask you to perform a series of exercises while your joints are encased in the wax. This treatment can reduce pain and stiffness and improve your range of motion. Get massage therapy to ease pain and tension. Some physical therapy clinics also offer massage therapy, which can relieve some of the pain and stress associated with RA. If your therapist does not offer massage, ask them to recommend a massage therapist who has experience with arthritis. Try gentle exercises to reduce your symptoms. Some types of light exercise, such as yoga or swimming (especially in warm water) may help relieve RA symptoms. Talk to your doctor or physical therapist about what types of exercise may be safe and effective for you. Some physical therapy offices include pools for water-based therapy. Find an acupuncturist with RA experience. While the reasons behind its effectiveness are still unclear, studies have shown that acupuncture can reduce the pain and inflammation associated with RA. Ask your doctor, physical therapist, or rheumatologist to recommend a certified acupuncturist in your area. If you live in the U.S., you can find a certified practitioner through the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine website: http://www.nccaom.org/. Keep your joints warm to minimize pain. Heat can help reduce pain and relax your muscles, making the symptoms of RA more tolerable. You can use warmth or heat to manage your pain by: Taking warm baths or showers Using heating pads Keeping your environment warm (e.g., using space heaters, radiators, or central heating) Dressing warmly and wearing gloves and thick socks in cold weather Discuss the possibility of surgery to remedy your RA. In cases of severe or fast-spreading RA, your doctor may recommend surgery as an option. Different types of surgery are available to individuals with RA. These include surgeries to remove the damaged lining of your joints, to repair torn or damaged tendons, or to completely replace the damaged joint. Surgery is typically only considered as an option if medication fails to decrease joint pain or slow the spread of symptoms related to RA. In rare cases—such as when joint replacement isn't an option—affected joints may be surgically fused together in order to stabilize the area or reduce pain. 
Pay attention to painful or tender joints. Look for swollen or inflamed joints. Notice if your joints are stiff in the morning. Be aware of frequent fatigue or tiredness. Inspect joints for redness and warmth. Describe your arthritic symptoms to your doctor. Explain your personal medical history to your doctor. Tell the doctor about your familial medical history. Undergo blood testing to help diagnose RA. Ask your doctor about imaging tests to detect signs of RA. Confer with your doctor about medicinal pain-management options. Supplement medicinal pain management with natural remedies. See if physical therapy would help your joints. Use wax baths to manage pain and increase joint function. Get massage therapy to ease pain and tension. Try gentle exercises to reduce your symptoms. Find an acupuncturist with RA experience. Keep your joints warm to minimize pain. Discuss the possibility of surgery to remedy your RA. 