Arthritis produces joint pain, swelling, stiffness and heat. It’s caused by more than 200 medical conditions, particularly osteoarthritis (OA) and inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It attacks the cartilage covering bony surfaces, but can damage surrounding tissues, too. It’s important to find out what’s causing it, as inflammation can trigger rapid destruction, and affect other organs.
Tests you may need
OA shows up on X-rays, although these aren’t always needed. But if your doctor suspects inflammation, you’ll also need blood tests to identify the cause. You may also need tests on other organs to check you can safely take certain medicines.
Inflammatory arthritis
As well as RA, joint inflammation can be caused by viruses, gout, psoriasis and ‘multi-system’ or immune-system diseases, such as lupus and inflammatory bowel disease.…
