Osteoarthritis - The Diagnosis

Osteoarthritis (OA), a form of arthritis, is defined as a condition of
as a result of aging causes of wear and tear on a joint, affecting over 25 million people in the United States in alone.
Diagnosis
The aim of the diagnosis is to differentiate the diseases against other types of arthritis to avoid misdiagnosis and to rule out the other (secondary osteoarthritis)causes of osteoarthritis (OA).
After taking the complex physical examination and careful exam the physical symptoms such as, Joint swelling, Joint tenderness, Decreased range of motion in joints, Visible joint damage, etc. some of the below tests may be necessary
1. Blood Test
Although blood test is not necessary in many cases of osteoarthritis (OA), it can be helpful to rule other causes of the disease.
2.  Synovial fluid analysis 
Synovial fluid analysis is the test to exam the joint synovial fluid. Abnormal joint fluid may look cloudy or abnormally thick may be a indication of inflammation or osteoarthritis.
3. X-rays 
X rays beside is one of the common used to diagnosed for findings of osteoarthritis (OA) such as abnormal joints, bone, joint space between adjacent bone, loss of joint cartilage, etc., it also can help to rule out other causes of pain and assist the decision-making as to when surgical intervention is found to be necessary.
4. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
While MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is a more sensitive imaging method, it is used less often than x-rays due to cost and availability. MRI scans show cartilage, bone, and ligaments.
5. Etc.