See your GP if you think you may have osteoarthritis. There is no definitive test to diagnose the condition, so your GP will ask you about your symptoms and carry out an examination of your joints and muscles.
Your GP may suspect that you have osteoarthritis if you:
- are over 50 years of age
- have persistent joint pain, which gets worse the more you use your joints
- have no stiffness in your joints in the morning, or stiffness that lasts no longer than half an hour
If your symptoms are slightly different from those listed above, your GP may think you have another form of arthritis. For example, if you have joint stiffness in the morning that lasts for longer than an hour, you may have a more inflammatory form of arthritis.
Further tests, such as X-rays or blood tests, are not usually required to confirm a diagnosis of osteoarthritis. However, you may have further tests if your GP wants to rule out other possible causes of your symptoms, such as rheumatoid arthritis or a fractured bone.
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