Shoulder Arthritis Identification
What should you do if you have the aforementioned symptoms and risk factors and now suspect shoulder arthritis? In this case, it is important to understand how your doctor will diagnose this condition.
Obtaining a thorough medical history is the first step in diagnosing shoulder arthritis. This should include a description of your symptoms and any potential risk factors, such as your medical history. After reviewing your medical history, your doctor will ask you numerous questions to identify your symptoms and describe them as precisely as feasible. This is a crucial phase, and we require complete candour to make an accurate diagnosis.
The physician will then conduct a physical examination of your shoulder. For this portion of the interview, you may need to remove your shirt. Checking your range of motion (ROM) is an essential component of the physical examination. Your doctor may also request that you perform specific movements to assess your physical capabilities. If this occurs, avoid fighting the discomfort and inform a doctor as soon as it begins.
In some instances, the diagnosis is unclear, and tests must be conducted. The most common imaging test is an X-ray of the shoulder to determine the distance between the bone ends and the degree of bone separation. In some instances, physicians also inject anaesthetics into the joint. If shoulder pain is relieved, the diagnosis is confirmed.