Doctor, Help Me - How Do I Find Arthritis Pain Relief?

The first and most important activity a doctor must do when the patient comes in is to make an accurate diagnosis. This is done with a careful history, physical exam, laboratory tests, and imaging procedures. In the history, we ask questions such as: - How long have you had the symptoms? - What joints are involved? - Is it symmetrical? One side like the other - Is there a family history? - Are there other symptoms? On physical exam, we examine a patient from the top of the head to