There is no single test that shows whether you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Your doctor will give you a checkup, ask you about your symptoms, and possibly perform X-rays and blood tests. RA is diagnosed from a combination of things, including:
- The location and symmetry of painful joints, especially the hand joints
- Joint stiffness in the morning
- Bumps and nodules under the skin (rheumatoid nodules)
- Results of X-ray and blood tests