網路擷取圖表如下:
如果身上的小關節(非負重關節)，沒有grinding noise，且碰觸的疼痛感強，就高度懷疑。若是對steroid的治療反應良好，就更確定了。
| Symptom | Inflammatory joint disease (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis) | Mechanical joint disease (e.g. osteoarthritis) |
|---|---|---|
| Does activity increase or decrease the pain? | The longer you're inactive, the worse is the pain. Rest worsens the symptoms, activity improves the symptoms. Be active! | Activity tends to increase the pain and stiffness, and rest improves the symptoms. |
| Morning stiffness? | You wake up with stiff joints, but it improves after an hour or more. The more you use your joints, the sooner the stiffness subsides. | You wake up with stiff joints, but the stiffness lasts 15-30 minutes, then it becomes easier to move. |
| What do the joints look and feel like? | Joint swelling is usually soft, because it is caused by inflammation and fluid. | Joint swelling can be soft (fluid) or hard (bony). |
| The swollen joint is usually warm to the touch and may even be red. | The swollen joint is usually not warm when you touch it. | |
| You have limited movement. | You have limited movement. | |
| The swollen joints are always tender to touch. | The swollen joints are sometimes tender to touch. | |
| The joints often make a "grinding" noise during movement. | ||
| Which joints are aching or stiff? | All joints - particularly the small joints of the hands and feet. | Your weight bearing joints - the big ones: back, knees, hips. |
| Any joint which has been previously injured, infected or even longstanding inflammatory joint disease. | ||
| The small joints of the hands (tends to run in families). | ||
| Fatigue | You feel very tired and fatigued. | Your fatigue is minimal. |
| Systemic involvement | Other body organs may be involved e.g. eyes, lungs, blood vessels. | Other body organs are not involved. |
| Do the symptoms respond to cortisone? | Yes, often dramatic response. | Usually no dramatic response. |
