Medical history (history of illness) represents an important component in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.
Family history
- Is there a history of frequent bone/joint disease in your family?
Social history
- What is your profession?
- Are you exposed to harmful influences such as inorganic dusts, especially quartz dusts or vibrations in your profession?
Current medical history/systemic anamnesis (somatic and psychological complaints).
- Have you noticed flu-like symptoms such as fatigue and weakness recently?
- Do you have increased joint pain and/or joint swelling? If so, which joint is affected?
- Have the symptoms been unilateral or symmetrical?
- Are the movements of the affected joints restricted?
- Have you noticed morning stiffness of the affected joints?
- Have you noticed any restriction of joint movement?
- Have you noticed any nodule formation in the area of the affected joints?
- Do you notice any other symptoms such as pale skin or fatigue?
- Have you noticed any enlargement of the lymph nodes?
- Do you suffer from dry eyes and / or mucous membranes?
Vegetative anamnesis incl. nutritional anamnesis.
- Are you overweight? Please tell us your body weight (in kg) and height (in cm).
- Do you have a balanced diet?
- Do you eat a lot of pork and pork products and tuna?
- Do you get enough exercise every day?
- Do you smoke? If so, how many cigarettes, cigars or pipes per day?
Self history including medication history.
- Pre-existing conditions (bone / joint disease).
- Surgeries
- Allergies
- Environmental history (inorganic dusts, vibrations (jackhammer); quartz dusts).
- Medication history