 [ Symptoms ] how is osteoarthritis diagnosed [ Disease ] osteoarthritis can occur in any joint it occurs most often in the hands knees hips and spine warning signs of osteoarthritis are stiffness in a joint after getting out of bed or sitting for a long time swelling or tenderness in one or more joints a crunching feeling or the sound of bone rubbing on bone no single test can diagnose osteoarthritis most doctors use several methods to diagnose the disease and rule out other problems medical history physical exam x rays other tests such as blood tests or exams of the fluid in the joints