Monitoring
Patients are monitored for progression of disease and response to treatment, in addition to any adverse effects. They are asked about their pain response to treatment, function, and limitation in their activities due to their disease.
Patients are examined for declining range of motion in the affected joint and for other signs reflecting advanced disease.
If the patient is taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) or a cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, tests for renal function and a complete blood count are obtained every 3 to 6 months.[7][73]
A primary care physician who leads research for Arthritis UK discusses the benefits of ensuring regular reviews of patients with osteoarthritis.
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