The chronic pain in your knees and fingers has not gotten any better. Your primary care doctor believes it may be time for you to get some help for your rheumatoid arthritis from a rheumatologist. So, what exactly is a rheumatologist? How to I go about finding one? Here is some information you need to know on visiting a rheumatologist:
Put simply, a rheumatologist is a medical doctor who specializes in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (also called RA). They are the specialists who will have spent the most time directly treating the problems associated with RA. Whereas your primary care physician treats a host of problems, the rheumatologist specializes in diseases like RA.
There are a variety of things you can do to help you find a good RA specialist. The first thing you should do is find out who your primary care doctor would recommend. Secondly, you might wish to contact your insurance company, to see which specialists in your area are covered by your insurance. As a plus, your primary care doctor may also be able to help with this part of the task. In addition, you can do research on the Internet, or ask friends with RA who they see. A good place to start a web search would be at the American Medical Association website.
When you visit a rheumatologist for the first time, you will need to be ready to do some initial paperwork, so you may want to show up a little early. In addition, you will want to bring your Photo ID, and a copy of any insurance cards. Your RA specialists will also want to know about any medications you are on. This would include any vitamins, herbal supplements and natural remedies, over the counter meds like Tylenol, Advil, etc. If you are unsure as to what you should include, find a paper sack, or plastic sack, and just put all your medications in the sack. Then, just take the sack with you to the office visit. If you have seen other doctors about your RA, then bring a list of who you saw, the dates you were seen, and what the other physician did for you.
Your initial visit with a rheumatologist will be designed to “get all the facts” together, so he/she can offer you treatment for your rheumatoid arthritis. Some people also call this a treatment plan. You may have a questionnaire to fill out, which asks questions about your pain, symptoms, joints, swelling, and frequency of pain. You may also need to have some lab tests done, which will help your rheumatologist properly diagnose your form of RA. There are over 100 different related illnesses to rheumatoid arthritis. Getting the diagnosis correct is very important to treatment.
A physical exam will also be performed. Your doctor will be looking for sign of swelling, redness, joint pain, and will conduct a few “range of motion” style tests, to see how much your arthritis is effecting your ability to function. At the end of the testing, questioning, and physical exam, you should expect to get some kind of answer on how your rheumatologist wants to handle treating your RA. A final plan may have to come a little later, as the results of labs and other testing are received.
This is your time to ask questions of your rheumatologist. There may also be some life style changes that your doctor will want you to consider, such as diet change, exercise, footwear, and a host of other things. The overall success of your treatment for RA will depend upon your willingness to work with your chosen doctor.
Your rheumatologist will be able to provide you with a treatment plan that can include medications, natural remedies, physical or occupational therapy, and other alterative treatments that will help you live with RA. The best advice of all, for RA patients, is to stay informed about your treatment plan, and new advances in the field of treatment of RA.