Whether you think you have lupus or not, you are probably feeling scared, confused, and tired of filling out repetitive forms and maybe a bit alone. Next, expect the rheumatologist to press on each of your joints to gauge your pain reaction. How does the pain affect your daily routine? This subspecialty internist is the most vital member of your care team, providing you with an analysis of your condition and its progress as well as insights on the latest treatments. Before the Visit Preparing for your appointment. Be sure to share how the pressure makes you feel. How can I prevent those side effects? Are there any natural or complementary treatments I could try? how often you should exercise, and what types of workouts are best and safest for you, whether you should use heat and/or cold, and if so, how often, if you smoke, what methods you can try to help you quit, how to achieve and maintain a healthy weight for your body, if recommended by your doctor, how to get emotional and community support if you need it. National Health Service (United Kingdom). (n.d.). Before your rheumatologist can help you, he or she needs to understand the medical history that brought you to the appointment in the first place. Some of the same: Visiting a rheumatologist may not be that different from your experiences with other physicians. The array of RA medications can be overwhelming. Simple Tasks is a public awareness campaign from the. Ask about telehealth services, languages spoken, credentials, and what your insurance covers. (Dull, sharp, stabbing, throbbing, burning, aching, cramping, radiating? Its important not to delay seeking care. University of Washington Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine: "Managing Arthritis Pain. Learn 9 herbal remedies that may help. Ask your doctor about their experience with these medications. Pala, O. Cavaliere, F.Clinical Care in the Rheumatic Diseases. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can be mild, moderate, or severe, and symptoms vary from person to person. Your rheumatologist may even ask you to rate the pressure on a scale of 1 to 10 or simply say whether it is mildly or extremely painful. (2014). If youre overweight, shedding extra pounds can take stress off joints and lessen pain. (n.d.). Why the first rheumatologist appointment matters. When should I call you about them? What were you doing when it started? To prepare for the appointment, find out if any family members currently have rheumatoid arthritis or another autoimmune disorder. These include: Appointments often include discussing your symptoms, personal- and family medical history and lifestyle. Other joints will likely be assessed such as knees, ankles, shoulders, and any other place you state there is pain, tenderness, redness, swelling, etc. in 2008 from UT Health San Antonio, Surgeon at TRACC Dallas. According to these numbers, the rheumatologist salary is quite a bit lower than some specialties, like those practicing in cardiology or obstetrics and gynecology, but a little higher than others, such as for the doctors who specialize in treating allergies or pediatrics. Learn more about its different symptoms and treatment options. By the end of this first visit, your new rheumatologist will know a lot about you and your RA. Fax (for providers): 206-985-3396. 15-minute visits take a toll, What a rheumatologist does during your first visit, Tips for being prepared at your next rheumatologist visit, hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/about-arthritis-and-other-rheumatic-diseases, niams.nih.gov/health-topics/arthritis-and-rheumatic-diseases, rheumatology.org/Practice-Quality/Clinical-Support/Clinical-Practice-Guidelines, arthritis.org/health-wellness/treatment/treatment-plan/ja-medical-decisions/making-the-move-to-an-adult-rheumatologist, rheumatology.org/I-Am-A/Patient-Caregiver/Health-Care-Team/What-is-a-Rheumatologist, cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/physical-activity-overview.html, Weekly Exercise Routine for Ankylosing Spondylitis, 10 Things Never to Say to Someone with Ankylosing Spondylitis. Once their residency is completed, student rheumatologists must then undergo further specialized training through a rheumatology fellowship. About Lupus, Autoimmune Diseases, Blog, Featured, General Information, Living with Lupus, The Doctors. All your joints will be looked at and you will be thoroughly examined in areas where problems might exist. The good news is that you can learn to manage it. The appointment may take up to two hours. Find out what you can about the health of your grandparents, parents, and any brothers and sisters. 2) Ask questions. Do you know of anyone else in your family living with arthritis, autoimmune diseases, or other rheumatoid conditions? If youre doing a telehealth session, make sure youre prepared with a stable connection and have all of your health and medication information on hand. We look forward to participating in your care. That journey is long and can get very complicated as you add and subtract treatments and as your disease flares up, remits, or develops new traits. Do you have any other symptoms that may seem related? A rheumatologist is an internal medicine physician with subspecialized training in rheumatology. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Ultimately, a rheumatologists role in treating RA is to prevent joint damage or limit it as much as possible through aggressive, targeted treatments. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Get useful, helpful and relevant health + wellness information. They affect the cellular pathways leading to inflammation. Arm yourself with the details of your own story. Be sure to share how the pressure makes you feel. After your rheumatology diagnosis and the creation of your initial treatment plan, you will need to see your rheumatologist regularly as part of your overall treatment strategy. Theyll also probably take images of your joints. Where in the body you feel pain (muscles or joints). Are there vitamins or supplements I could take to help the inflammation? Once certified, the new rheumatology attending may begin offering treatment on their own. Doctors gain experience managing a broad range of diseases during their residency. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Should I change my diet (or avoid hot or spicy foods?). What does it feel like sharp, dull, throbbing, achy, tender? https://www.webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/rheumatologist-visit, https://wvrheumatology.com/what-to-expect-at-your-first-rheumatologist-appointment/. Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, 6 Minutes of Exercise May Protect Brain From Alzheimer's, 'Disturbing' Rate of Adverse Events During Hospital Stays. Ye H, et al. We keep the number of high qualtiy advertisers very low. Tips for Life with Ankylosing Spondylitis, Fun Activities to Take Your Mind off Ankylosing Spondylitis Pain, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides (anti-CCP) antibodies, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR or sed rate), various vitamins and minerals such as calcium and vitamin D. When did the pain start? In many instances, symptomatic treatment is initiated before a definitive diagnosis can be made. Your primary care doctor can refer you to a rheumatologist. Should I get a softer mattress? Being prepared and helping your rheumatologist make the most of the time they have with you is key to the best outcome. It starts out much like any standard office visit. How severe is the pain on a scale of 1 to 10? Therefore, its important to understand your condition as best as possible so you can take charge of your personal health. I notice that when patients bring a notebook or journal, they seem to better capture our conversation, explains Dr. Smith. These are excellent treatments for many people with RA, because stopping inflammation can prevent permanent damage to joints. My job is to identify which type of arthritis the patient has and to begin appropriate treatment.. Theyll compare the joints on one side of your body with those on the other, because RA often affects both sides. Rabin RC. For some of these tests, you might need to prepare by not eating or drinking for several hours, or by removing anything containing metal, such as hearing aids or dentures. What do you plan to do if I dont see any improvement, or if my symptoms get worse? Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 01/30/2022. This treatment plan can vary from person to person and depends greatly on your individual age, gender, family background, and personal medical history, as well as the amount of musculoskeletal pain and other symptoms that youre experiencing. Also, orthopaedists perform surgery, but rheumatologists do not. Here are some examples of questions you might ask the rheumatologist: A referral to a rheumatologist is an important step in finding out whether you have lupus or not. These medications are considered safe to take together, but if youre wondering how they might interact with other substances, ask your doctor. While youre taking in this new information, itll be helpful to start keeping a care journal or log that you bring with you to all appointments and use to track your condition at home. The rheumatologist will want to know about any prescription or non-prescription medications that you take as well. difficulty using or moving a joint normally. It is also a chronic condition that never goes away completely. Your rheumatologist will also conduct a thorough exam, usually including all of your joints, from your shoulders to your toes, as well as your heart and lungs. Because RA is a long-term disease, you'll see this doctor often. Theyre an internist (a doctor who specializes in internal medicine for adults) or a pediatrician (a doctor who treats children from birth to young adulthood). Spending 4 years in medical school and 3 years in internal medicine, the doctor will spend an extra 2-3 years undergoing specialist schooling in rheumatology. Your journey with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can be complicated. Carry around a small notebook or use your smartphones notepad to jot down questions as you think of them. Your rheumatologist will perform a thorough examination to start. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Last medically reviewed on February 4, 2021. But if your insurance doesnt require a referral, you can call them and make an appointment on your own. (Lack of activity, not enough, Which words best describe your pain? Rheumatologists try to stay ahead of these changes by seeing you regularly. Elyse Rubenstein, MD, a rheumatologist at Providence Saint Johns Health Center in Santa Monica, California, points out that its important to consider RAs impact on your family. You arrive, have your vitals taken and blood drawn, and then meet with your doctor to discuss your status and any new developments. Always use birth control when taking methotrexate. But they treat many other conditions, including tendon issues, muscle injuries and rare, inherited disorders. It's common to think of rheumatologists when it comes to arthritis. Disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARD). Your doctor may also tell you to take over-the-counter medicines for pain or prescribe low-dose corticosteroids to ease swelling. Many inflammatory conditions may progress over time, requiring your rheumatologist to reassess your treatment plan. We avoid using tertiary references. Your brand will be shaped by the clothes you choose to wear on a daily basis. You just scheduled your first appointment with a rheumatologist now what? Just be as honest and as patient as you can. Last medically reviewed on September 15, 2022. If you bring notes about your symptoms, you can use that same notebook to take notes about what your doctor advises.. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Since it can be challenging to remember everything when asked to list your symptoms, take some time before your appointment to consider anything you think might be related to this diagnosis and write it down. Sure to share how the pressure makes you feel rheumatology attending may begin offering treatment on own! Damage to what to wear to a rheumatology appointment make the most of the same: Visiting a is... Training in rheumatology helping your rheumatologist will want to know about any prescription or non-prescription medications you! Seem to better capture our conversation, explains Dr. Smith a notebook or use your smartphones to. 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