Arthritis Help Center
Rheumatoid Arthritis.....?
I have my first appointment wednesday with the Rhuematiod sprecialist, does anyone know what they do for the first visit and what should I expect? Do they do a bunch of tests? Does the visit take long? I am nervous about the visit. Thank you for your help....
Public Comments
- If your primary doctor ran blood tests, call a day ahead to make sure copies of these tests were sent to the specialist. That will prevent the doctor from repeating unnecessary bloodwork, and also speed up diagnosis and decisions for treatment.
It all depends on your RA factor and other blood levels that doctors will analyze. They will (should) take a thorough history by asking you what medicines you're taking, what meds you have taken in the past month, what conditions you are currently being treated for, and any surgeries and significant diseases you or your immediate relatives have had. That way, the doctor can determine how likely your arthritis will respond to traditional treatment.
If you have taken the usual arthritis medicines without relief (ie. non-steriod anti-inflamitory meds) then it may be time for a more rigorous approach, like prednisone or another similar med that can be monitored closely. If you've already taken these meds, then they may consider a drug like Humara that is a disease modifying growth inhibitor ( a fancy name for the meds ability to stop your body from attacking its own tissues.)
When you call to ask about the office having your previous tests on file, also make sure they have any x-rays, ct-scans, or MRI's that could help the doc to see first hand the damage that RA has caused. Make sure they have BOTH the films and the Radiologist's notes, not one or the other..
I went through the same thing and can tell you that when the dr.s office is prepared and communicates with the referring doctor, it will go much smoother! Expect a physical exam to test range of motion and strength, and be ready to tell the doctor your daily activities that are affected by RA. Give the doc a goal that you'd like to reach, and ask for a reasonable time in reaching that goal, which will all depend on how progressed your arthritis is and your response to treatment.
Lastly, make sure that whatever treatment the doctor decides on, and discusses with you, is approved by your insurance! Too often people settle on a treatment and leave the doctor's office thinking they're on their way to recovery when in fact they face a major roadblock since most insurance companies are VERY strict about what medicines and treatments (ie. Humara) they allow.
The newer meds are so expensive that some insurance companies do not cover them, and unless you have unlimited resources and can afford to pay $2,000 for each dose, you should get ALL medicine pre-approved through your insurance BEFORE you leave the doctors office. That way, they can try out an alternative medicine or treatment that might be covered.
Better yet, call your insurance carrier and ask them what is on their "preferred" list of RA drugs. Most of the time, there will be 2 or 3 possible medicines in each category, so be prepared to share that information with your doctor. Write it down and take it with you to your visit. It will save a lot of time.
It is a bit time consuming, but preparing ahead of time can cut that down considerably. Best of luck, and I hope my suggestions helped a little. - Rheumatologists and Orthopaedists treat arthritis and rheumatic diseases.
I prefer an Orthopaedist who will order blood tests, joint scans and X-Rays to confirm his diagnosis.
There are a few hundred types of arthritis and rheumatic diseases. The good news is that science is progressing rapidly in its understanding of rheumatic diseases.
Antibiotics are now used to achieve full remissions for at least 40%, if not 65% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. For more info, please join our group at:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ant...
