A variety of health care professionals will help you fight arthritis.
As you manage your osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or any of the numerous arthritis-related conditions, some of your most valuable relationships will be with members of your health care team. Together, you’ll monitor the progress of your disease and day-to-day function, and find the treatment plan that works best for you.
Finding the right doctor is key to creating a successful doctor/patient relationship and getting optimal care. Discard the old idea of blindly following doctor’s orders without discussion or question. You can – and should – take the lead role in your care. You’ll need to find someone who not only meets high standards of medical knowledge and skill, but who also works well with your personality. Your relationship with your doctor should be a trusting partnership with open communication.
The doctor’s philosophy of practice should mesh with your own expectations and style. Ask how involved patients are in decisions, the level of aggressiveness in treatment if you have an inflammatory or autoimmune disease, and how much attention is given to your overall quality of life and health.
Team Roster
Primary care practitioner. For most people, even those with arthritis or related conditions, the main medical professional they see is their primary care doctor. Most likely, he will first diagnose your condition, but may refer you to a specialist for evaluation and potential diagnosis. From there, he will continue to handle most of your care. Think of it this way. If you’re the general manager of the team, your primary-care doctor is the head coach. His practice may include other generalists, such as physician assistants, registered nurses (most likely) or even nurse practitioners.
In some cases, when you need occasional or ongoingspecialized medical care – for monitoring, resolving a problem or a complication, or for certain treatments – you may see or continue to see other health professionals. These specialists are an ongoing part of your team.
Rheumatologist. This physician is a specialist with advanced training in arthritis and related musculoskeletal conditions. Your primary-care doctor may consult a rheumatologist or refer you to one if she’s uncertain what type of arthritis you have or if you need ongoing specialty evaluation and treatment. The rheumatologist and your primary care doctor should update each other regularly, so they each have a complete picture of your current health.
Orthopaedic surgeon. Also known as an orthopaedist, this doctor specializes in musculoskeletal issues, including arthritis (particularly osteoarthritis) and injuries. An orthopaedic surgeon is trained to perform surgery on joints, bones, muscles and other parts of the musculoskeletal system, so you’re likely to see one if your joints are damaged and you need a surgical procedure, such as a joint replacement. Orthopaedic surgeons, or orthopaedists, also focus on diagnosis, treatment and management of musculoskeletal problems. In fact, some orthopaedists do so exclusively, choosing not to perform surgery in their practices.
Osteopathic physician. These doctors, also known as osteopaths or DOs, or doctors of osteopathy, have training equivalent to medical doctors, or MDs, but a different overall philosophy. Diagnosis and treatment stem from the idea that many illnesses are connected to disorders in the musculoskeletal system. Some of these doctors to focus more on prevention and overall wellness than on treating disease, which, in contrast, is the focus in the traditional medical model. An osteopathic physician may be your primary-care doctor, or an osteopath may be a specialist, such as a rheumatologist.
Nurse practitioner. These professionals have advanced education and clinical training, providing these health care professionals with the expertise to manage patients’ overall care. They can be a primary care practitioner, and can practice within a setting of physicians and other professionals or independently. They can provide diagnosis, medical care, medication and patient education. Some nurse practitioners are trained in specialty fields, such as rheumatology.
1) I have 2 herniated disks in my neck - a physiatrist gave me injections for about a year, and some physical therapy (which was wonderful, but ran out). She had no more to offer in my chronic state. I went to a chiropractor for awhile, and that hurt. Now I just live with it.
2) I have had one knee totally replaced, and then re-manipulated when the scar tissue was so overwhelming that the new titanium knee would not bend despite best efforts of my physical therapy. I WILL NOT go for the other knee unless I'm ready to give up - that's how bad it was. I am 8 years into this knee replacement and scared to death of the day it wears out. I keep the other knee as safe as possible. It has been predicted to need replacing, but it won't be willingly.
3) My feet (which probably caused most of the knee problems have been diagnosed by 2 orthopedic surgeons as "last resort". x-rays show no other option except toe fusion. I have read so many accounts of people who have had toe fusion and still have the same pain. I can't find anyone, surgeons included who can tell me what this surgery will do to help me. I can walk - if slowly. With good shoes and not overdoing I can get by. Why would I want to have surgery, pain, 6 weeks of recovery to realize the same pain or inability to walk? I have not been told WHY I should do this. I need to be told why, or I won't put myself through it. I've about decided to refuse to have it. I have infrequent ankle, shoulder and back pain. I had carpal tunnel surgery on one arm - the pain turned out to be related to the herniated disks in my neck more than carpal tunnel syndrome. I declined to do the other arm. I'm so tired of seeing every different specialist for every different joint pain. I take Celubrex, but don't know exactly why or what the future is in it. Where is someone who can look at my whole disorder and help me manage my care?
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