What Happens at the Doctor's Office?
If you’re reading this, you’ve probably already seen your doctor about your joint pain. Now you’ll have visits regularly, so he or she can see how you are doing. Some parts of these exams might seem strange or silly. Your doctor might ask you to wiggle your arms or clap your feet together. He or she might even tickle you to see how you move. That can show your doctor how well joints are working.
Here are some other things your doctor might do:
- Ask how you and your joints are feeling.
- Feel your joints.
- Ask you to move your joints and then move them for you.
- Watch how you move when walking and getting off the examination table.
- Look for lumps and bumps on your body.
- Examine your eyes.
Your doctor may order special tests from time to time to see if your medicines and treatments are working properly. If your doctor orders these tests, you may need to visit a special office or a hospital.
- Laboratory tests examine blood and urine. A health worker will use a needle to take a small amount of blood from your arm or ask you to pee in a cup.
- Imaging tests, like X-rays or MRIs, take pictures of the inside of your body. A health worker will ask you to lie on a table or in a machine that looks like a big tube. You may be given an injection first. This helps you relax and stay still for the test.
Over time, you and your doctor will get to know each other pretty well. With each visit, you’ll feel more comfortable. After a while, these exams won’t seem like such a big deal.
