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Guide to Arthritis Pain

By , About.com Guide

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5 of 10

Part 5 of 10 - Your First Doctor Visit for Your Arthritis Pain, What Happens?

How To Prepare

When preparing for the visit, you should consider:

  • What should you bring?
  • What can you expect?
  • What questions to ask?

    What To Expect

    The doctor will usually do the following:

    • Take your medical history

    • Ask questions such as:
      • How long have you been experiencing pain?

      • How intense is the pain?

      • How often does it occur?

      • What causes it to get worse?

      • What causes it to get better?

    • Review the medicines you are using

    • Conduct a physical exam to determine causes of pain and how this pain is affecting your ability to function

    • Take blood and/or urine samples and request necessary lab work

    • Ask you to get x rays taken or undergo other imaging procedures such as a CAT scan (computerized axial tomography) or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to see how much joint damage has been done.

  • First Visit To The Rheumatologist
  • Designing A Treatment Plan

    Once the doctor has done these things and reviewed the results of any tests or procedures, he or she will discuss the findings with you and design a comprehensive management approach for the pain caused by your osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.

    What Is A Rheumatologist?

    rheumatologista are medical doctors who specialize in arthritis and rheumatic diseases.

    The role of the rheumatologist is to diagnose and treat people with arthritis. Often, a patient is referred to a rheumatologist by their primary care doctor after presenting arthritic symptoms.

  • The Patient-Physician Encounter
  • The Right Doctor For You
  • Should You Change Doctors?
  • Explore Rheumatoid Arthritis and Other Joint Conditions
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