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Internal Medicine Doctor In Tucson Arizona
If you have arthritis, the best thing you can do is find a supportive, knowledgeable, and experienced doctor to help you feel your best. Dr. Robert E. Lending is a board-certified internal medicine physician with decades of experience in the medical field. He has a lot of experience treating patients with conditions like arthritis and would love to help you.
To make an appointment with Dr. Lending, call 795-4291 or request an appointment online now. We look forward to welcoming you to our clinic in Tucson!
Rheumatoid Factor And Anti
One blood test measures levels of rheumatoid factors in the blood. Rheumatoid factors are proteins that the immune system produces when it attacks health tissue.
About half of all people with rheumatoid arthritis have high levels of rheumatoid factors in their blood when the disease starts, but about 1 in 20 people without rheumatoid arthritis also test positive.
A related blood test known as anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide test is also available. Anti-CCPs are antibodies also produced by the immune system.
People who test positive for anti-CCP are very likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis, but not everybody with rheumatoid arthritis has this antibody.
Those who test positive for both rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP may be more likely to have severe rheumatoid arthritis requiring higher levels of treatment.
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How Can Working With A Rheumatologist Help You
Rheumatologists understand the biology of rheumatic diseases and are well-equipped with information to target and treat them, notes Ginsberg. A family practitioner may not have the depth of knowledge about some of these syndromes.
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The best case scenario is having a primary care practitioner as well as a rheumatologist who both regularly coordinate arthritis care, he says.
As I was growing up, my pediatric rheumatologist used to send a report to my pediatrician after every visit. That made my file, back when they were kept in folders, very thick for both doctors. But it was important to have as much documented as possible, he says.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: Why See A Specialist
is a complex disease that affects everyone differently. Thats why all RA patients should follow unique treatment plans tailored to their specific needs. But your primary care doctor may not have all the information you need to manage your RA successfully.
Thats where specialists come in: an RA specialist, called a rheumatologist, has the right skills and insight to help you stay in control of your RA. Heres why:
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Rheumatology: What Should I Expect When I See A Rheumatologist
A rheumatologist is a vital part of a rheumatoid arthritis patients healthcare team as he or she is the physician best able to diagnose the initial condition. The rheumatologist also recommends and prescribes the medical treatments needed to slow or possibly even stop the disease from progressing, helps the patient manage symptoms , and monitors the patient on an ongoing basis.
Why The First Rheumatologist Appointment Matters
The process of diagnosis is often a scary, worrisome time. However, the good news is that there are a wide variety of treatment options available should your rheumatologist diagnose you with rheumatoid arthritis. While it is a chronic condition without a cure, many patients are able to find treatment options that significantly decrease their symptoms. The first step to appropriate treatment is getting an accurate diagnosis, and a rheumatologist is critically important to that process.
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What Questions Should I Ask
You should also ask any questions you have about the visit and the recommended treatments. It’s natural to wonder things like:
- How advanced is my arthritis? Is there damage to my joints?
- How long will it take for me to feel better?
- What can I do to sleep through the night?
- What are the potential side effects of RA medicines?
- How can I prevent those side effects? When should I call you about them?
- I donât like to take medicine. What are my other options?
- Will I have to take RA drugs for the rest of my life?
- What should I do when the pain flares?
- What types of exercise should I do?
- Does it affect other parts of my body?
- Where can I find resources to help me learn more about living with the disease?
- How can I find a support group?
What Is A Dermatologist
A dermatologist is a doctor who primarily treats conditions related to the skin. This also includes conditions that affect the nails and hair. According to the American Academy of Dermatology , dermatologists work with more than 3,000 related diseases, including psoriasis.
Dermatologists are often the first points of contact for those with PsA. This is especially the case for those who have psoriasis, but havent yet received a diagnosis for the arthritis component. A dermatologist treating a someone with psoriasis might ask about joint pain or stiffness, as these are common indicators of possible PsA.
In treating PsA, a dermatologist may prescribe topical ointments to minimize itchiness and pain as well as prescription medication. Light therapy might also be used in the dermatologists office.
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The Risks Of A Delayed Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis
Delaying treatment doesnt just mean that youll be in pain for longer , but it also means that youre risking permanent damage to your joints.
The consequences of leaving RA untreated, according to Dr. Bykerk, include joint damage, permanent loss of function, deformity, potential heart disease complications, loss of work, and depression.
In short, the sooner you see a specialist and get the right diagnosis, the sooner you can start treatment that will keep you active, healthy, and pain-free. Since RA is the most common type of inflammatory arthritis rheumatologists tend to see, most specialists will have plenty of experience treating RA. Ask your primary care doctor and any acquaintances who have RA for recommendations. Learn more about what a rheumatologist is here.
Here are some tips to help you make the most of that first visit to a rheumatologist:
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Which Type Of Doctor Should I See For My Rheumatoid Arthritis
Most people with RA are treated by either an internist or a rheumatologist. Who you choose to be your treating physician depends on many factors:
Most people with RA are treated by either an internist or a rheumatologist.
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The doctors training and experience
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His or her board certification
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The proximity of the physicians office to your home
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Whether the physician participates in your insurance plan
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The doctors reputation in the community
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Your ability to build a trusting relationship with the physician
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The doctors ability to speak your native language or understand your culture and customs
While many of these issues do not necessarily bear directly on a doctors knowledge or clinical abilities, patients often choose a doctor based on what is most important to them. The issue of which type of doctor a patient with RA should see for treatment has been examined in the medical literature, and differences in care and in the outcomes of patients have been noted.
Tumor necrosis factor
A protein that plays an early and major role in the rheumatic disease process.
The more intensive level of care rendered by rheumatologists may result in improved symptoms and fewer visits to the hospital for patients with RA. Not surprisingly, however, this more intensive management leads to significantly higher costs than the costs for patients who are treated by internists.
Rheumatologists Wont Be In The Operating Room
They arent surgeons, but if you need joint replacement theyll be involved both before and after your operation.
You will often need a rheumatology evaluation before surgery to manage your drugs and to decide if any precautions must be taken for surgery because of your disease. Afterward, we want to control your disease well and avoid flaring so that you can do well in rehab and maximize the success of the joint replacement, Dr. Marchetta says.
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Getting Diagnosed With Rheumatoid Arthritis Can Be A Challenging Process But Being Prepared Can Help
Youve been feeling achy and unwell for weeks or even months, and its just not going away. Maybe your hands or other joints are especially stiff in the morning, and it can take hours before they loosen up. Your primary care doctor thinks it might be rheumatoid arthritis and recommends you see a rheumatologist. Or maybe you suspect RA yourself.
Dont hesitate before making an appointment to see a specialist. If you think you could have rheumatoid arthritis, its extremely important to see a rheumatologist as soon as possible, advises Vivian Bykerk, MD, a rheumatologist with the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. If the correct treatment can be started within two to three months, then the prognosis for achieving remission is much better.
Unfortunately, many patients dont see a rheumatologist or start treatment this quickly. According to a study published earlier this year in the British Medical Journal, only 20 percent of the 822 RA patients studied were seen by a rheumatologist within the first three months after their symptoms began. The average delay was almost six months.
Assessment Of Individual Joints
The specialist will likely then inspect your joints one by one. For instance, s/he might gently squeeze each finger joint, your elbows, knees, ankles and toe joints. The purpose of this is to determine how many joints are inflamed and how many are tender. This is important information for your rheumatologist to have, so this is not the time to put on a brave face. If theres any discomfort when s/he presses on a joint, make sure to share how it feels, whether its very painful or just slightly tender. This will inform the diagnosis, so dont hold back.
X-rays.It is likely that the rheumatologist will take some x-ray images of symptomatic joints. S/he will do this for a couple reasons: 1) the images give an inside look at your joints and will indicate whether any joint damage has already taken place, and can also show inflammation, and 2) the images provide a baseline so that your doctor can compare the images to ones s/he may take later to determine the level of progression of the disease.
Labwork. Lastly, the rheumatologist will request bloodwork in order to run several tests. It is important to note that while lab work can help a rheumatologist understand whether RA may be at play, it is not always possible for a diagnosis to be made on blood tests alone. This is because there is not currently a test that can indicate RA with 100% accuracy.
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What Do Rheumatologists Help With
Because they studied in rheumatology specifically, rheumatologists are the physicians best able to diagnose a variety of rheumatic conditions by examining symptoms, performing medical tests, and asking specific questions of their patients.
As part of this process, the rheumatologist must also rule out other conditions which have the same type of joint pain or fatigue as RA. Some that are similar, yet must be treated differently, are lupus, Lyme disease, and relapse polychondritis. Once a diagnosis of RA is confirmed, the rheumatologist recommends ongoing medical treatments and monitors the patient regularly.
For patients with RA, rheumatologists assist with the treatment of its many symptoms, including joint pain, swelling and inflammation, stiffness, and deformities. Ultimately, a rheumatologists role in treating RA is to prevent joint damage or limit it as much as possible through aggressive, targeted treatments. They are also there to help improve the quality of life of their patients.
Due to the complex and chronic nature of RA, rheumatologists must also look for any potential signs of complications that may arise because of the autoimmune condition. This includes monitoring for secondary health conditions which tend to be more common with RA patients, such as Sjogrens syndrome and psoriatic arthritis.
What Is The Difference Between A Rheumatologist Vs An Orthopaedist
Orthopaedists and rheumatologists specialize in conditions affecting the joints, bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons. They treat many of the same conditions, including joint pain and tendinitis. But there are a few differences between these medical specialties.
Rheumatologists consider every organ system when looking for the cause of your symptoms. An orthopaedist focuses on injuries, congenital disease and wear and tear . Also, orthopaedists perform surgery, but rheumatologists do not. While both rheumatologists and orthopaedists help diagnose and treat musculoskeletal conditions, rheumatologists have specialized training in musculoskeletal conditions of an inflammatory and autoimmune etiology.
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How Is Ra Diagnosed
RA is diagnosed by reviewing symptoms, conducting a physical examination, and doing X-rays and lab tests. Its best to diagnose RA earlywithin 6 months of the onset of symptomsso that people with the disease can begin treatment to slow or stop disease progression . Diagnosis and effective treatments, particularly treatment to suppress or control inflammation, can help reduce the damaging effects of RA.
Can You Have An Autoimmune Disease And Not Know It
Autoimmune diseases are not easy to diagnose unless specific prominent symptoms are present. Autoimmunity, however, can be diagnosed with a blood test that looks for auto-antibodies or tests looking for inflammation and dysfunction of certain organs most likely to be damaged by an immune system gone rogue.
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What Kind Of Doctor Do You See For Arthritis
Youll likely see a number of different types of doctors over the course of your RA treatment. Heres how to talk to your doctor about rheumatoid arthritis. Youll likely see a number of different types of doctors over the course of your RA treatment.
When to See Your Doctor About Arthritis. weight loss, and a rash may be signs that you have one of the 100 types of arthritis and that you need to be see a doctor.
What to Do If You Suspect Arthritis Verywell Health If you are noticing aches and pain or stiffness and believe you may have arthritis, what should you do? What symptoms should prompt you to see your doctor?
How Rheumatoid Arthritis is Diagnosed Getting Tested. Nov 18, 2015. Based on the symptoms, your blood tests may indicate that its possible you have some kind of inflammatory arthritis and your doctor will give you a referral to a. You may also want to do a bit of research about RA and its treatment so you can prepare questions to ask when you see the rheumatologist.
Herbal Treatment For Arthritis Starts With X This, by the way, is the reason you dont burn fat immediately when you start exercisingyour body is using the fuel thats stored as glucose in the liver first. While we commonly think of detox as some 30-day program for troubled celebs, the. Gouty Arthritis Cherries May 11, 2008. The tart or sour cherry is
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Rheumatoid Arthritis In Adults
NYU Langone doctors are experienced in diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis, a condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy joints in your body. It can affect small joints in the hands and feet as well as larger joints, including the knees, leading to inflammation and pain. The inflammation sometimes affects organs, such as the eyes, lungs, and heart.
People with rheumatoid arthritis may experience joint pain, stiffness, swelling, fatigue, and limited function. These symptoms may be more noticeable when you wake up, but they can last throughout the day.
NYU Langone doctors prescribe medications that may eliminate symptoms. They also offer a range of support services, including physical therapy, pain management, and counseling. The goal is to help people with rheumatoid arthritis live healthy lives.
Doctors at Hassenfeld Childrens Hospital at NYU Langone diagnose and manage many types of juvenile arthritis.
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When To See A Rheumatologist
In most cases, patients see a rheumatologist for treatment upon referral from their physician. In other words, physicians who are general practitioners generally refer their patients to rheumatologists when they suspect symptoms consistent with rheumatic diseases and want or need to confirm this diagnosis which is outside their normal realm or scope of expertise.
For example, if a patient complains of ongoing and persistent muscle and joint pain that does not go away after just a few days, the physician may want to investigate as to whether or not there is an underlying rheumatic condition or some other issue going on, such as lupus or osteoarthritis. It is extremely important for patients to see a rheumatologist and be diagnosed as soon as possible since RA can be treated most effectively if treatment begins early on in the diseases course.
Patients also typically see a rheumatologist for support in providing the most appropriate and effective medications for their own unique condition. Of these, anti-inflammatory drugs are one of the most widely used non-surgical treatment options for relieving the pain associated with rheumatic diseases like RA.