Arthritis is a complicated disease that can affect many areas of a patient’s life. While a family doctor is an important coordinator of care, it may be important to consider a rheumatologist to treat arthritic conditions.
According to the American College of Rheumatology, a rheumatologist is specially trained to deal with a variety of medical problems affecting the joints, bones and muscles. While there are many rheumatic diseases, some of the most prevalent include rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and lupus. The rheumatologist will focus on total life quality for a person with arthritis. That means he or she will work with a family doctor to make sure the best overall care is available for the patient.
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Like other medical specialists, a rheumatologist has been through medical school. This kind of doctor has completed a residency in either pediatrics or internal medicine. Then they have completed an additional two years of training to become an expert in the field of these complex diseases.
The Rheumatology Center of Princeton emphasizes that a relationship with a rheumatologist should be ongoing. This doctor needs to know the patient well to make sure the patient is getting the best quality of life as they live with this complex disease.
If arthritis is suspected, the rheumatologist, rather than the family doctor, is the best person to do the testing and investigative questioning to diagnose. An early diagnosis and good treatment plan can possibly lead to a better overall prognosis for the patient.
The Arthritis Foundation recommends patients look for a doctor they feel has good communication skills and makes them comfortable. A big factor in good care is the ability of a doctor to take the time to fully understand the patient’s case. The willingness a patient has to talk to the doctor about what kinds of life issues are important is also crucial to a doctor being able to provide good care.
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