Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
I saw the rheumy for the second time today. He is a very nice man but not very...dynamic. Six weeks ago I started Plaquenil and Naproxen 500 mg twice a day. I said the pain had lessened but that I still have pain, and that I didn't know if it had lessened because of the increase in Naproxen or if the Plaquenil was working. He said it's the Naproxen because it's too soon for the Plaquenil to be making a difference.
So here's the thing. I asked if I should keep taking the Naproxen, and he said I should take the smallest amount I can. He said I should take it if I need it, but if I don't ever not take it, then we won't know if the Plaquentil is working. But then later he said if I still have pain then I should keep taking it.
Well, I still have pain. He squeezed each of my knuckles to see if they hurt (they don't) but he didn't ask me to squeeze his hands (which would have hurt). I told him that sometimes my ankle hurts on touching it, and that my elbows hurt if I lean on them and then sometimes just for the heck of it. The elbow pain has come on in the last few weeks, so if I don't take Naproxen, I don't know what will happen.
Really, I felt like we had an ineffective conversation. Like I said, he's a nice enough man, but I left feeling pretty discouraged and on my own. I'm not due back till late November.
I also showed him the nodules I have on my knuckles. The first one showed up about two months ago, and three more since then. He said they are a sign of osteoarthritis. So I guess I have every kind of arthritis going (initially he said palindromic arthritis, but I am positive for the rheumatoid factor).
SIgh. Glad there are people here who understand!
So here's the thing. I asked if I should keep taking the Naproxen, and he said I should take the smallest amount I can. He said I should take it if I need it, but if I don't ever not take it, then we won't know if the Plaquentil is working. But then later he said if I still have pain then I should keep taking it.
Well, I still have pain. He squeezed each of my knuckles to see if they hurt (they don't) but he didn't ask me to squeeze his hands (which would have hurt). I told him that sometimes my ankle hurts on touching it, and that my elbows hurt if I lean on them and then sometimes just for the heck of it. The elbow pain has come on in the last few weeks, so if I don't take Naproxen, I don't know what will happen.
Really, I felt like we had an ineffective conversation. Like I said, he's a nice enough man, but I left feeling pretty discouraged and on my own. I'm not due back till late November.
I also showed him the nodules I have on my knuckles. The first one showed up about two months ago, and three more since then. He said they are a sign of osteoarthritis. So I guess I have every kind of arthritis going (initially he said palindromic arthritis, but I am positive for the rheumatoid factor).
SIgh. Glad there are people here who understand!
I think we all have had visits that were over ( in their minds) before they even started. We are only a disease, a chart, a body part.
I have sent my MD a short summary of my own after my appt. of concerns that were not brought up, or talked over, or just plain ignored, and I now I bet they really Look at me - not just the chart!
Sounds a little scary, but they are just people too..Hope this helps - G-
This guy hasn't done me wrong, he just isn't what I was hoping for...but that seems to be how it goes with this type of insurance group.
My PCP is a good guy, but he freely admitted he didn't know much about RA. He was the one who ordered all the tests, and after looking at them he referred me to the rheumy. I have no idea if/when the rheumy will repeat any of the tests. That never came up in this visit or the last.
Maybe I will try emailing him. I communicate more effectively in writing : )
It sounds like trying to switch rheumys would not be easy, so maybe give him more of a chance before moving on. If he does accept email, that might be a good way to let him know about your concerns.
My advice to you........seek out a new RA doctor. Hopefully, you will get to a maintaince/remission phase and only need to see this Doctor every 3-6 months. It it important that you like your doctor because you will be spending a lot of time together over the next few decades. So why postpone the inevitable?
Find YOUR doctor that you love! You will not regret it:)
Hugs!
Debbie
You could also go to your PCP and see he/she can prescribe you a pain med. I take Tramadol, which isn't a narcotic but to me I feel like it targets the joints better. It doesn't make the pain go away completely but it does take the edge off. However my RA is severe and progresses rapidly so if yours isn't severe it may help more.
I also take cinnamon pills and a tsp of honey everyday, and that helps a lot. I know it sounds weird and I don't know what it is in it that makes your body just jump start but it does. My friend's mom has RA and OS and she was so bad that she wouldn't leave the house and if she did someone had to drive her and help her in and out the car. Well she started taking the cin. and honey and after a week she was feeling much better, she was up and going on her own, she can even go up and down stairs now.
good luck on your journey, hope things get better. and next time you see your rheumy don't be afraid to tell him what you think or feel. If you have questions write them down and take them in and ask him everything, that's what they're there for.
Keep your head up.
Its common for people with RA to develop nodules, it also a potential sign of more severe disease. The fact that your doc dismissed them as OA bothers me a bit.
Make sure he actually examines them next time - if he didn't last time.
i dont have insurance and i was treated by my PCP for my RA for almost 2 yrs. but as the symptoms were getting worse, PCP told me that i have to be seen by a specialist. then i went to rheumy. i still remember my first visit with him. i am in pain almost every day. but on the day of my rheumy visit, i was totally painfree and rheumy was not surprised. he said "you look happy today, may be this is your good day" but didnt ignore me or my words about my pain. he ran all the tests and some x-rays based on my complaints. i feel very good to have such a nice doctor right across the street to my home.
Yes, I've read that nodules can mean a more aggressive case, which is the opposite of what I've read about palindromic arthritis causing no joint decay, just pain.
So I'm kind of in the dark here, and hanging in there till the next visit.