I have an appt with Rheumatologist today and I am a little nervous as to what to expect. I am in alot of pain today and I am not sure if that's good or bad. I am concerned that if I don't get some relief soon I am going to go crazy.

Anyone else with RA have numbness? my whole left side of body from shoulder to feet is numb.. like it has been asleep, but it's also painful. Anyone else have this?

I know you are all busy, but any help would be greatly appreciated.

Ann Marie

At my first appointment I made sure he understood how much pain I was in and that the medications that I was on then were not helping very much. I also did not leave his office until we had a treatment plan worked out. Now every time I go to see him he always tells me what he might do if this treatment does not work. Then when I get home I do some research on the treatment and I am ready with any questions that I have about the drug before he perscribes it. I never leave his office without getting a blood test or an x-ray done. As luck would have it the day of my first appointment was one of my good days. When he examed me and he moved or touched a joint and it didn't hurt that day. I told him that is the one that causes me alot of pain. He will ask alot of questions. Try and answer them as fully as your can. Even if you think that it is to small to mention. Take a list of your medications that you are on and the treatments that you have tried. What I like about my rheumy is that he works in a hospital so all my previous test results were in the computer and so he did not have to order them again and he could see any patterns that were developing. If your rheumy is not like that then you might want to bring a copy of your test results too. Be firm with him so he understands what you are going thruough. Good luck.

annette- thanks..at least I'm in lots of pain so when th touches me.. well, lets just say I will have to concentrate on not hitting him..lol.

Really, I am so frustrated. I spoke to my PC MD last week and the Rhuematoligist will have my labs, and hopefully my recent MRI of my lumbar spine.

I am so ready for this workday to be over, i just hurt so much today. thanks for your response. if anyone else has any ideas please feel free to respond.

Annette had very good suggestions. It's okay to let your rheum know that it hurts when he does something. It's one of the ways he can judge how bad your joints are. There have been times when I literally jerked my hand or foot away during his joint exam. When I am able to tolerate it, he knows that they are doing a bit better, lol.

Get a copy of every lab you have done and start a file. If you were to need to change doctors, you have the part of your records that they are interested in already. It also helps you to understand how you are doing.

I hope your appointment went well. I meant to check back on the board but I am flaring myself and yesterday was the first day of school. I just sort of crashed when i got home.