How to Talk to a Doctor About Arthritis

By eHow Health Editor

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If you have been newly diagnosed with arthritis or suspect you may have it, you likely have a lot of questions and concerns. Learning how to talk to a doctor about arthritis may better equip you to handle your condition. It can also go a long way toward putting your mind at ease.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Step1

Prepare for your visit with your doctor by writing down any questions or concerns you want to address. Having a written list with you when you go to your appointment will ensure that you do not forget to bring up anything you wanted to talk about.

Step2

Ask about the long-term prognosis of your condition. Some people have more serious cases of arthritis than others. The degree of your arthritis will have an impact on how you can expect it to affect you in the future.

Step3

Find out about new advances in arthritis treatments. New and exciting treatments are being developed all the time. If you talk to your doctor about them, you can make sure you stay on top of things by being ready to try new treatments when they become available.

Step4

Ask about clinical trials. If you don't mind being a guinea pig, participating in a clinical trial could offer you the chance to see significant improvement. Your doctor will know of any local trials going on and may have information on national trials.

Step5

Request information on the potential side effects of the medications you are taking. You will want to know what they are, so you can be on the lookout for them.

Step6

Ask about any exercises you should be doing. Your doctor will almost certainly want you to engage in some sort of regular physical activity.

Step7

Ask whether there are any helpful books or pamphlets on arthritis that your doctor thinks you should read. Reading about your condition, how it might affect you and the various ways it can be treated will help you to feel empowered when it comes to your arthritis.

Tips & Warnings

Find a doctor with whom you feel comfortable. This may involve seeing several before you finally settle on one with whom you connect. If you have bad feelings about your doctor or simply don't click personality-wise, you will not feel comfortable talking to that doctor about arthritis or anything else. This could negatively impact your medical care.