It is a fact that everybody experiences some form of muscle and joint pain now and then. When this type of pain does not get better as you estimated it would though, then it's time to seek evaluation of your nagging pain. Seeing a primary care physician is the best way to begin seeking muscle and joint care. Your primary care physician, after examining you, might assess that an underlying rheumatic condition may be the cause of your pain discomfort. You will be referred for evaluation by a rheumatologist.
Rheumatologist
Rheumatologists mainly work in outpatient clinics, and you might not need a referral to be seen for an evaluation in those clinics. Other physicians can refer you to a rheumatologist. If you are hospitalized for a rheumatic disease, an affiliate rheumatologist on staff at the hospital may be asked to evaluate your case. It's important for you to receive rheumatology treatment early especially if your family history reveals autoimmune or rheumatic disease conditions. These conditions do materialize in families, and symptoms have a tendency to worsen over a short period of time. Although some symptoms and signs may improve or resolve when treated early with medications, those symptoms can, unfortunately, return again. The key to beating this disease is to seek early care for joint and muscle problems.
Joint Pain Symptoms And Laboratory Testing
The first symptoms of a rheumatic disease may be joint pain and swelling. Since early diagnosis of a rheumatic disease begins with these symptoms, schedule an immediate consultation with a rheumatologist for evaluation of your condition. If you've been seen by your primary care physician and laboratory tests were performed, blood tests such as antinuclear antibodies, rheumatic factor, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate will be used to indicate whether there is the presence of rheumatoid arthritis disease in your body.
If your primary care physician tells you that one or more of the blood tests are positive, then you will be referred to a rheumatologist to learn exactly what the underlying condition is before treatment planning can be initiated. One of the advantages of being seen by a rheumatologist is that, though it's difficult to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatologists have a fascinating opportunity to ultimately identify and fit the pieces of this very complex set of puzzling symptoms and lab tests together.
Looking Forward To A Healthy Future
This complex field of rheumatology as a discipline allows rheumatologists to piece all the facts and symptoms together so that you don't have to suffer for years before receiving a definitive diagnosis that gives you hope for a healthy future. Like true detectives or a mystery writer, they gather the clues and mysteries about this difficult disease and then use the information so that you can benefit from early treatment and a lasting and healthy lifestyle.
To learn more, reach out to a rheumatologist in your area.