Talking with Your Doctor

Developing a good relationship with your rheumatologist is an important step in helping to stop the progression of your rheumatoid arthritis (RA). By helping your rheumatologist understand your condition and how it affects you, you give yourself the best chance of benefiting from your treatment.

Here are a few suggestions for maintaining open communication with your rheumatologist:

• Write down your symptoms, medications you currently take, allergies, previous medical procedures, conditions, and diseases in advance. Show this list to your rheumatologist
• Let your rheumatologist know about symptoms that bother you the most, and do not hesitate to talk about your feelings
• Be specific about your symptoms. If you have pain, describe how bad it is. Point to the joint, or show your rheumatologist the exact movement that causes you pain
• Tell your rheumatologist about side effects you are experiencing, such as stomach problems or skin rashes. This will help him or her develop a treatment that's best for you

Questions for your doctor

It's often a good idea to write down any questions you have for your rheumatologist in advance so you won't forget to ask them during your visit. The following questions can help you get started. You may print this list of questions and bring them with you to your next visit with the rheumatologist.

Questions you might ask include:

• Do you know if I have any joint damage?
• Do you know if RA is damaging my joints now?
• What tests would help you know for sure?
• Do the medications I'm taking now help to stop further joint damage?
• If I'm feeling better and have less pain and stiffness in my joints, does that mean that RA is not damaging my joints?
• Are biologic therapies appropriate for me?
• What are the benefits and risks of these therapies?

When asking questions, make sure to have your rheumatologist explain anything you don't understand.

Click here to learn about treatment options for RA.