Take Control of Your Arthritis: SPEAK YOUR DOCTOR S LANGUAGE and get the most from your visit See inside now and learn how to... Play an active role in your treatment decisions Ensure that all of your questions are answered Sift through the doctorese to get the information you need And more!
Discussing pain and treatment options with your doctor is the best way to ensure the most effective solution for your arthritis. So why aren t patients talking more? Maybe we re not sure what to say or how to say it. This booklet will help you keep an open dialogue with your doctor. It outlines some of the questions you should ask and what you should mention at your appointment. Remember, every doctor/patient relationship is different. The information here should be used as a guide. Don t hesitate to ask a question that s not in the booklet. 2
Be prepared before your appointment There s nothing worse than forgetting something you wanted to talk about with the doctor right after you leave his office. So here are a few ways to make sure you mention everything: Make a list Think of all the reasons for your visit and write them down from most to least important. Be sure to take the list with you so you know what you need to cover. It s easy to remember if you re in pain. But if you re also experiencing unpleasant side effects from a medication (occasionally or all the time), or any other health concerns, you ll want to make sure they re addressed too even if they re not related to your arthritis. When it comes to your health, there s no such thing as too much detail. So be sure to let your doctor know when the symptom(s) started, how long they last, their severity and what makes them better or worse. 3
Bring a buddy Have a close friend or family member go with you. If you do forget to tell the doctor something, this person can remind you. They can also be a second set of ears if you don t remember or understand something the doctor said during your visit. You may even want to ask if this person can take notes for you while the doctor speaks. Go over the list with your doctor At the beginning of your appointment, tell the doctor you ve made a list of things you want to address. Then run down your list in order of importance. Make sure you ve discussed everything on your list. Remember, your doctor is the expert, but he works for you. The goal is for you to work together to come to the best possible solutions for your health. Keep communicating during the exam For many of us, being poked and prodded in a cold exam room isn t exactly comfortable. It s very easy to shut down during this process and stop communicating. Make the exam time productive. Use it to really talk to your doctor about your pain, limitations and challenges. What activities cause pain? What makes it better? Have you noticed anything new, like more fatigue? Less range of motion? Be very specific. The more details you can give the doctor, the more they will be able to help. 4
Tell the truth A WebMD survey showed that almost half of the population isn t entirely honest with their doctors. Perhaps it s because we see our doctors as authority figures and we want to please them. So it seems harmless enough when we say we re following a prescribed diet or exercise plan when we really aren t at least not all the time. But those little fibs can be dangerous, especially when they relate to taking your daily medications or following a specific treatment plan. That s why being 100% truthful with your doctor couldn t be more important. Let him know as much as you can about your daily diet, physical activity, smoking and/or drinking habits and any drugs (legal, illegal, prescription or over-the-counter) and dietary supplements, including vitamins and herbs, that you may use and how often. Remember that your doctor should be your health care partner. So if you don t feel comfortable speaking openly, there s nothing wrong with finding another doctor whose approach is a better fit for you. Working together with your doctor is the best way to ensure the best care Talk about your treatment plan Don t just nod your head while the doctor tells you about the next course of action. This is your body and your health, so don t be afraid to ask for details about the prescribed treatment and why it may or may not be the best option for you. If the treatment seems extreme (e.g., surgery, or medication with potentially harsh side effects), ask if there are alternatives you can try first. It may be helpful to repeat back to the doctor or nurse the information you re given, just to ensure everyone s on the same page and there are no misunderstandings. 5
Medications: What to ask Medication is a common part of treatment for arthritis patients. There are many different drugs on the market. Since every person is different, some drugs will work better than others. Here is a list of questions to ask your doctor before starting a new medication: Why do you think this drug will be beneficial to me? Are there any alternatives I can try first? What are the possible side effects and how common are they? Will the drug have a negative impact on my stomach, liver, heart or other major organs? Will this medication interfere with daily activities like driving? Will this medication interfere with any of my other medications (prescription or over-the-counter) or supplements? Are there vitamins or foods that react negatively with the drug? What if I miss a dose? Is it habit forming? If I want to stop taking the medicine, is there a special weaning process? 6 Once you and your doctor have settled on a medication, be sure to confirm your dosage and any special storage instructions. It couldn t hurt to confirm these things with your pharmacist when you pick up your medication as well.
Surgery: What to ask Sometimes surgery is necessary to ease pain or improve function. However, before making a final decision, it may be worth getting a second or even a third opinion. Even minor surgeries come with risks, so make sure that you have exhausted all other alternatives and that the procedure is the right choice for you. Here are some important questions to ask your doctor about surgical procedures: Do you feel surgery is my only option? Have I tried every other available treatment? What type of procedure do you recommend? Why? What will I gain from it? Less pain? More mobility? How effective is the surgery? Is there a chance my pain could return? What are the risks and complications? How long is the procedure? How long will it take to recover? Will I need physical therapy? Remember that the decision to have surgery for arthritis pain is yours alone. Gather all the information you can and ask for another doctor s opinion. Even if doctors feel surgery is your best option, you don t have to go through with it if it s not what you want. 7
Take control live healthy As an educated, health-savvy consumer, it s important for you to be actively involved in your arthritis treatment. The information in this booklet is just a starting point to help you feel comfortable communicating with your doctor. Remember, you will achieve the best results by being honest with your doctor and asking plenty of questions. For more information on communicating with your doctor, getting the best treatment and asking the right questions, please visit arthritis.org or call 1-800-283-7800. About us The Arthritis Foundation was founded in 1948 and is the largest national nonprofit organization that supports the more than 100 types of arthritis and related conditions. The Arthritis Foundation offers information and tools to help people live a better life with arthritis. Whether it s advice from medical experts or specialized arthritis self-management or exercise classes, the Arthritis Foundation can help.