Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment Team
My doctor has suggested that I see a vocational counselor. Why would I need to have a vocational counselor for my rheumatoid arthritis? RA is a serious, progressive, and sometimes debilitating disease. By the time most people with RA have been correctly diagnosed, they have already experienced some joint damage and decreased physical ability. In [...]
People with RA may suffer significant physical, personal, familial, social, and vocational consequences from this disease. The limitations caused by RA, for example, may make performing even routine tasks more difficult. The occupational therapist’s goal is to help you maintain your independence and overcome any limitations that RA has imposed on you by facilitating task [...]
My doctor suggested that I see a physical therapist. What is a physical therapist, and why do I need one? Physical therapy is the treatment of injuries or disorders using physical methods, such as exercise, massage, or the application of heat. Ultrasound and iontophoresis (discussed later in this question) are other modalities employed by physical [...]
Most people with RA are treated by either a medical internist or a rheumatologist. Which one a patient chooses as his or her treating physician depends on many factors: The physician’s training and experience in caring for patients with RA His or her board certification The proximity of the physician’s office to your home Whether [...]
It may be helpful to understand what it means to be an internist and a rheumatologist before you choose a physician to help you with your RA. An internist is a person who has completed four years of college, four years of medical school, and at least three years of a medical residency. During that [...]
Most people with RA are treated by either an internist or a rheumatologist. Who you choose to be your treating physician depends on many factors: Most people with RA are treated by either an internist or a rheumatologist. The doctor’s training and experience His or her board certification The proximity of the physician’s office to [...]