I hope this day finds you all feeling as well as possible!
I have a question, and I'm hoping someone knows the answer! When should I call my PCP vs my Rheumatologist? My joints have been a little achy for the past couple of days. I woke up, this morning, in excruciating pain in my joints; mostly in my hands, elbows and shoulders. Every joint in my hands is swollen (one-finger typing this) and feels like someone bashed them with a hammer! I just saw my rheumy a few days ago, the day before the achiness started, actually. So, should I call her about the pain, or do I call my primary care physician? I really need to see someone to try to resolve the issue, but I'm not sure to which doctor I should turn. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
When most people hear the word rheumatology, they think rheumatoid arthritis and make the logical leap that a rheumatologist treats diseases of the joints. She does. But she also diagnoses and treats diseases of the muscles and bones, such as osteoporosis, and a number of autoimmune diseases, such as lupus. A rheumatologist treats more than 100 such diseases, in fact, and many of these diseases involve multiple organ systems and complex differential diagnoses. Treatments can be complicated, and there are usually specific requirements for monitoring therapy.
Rheumatologists go through four years of medical school, three years of training in internal medicine or pediatrics, and then top off their education with another two or three years of rheumatology training. Specifically, rheumatologists are trained to detect and diagnose the cause of swelling and pain. For lupus patients, these are hallmarks of inflammation.
In many cases, the rheumatologist works alongside other physicians -- sometimes sharing and giving advice, other times acting as the principal physician, assisted by a team of skilled professionals, from nurses to social workers.
One decision you’ll have to make is what medical professional will be your point person -- the main point of contact who manages your treatment and monitors your disease. This may be your primary care physician -- the family doctor, so to speak -- who you may be most comfortable with and who you feel knows you best. But you might also select a rheumatologist, who can not only manage the treatment of your autoimmune disease, but may be able to serve as your primary care doctor as well.
There is nothing I can add to Robert’s
excellent.advice. Good luck. If your symptoms are out of your rheumatologist field she will send you to the Dr you need. Again, best of
luck.
Exactly! lol. I always go for the training specific to our disease. When it has something to do with lupus or autoimmune diseases like you are describing with the swollen joints, I’d call the rheumy. If I needed antibiotics, got injured, flu then the PCP. Sometimes it pays to get routine labs at PCP so you can then take those with you to the rheumy who has the results and can give you more accurate information on your current condition. I also would say your PCP should be an internist not a family doctor since we have a serious illness. Internists have a lot more training. Also, since you just saw the rheumy, you should be able to call and get info/drugs to help the pain and not have to pay to go to a doctor.
I agree with Mariso, the Rheumy is the way to go. She will be able to evaluate is it is lupus related and may draw some blood. In the meantime she can certainly give you advice on how o make it through your day with that kind of pain.
Sorry you are having such a hard time and hope you feel better soon.
P.S. about 3 months into my treatment my Rheumy actually told me to consider her my PCP because of her expertise in lupus. It was the absolute right decision.
Hey Jazi. I would call and see who you can get in to see first. Do you have online Health Care so you can E mail message to your doctors? Then I would make sure the other doctor gets the documentation.
I would soak my hands in cool water NOT ice. You can also take a sharp fingernail and pin point a joint ..take deep breaths and imagine the pain flowing out of your body at that point. Do some gentle movement to music helps get the lymph flowing ...you are thinking reduce inflammation. Reduce sugar, gluten, alcohol and
add flax seed and cinnamon to your diet.Hope you are right as rain soon.
My case is different in that I live in a small town so my rhumie is 90 miles away but works closely with my PCP. I would go to my PCP for immediate help and if over his head so to speak they converse but share all tests.