WHEN SHOULD YOU SEE A DOCTOR FOR ARTHRITIS?

It is reasonable to have mild aches from time to time, and no action needs to be taken if you are back to normal within a few days.  However, if you get sudden severe pain in one or more joints with no trauma, especially in conjunction with feeling sick or having a fever, you should contact your doctor immediately. 

For mild pain that seems to linger, worsen, or happen over and over, you should consider seeing your doctor for an evaluation.  Other symptoms that should prompt a doctor’s visit include joint swelling or loss of movement.   Of course, whenever you are concerned regardless of your symptoms, you should call to make a timely doctor’s appointment to see your doctor. 

In many cases, early treatment for arthritis can decrease long-term damage and extend the life of your joints.  Know what to look for, and seek care as soon as you suspect something is wrong.

In terms of which doctor to see, many patients want to see a specialist right away.  However, many insurance carriers require you to see your primary care doctor before being approved for a consultation with a specialist. Regardless, it is probably best to start with your primary care doctor for an initial evaluation and workup.  Based on your doctor’s assessment, you can then be sent to the appropriate specialist, with a set of test results done already.