Do I Need An Arthritis Doctor?

Eight years ago I was diagnosed with a osteoarthritis of the spine.

I was referred to a rheumatologist and he said there was nothing he could do for
me except prescribe medications for pain. He said that since this was the case he
would rather send me to a pain clinic.

The pain clinic was way to expensive and involved a doctor for general care,
psychologist, physical therapy, accupuncture, biofeedback. I had already had
physcial therapy and I didn't want to talk to a psychologist. (I had already been
to one and considered her to be a very expensive friend)

So now I'm back with the pain doctor and he prescribes Methadone and Morphine. It
doesn't work very well and I'm pretty much disabled. Can't drive. Can barely make
it through the market. Can't do my housework or cooking. I have no
social life. I'm 56 years old.

A lot of you seem to have Arthritis doctors. What would an arthritis doctor do that a
pain doctor doesn't do? I do not want the pain pump that my doctor has offered
me.

Pamela

It seems my arthrtis is progressing very fastl.

I have extensive inflammatory erosive osteoarthritis in addition to my ankylosing spondylitis. My rheumatologist deals with both of my arthritic conditions. If you were dissatisfied with your rheumatologist, why not seek out the services of a different one?

Ides,

I think I may have something like you do - at least it is something that's not
ordinary. I'm 56 and have a long ways to go. I do need a different rheumatologist.
I will get my colonoscopy taken care of and then make the appointment. All of
a sudden I have all these doctor appointments to make.

And to make things all the more fun we're in the middle of house moving AND
my daughter is having her third baby on June 3. She has two more under the age
of 5. She has no idea of the extent of my disability and will be needing my help.
I don't know if I can do it. I do know that I can't pick up a newborn because of
problems of arthritis (or something) in my shoulders.

golitho: Drugs for arthritis are changing. That's good news. I have not followed
up on my arthritis and just have been fighting chronic pain.

I'm glad to get this information and will try to keep up. My pain is terrible.

Pamela

Pardon me for repeating myself: It's the medication talking and it may even be
my age ...... Yurk.