Yesterday was a trying day. This new medical group is frustrating. Yesterday I saw the rheumatologist. When x-rays were ordered the reason given for them was 'pain'. No mention whatsoever that I have OA, with OA specific swollen joint nodules on several fingers of both hands, on all the toes on my left foot and one toe on the right. So the radiologist who read the x-rays of my hands and feet was only looking for broken and dislocated bones and signs of the ossification joint damage caused by either rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis, and not looking for OA specific damage at all. Obviously with knees being big joints they did note the joint damage on both knees.
So my rheumatologist was set to just quit with looking into everything further and not bother anymore and just have me take NSAID medicine. I have a heart condition, so nope on the NSAIDs. I have water on the knee problems with the one knee which is a meniscus issue as per my old rheumatologist but this rheumatologist has zero interest in doing an ultrasound to see what's afoot there. Frustrating since the fat pad over that knee has been a bit water logged for quite a while now. She will not budge on giving the knee gel lubricant injections. They simply don't do that there. Fortunately I can get PT though. She doesn't currently have an interest in ordering a CT scan or MRI to see more details of the joint damage that aren't visible simply by x-ray. She'd rather my primary care doc order the tests. My primary care doc is an internist not a rheumatologist. Isn't rheumatological testing supposed to be her job, not his? Her attitude left me wondering why I was even bothering to be there.
She's bad at note taking so I had to completely re-explain what's been going on with my joints over the course of the past ten years and how my ankles and hands/fingers are more rapidly worsening. I had to re-explain that I now have to use a cane when I'm out and about, have difficulty going up and down stairs, have difficulty lifting and carrying things, my hands are always stiff and fumbly, and lost their dexterity. I can no longer do assorted arts and crafts hobbies I enjoyed. Even something basic like stirring a pot of food cooking on the stove is awkward and painful. Fortunately she started examining my hands in more detail and noticed I have more swelling in several joints now versus when I saw her two weeks ago. The joint damage happens in sudden spurts and that's the way it's been progressing for years now. She ordered blood tests and I'm positive for body inflammation. No surprise there. I go back to see her in two weeks. In the meantime I need to see my primary care doc soon and see what he recommends with all this mess. Oh, how I miss my old rheumatologist!!! She is my age and was very proactive with my care and up to date on things.
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