Wait after diagnosis ...

Updated May 22, 2014.

Written and reviewed by a Board Certified physician. See the Medical Review Board About.com.

Most people know very little about arthritis when they are diagnosed. Remember, if your doctor spoke the words: "you have arthritis" It felt good ill-informed and educated about the disease and realized I needed a crash course I'm sure?. that he had arthritis desired immediate explanation anyway on your life. I mean, one day your good health and the next day you have arthritis, or so it seems. Where is the Head Trip What do you want to wait?

I have recently found that patients with newly diagnosed rheumatoid do not know what to expect. I received an email asking ,. The e-mail was so short, "He was with Arthritis How long before I quit my job and when I go home care?" Diagnosed. In essence, the person wanted to know how long before arthritis messed his life.

Certainly was not long ago, I was diagnosed (over three decades) and I forgot the feeling of uncertainty that comes to you with a diagnosis. I gave it some thought and created a list of things I wish I knew the first week or one month after the diagnosis. At least it would have helped me know what to expect.

Referral to a rheumatologist. If you have been diagnosed not by a rheumatologist (a specialist in arthritis and rheumatic diseases), your doctor or your family, you can refer for further testing or starting any diet treatment. Depending on your location, you may have to travel a distance to see a rheumatologist or maybe you wait a month or more for the first appointment.

Trial and error with the treatment plan. Having your doctor or rheumatologist recommend a treatment plan, keep in mind that it will take several drug tests over time to find the most effective treatment for you. The response to treatment may vary. All patients with arthritis that responds equally to each drug. You may have side effects on a drug or treatment that they need to develop modified. Try to find the safest most effective treatment for you.

Medication time to work. Even if a particular drug will work for you, it may take a while to reap the full benefits. For example, some DMARDs (disease modifying antirheumatic drugs) are slow and it may take months before you begin to feel better and see improvement in certain blood tests to control the inflammation.

People do not always understand. Expect around you, including family, friends and colleagues will not understand many aspects of life with arthritis a lot of people. You can download the invisible disease, do not understand the need for flexibility with benefits to be employee, more rest you need, or why it sometimes is irritable or frustrated. When they are finished, they can increase their understanding over time.

The degree of arthritis is not the same for all. Arthritis symptoms can be mild, moderate or severe. You can meet people with the disease, but do not reflect the situation accurately. The severity of the joint damage and progression of the disease determine the effect on their ability to perform the work, leisure and social activities.

About 21.1 million of the 50 million adults with arthritis diagnosed by a physician or 42.4% anticipate a certain degree of activity limitation due to arthritis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), compared to the limits their usual activities because of arthritis.

You have to make changes to your work so that you can continue working (eg changes to the program). About 8.3 million (31%) of adults are diagnosed in age with the report of arthritis by a physician limited in their ability due to arthritis to work. In the worst case, you have the job or the time you change your work.

Functional limitations with normal daily activities are connected, are common in adults with arthritis Approximately 40% of adults with arthritis report that at least one of the nine daily activities are "very difficult" or activities include: detect small objects, "I can not" to reach .. over the head and you sit for 2 hours; Lifting or carrying 10 pounds; Climbing stairs; push a heavy object; Walking a quarter mile; more than 2 hours; drop, bend or kneel.

Arthritis or rheumatism remains one of the most common causes of disability. Backache or spine problems and heart are the second and third most common causes of disability. Among adults who have suffered a disability, the most commonly identified limitations were difficulty climbing stairs and walking 3 blocks.

The Bottom Line

Arthritis has become his life partner. Your focus should be on how to better manage his disease. The well communicated - you should find a doctor who can relate to. Work to find with your doctor the most effective treatment plan. If you notice more and more physical limitations, talk to your doctor. The goal is that, to stay as long as possible as functional as possible, despite arthritis.

_Source:

_{Arthritis. Data and statistics. CDC. Oktober of 2010.
http://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/data_statistics.htm}