What is the role of a rheumatologist in a patient's treatment journey?
Rheumatologists in Kottakkal play a vital role in patients’ treatment journey. From diagnosing and identifying the underlying health conditions and conducting several tests to designing treatment plans and working closely with medical specialists, their role significantly impacts the overall patients’ recovery process.
How should I prepare for my first visit to a rheumatologist?
Patients must prepare by carrying all relevant medical documents, including inherited diseases. They should also prepare a list of questions and doubts regarding underlying diseases and treatment plans. They must reach the hospital before the appointment time and know all instructions to be followed for treatment.
When should I consider seeing a rheumatologist?
When your primary care doctor cannot determine the root cause of joint pain or related diseases, you should consult a rheumatologist in Kottakkal. Also, if you have positive test results for erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), rheumatoid factor (RF), and antinuclear antibodies (ANA), consider making an appointment with rheumatologists at Aster MIMS Hospital.
What documents should I carry on my first visit to a rheumatologist?
Patients are advised to carry their medical reports related to inherited diseases, muscle problems, and test results of previous treatments. They should also carry a list of current medications they consume and symptoms they experience. It gives detailed insights to rheumatologists, and an effective treatment plan can be formed.
What are the most common types of conditions that rheumatologists treat?
Rheumatologists treat a wide range of arthritis diseases, including temporal arteritis, polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), sarcoidosis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). They also treat joint problems, tendon issues, and several muscle conditions, such as rhabdomyolysis, myopathies, and myasthenia gravis.
What advancements or technologies are utilised by rheumatologists?
Aster MIMS Hospital is equipped with medical equipment for diagnosing patients with arthritis and related diseases. These devices include laboratory kits like Rheumatoid Factor and Anti-CCP and imaging test equipment such as ultrasound, X-ray machines, and CT scanners. They also use bone densitometers and joint aspiration kits for effective condition analysis.
What question you should ask a rheumatologist?
Patients must ask about the reason behind the underlying conditions and symptoms they experience. They should also know if the diseases can be cured or if treatment would last for years or a lifetime. Further, they must know the treatment process and their benefits, treatment fees, and lifestyle changes required for effective recovery.
How does a rheumatologist decide on a treatment plan?
Expert rheumatologists conduct physical examinations, laboratory tests, blood tests, and bone density tests to identify and examine the underlying problems and their potential treatment solutions. They also review patients’ medical histories, test results of previous treatments, and documents on inherited diseases, and with their consent, they decide on treatment plans.
What does a rheumatologist do?
Rheumatologists in Kottakkal are medical experts who diagnose and treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, muscle problems, and musculoskeletal conditions in children and adults. They diagnose patients through laboratory and imaging tests and provide comprehensive treatment plans for diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and osteoarthritis.
