The lessons we can learn from Physical Therapy about our own body and our movement, can, literally, be life changing. Having persistent joint pain or body pain can be frustrating and demoralizing. It can have a profound impact on ALL aspects of our lives, as we may find we can no longer do the things that brought us joy or stress relief. At first, this may seem like a small annoyance, but with time the tension can build and our mental health can suffer. Naturally, we think that this deserves a trip to the doctor, and of course it does. But all too often I have seen the looks of disappointment when I suggest the treatment is physical therapy. What? No shot?? No medication?
[Read more…] about I love Physical TherapyGeneral Rheumatology
Should you see a doctor for arthritis?
We often think that arthritis is just a part of getting older and that 1) we don’t need to see the doctor and 2) there’s nothing that can be done. But as a rheumatologist, I couldn’t disagree more! Arthritis may be a part of getting older, but PAIN doesn’t have to be and it definitely deserves a conversation (or two) with your doctor. Learn what you can expect during that visit in the above video.
[Read more…] about Should you see a doctor for arthritis?Can Joint Injections help your arthritis?
Joint injections come in many different flavors and if you have ever talked to your doctor about your joint pain, they have most likely come up. But do they help? What can you expect from them? And which kind should you get? To learn more keep reading and check out the video above.
[Read more…] about Can Joint Injections help your arthritis?Why a +RF test doesn’t always mean you have Rheumatoid Arthritis
If you’ve ever seen a doctor because of persistent hand pain or hand swelling or even knee pain it is quite possible you’ve had the Rheumatoid Factor test done. When it comes back positive it is easy to assume that it means you have Rheumatoid Arthritis, I mean, obviously, it has the same name in it, “Rheumatoid.” But as with most things antibody related, it’s not that simple. The Rheumatoid Factor can be positive in a lot of different conditions aside from Rheumatoid Arthritis and the chance of having a positive Rheumatoid Factor blood test goes up as we get older.
Learn more about the Rheumatoid Factor (RF) and Rheumatoid Arthritis in the above video and take notes. Having more information will help you understand your own labs results and get you more prepared for your own doctor’s visit. 
Why getting a diagnosis is hard.
No one likes to talk about it, but doctor’s don’t know everything. Gasp! But it’s true. Correctly diagnosing someone can take longer than we’d all like. This is especially true when you have had your symptoms for a long time and have seen multiple specialists. Whether you are dealing with chronic headaches, fibromyalgia, fatigue or mood swings, having symptoms that are not easily seen or found in blood tests makes it more likely to fall into this category. It is demoralizing and frustrating for everyone involved. Although every case is unique, in the video above, I go over some of the most common reasons why people find themselves in this situation. Understanding our system and how we participate in the system can help us work within it to get to answers and ultimately, better health. This video can hopefully provide some insight into why you aren’t getting answers and what you can do to start getting some.
After watching the video, if you are interested in how you can be better organized for all your appointments, check out our Worksheets page! We have tools there that will help you organize your thoughts, medical journey and appointment notes.
Cheers!
~Ortiz