6 Myths about Rheumatologists

[@koogle612]

Just had my 1st rheumatology appointment. Really fascinating learning experience. If I were to study medicine I think this would be it. It seems to be a great deal of detective work within a variety of symptoms.

[@arthritisadventure]

it is so important for patients to understand pain is complicated and not simply addressed with certain medications or procedures. I love how you explained this, it can truly help lots of people out there with chronic joint conditions!

[@John-hj6ed]

I love your upbeat tone ... and egalitarian which is rare with most doctors.

[@Ally_416_Chic]

This was very helpful thank you. I had my blood work done, and my family doctor referred me to a rheumatologist and now I understand why

[@mclyman-onkka3579]

Interesting, thank you. Our nephew is a rheumatologist, and I wondered what that entailed. Now I am a bit better informed!

[@dalaisand5453]

Doctora I’m so proud of you. Thank you so much for your videos.

[@nikkihines3652]

🙏 your input is valued especially for someone (nurse) who can educate patients of these different specialties modalities. 👍🏾

[@fairytayls1377]

I’ve being trying to narrow down which medical specialty I want to pursue since I have interests in neurology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, and pain management, and I really thought I had found my calling and that rheumatology would be my one stop shop… I guess I was completely wrong 😭

[@besreal3419]

My mom asked her Proctologist why he chose to specialize in Proctology. He said he worried in med school over what he should specialize in. Then he said he realized that the answer had been staring him in the face for most of his life. He was a midget.

[@NothingHumanisAlientoMe]

Is it over simplistic to say that lack of exercise/mobility/stretch routine is a cruical factor in chronic pain conditions in joints?

[@ConnectedRheumatology]

Not at all. Moving the body/joints is absolutely imperative in controlling joint pain. But what that movement/stretching does to the joint structure, to the mind and the nervous system is what I find particularly interesting. All these systems benefit from the movement routines and all contribute to the reduction of pain. Knowing and understanding these other benefits to movement may not be everyone’s jam, but I’ve found that they can be motivating for those that are especially resistant or scared of exercise/movement, thinking it may do damage to their joints. So you are not wrong, but as with most things, I like to go deeper 😜

[@thebobsmith1991]

Thank you so much.

[@DaRyteJuan]

Awesome. TYVM. Just recently had an ‘annual physical’ and the doctor’s office left a cryptic message that “the doctor would like to you schedule a follow-up to go over the results.” … Umm … what does _that_ mean, exactly? So I’m gearing up for whatever they’re gonna throw at me. They blindsided me the last time, so _“Fool me twice; shame on me.”_

[@leavesofchange]

It usually means they want to push a statin on you.

[@meaganv2039]

What do you do if you have a rotten experience with a rheumatologist that dismisses you and puts inaccurate information in your medical record? Stating there’s no pain or tenderness in areas you are telling them do? The visit summary and drs notes are absolutely terrible listing normal range of motion in areas that weren’t checked when I am currently in physical therapy for limited range of motion in my neck as one small example. I have told him to look and can disprove his evaluation with measurements my physical therapist takes every handful of appointments. He had a lot of untrue things written in my family history, medication list and allergy list where the number of things I’ve had to point out as wrong displays a rushed exam and dismissive ear that he did correct with refusal to do more. I’m basically sick having to be my own advocate with no job waiting months to get into a single place out of town and now stuck dealing with this. I went because of a family history of lupus and even that was not entered anywhere. Currently waiting on blood tests. Is there something more I should or can do besides telling my primary Dr about this? I’m sorry to ask here. I have no one else. Really stressed out. Thanks in advance for reading this.

[@cynthiajones1113]

I've read some of my records and have seen the exact same problems! Irritating for sure.

[@hiraghulam5692]

I m a patient of rheumatoid arthritis now a days i feel unbearable pain on my joint at morning time what i do

[@dustibradford2075]

Hello so they think I have lupus both grandparents on both sides have it . I have hashimotos and celiac and Anemia along with many more and I had positive ANAs before when diagnosing my other disorders but now they are looking for lupus it’s saying negative but my doctor is positive I have it too he said it might be because I’m not having a flare right now .. I’ve also had pneumonia for 9 months and severe asthma so I’m on a shot called fasenera for e asthma and he said that shot can be messing with my test results?!

[@ConnectedRheumatology]

I replied under "Why you can't get a diagnosis"

[@maryannnaya8859]

Pls what tests can one run to identify the type of arthritis on has

[@foysalahamad258]

Mam i take injection ankle position twice but no improve. Doctor medicine suggested febustate , tocit flemo plus but no improve my age 34 my knee ,ankle pain very much

[@bigg4284]

Hi, Does the rheumathologist need to know immunology like in and out or just basic stuff is enough ?

[@cindyshipman6248]

need advice!! about 5 months ago I spent the better part of all day cutting back what I thought was a dead oleander plant..the next day I had blisters on the palm of my hands and rightfully so because it's poisonous..took awhile but it almost went away..went to the gym and did my tan as usual..that night my hands arms and feet exploded with blisters..it eventually went away almost..I haven't tanned in 5 months..my problem now..even being in the sun for a brief car ride will trigger blisters to come up where 3ver the sun touches my skin..this is still going on 5 months after the plant exposure..been to 3 different specialist and nobody has any idea on what's going on or how to fix it..I have lived my life always gardening hiking swimming and vacations at the beach..now I can't even let the sun touch my skin..maybe anybody has seen this happen to anybody else I would be interested to know what you have learned..thank you

[@ConnectedRheumatology]

hmmmm....I can see why the docs you've seen are stumped! Developing photosensitivity (skin reactions after exposure to light) can occur when taking certain medications. Your story sounds very similar to a drug-induced photosensitivity, although it wasn't a medication, but a plant toxin, you were exposed to. These kinds of cases are best handled by an experienced dermatologist, preferably one that works in a university medical center. I love my derm colleagues (many close friends), but there are some dermatologists who specialize in cosmetics and others that specialize in "medical dermatology," and you can usually find those at university centers.

[@cindyshipman6248]

@@ConnectedRheumatology thank you for your reply..I have kept out of the sun and changed my diet to plaeo for over a month..only having little flare ups..I'm going tokeep eating clean and go as long as possible with no sun exposure and hope it burns its self out..it can't be that way forever right?

[@samanthagribowski7034]

Hi ty for the video. Please help. I’m 29 and have been suffering 3yrs with low back and sever chronic sciatica with a minor bulge at L4/L5. I’ve seen 6 Drs and no one knows where pain is coming from or how to help except steroids that don’t work. I’m desperate I feel I’ve been neglected.

[@ConnectedRheumatology]

I’m so sorry you are going through this! The truth is that most patients with low back pain will never find an “organic” reason for their pain. MRIs and X-rays can sometimes show us disc bulges and areas of arthritis but they can also be misleading as they make us think these bulges/arthritis are the reason for our pain. Disc bulges and arthritis are actually very common and if you were to image a large group of people, you would likely find these changes in many, regardless of whether they have pain. I’m not sure if you have had steroid injections in or around your disc bulge, but if you have and haven’t had any improvement, it is likely because the bulge is not the reason for the pain. Finding other, non-opioid, medications for pain and other non-medicinal therapies are what have been shown to have the best results in chronic low back pain. Things like duloxetine, topical lidocaine, physical therapy, aqua therapy, acupuncture, tai chi, meditation, and cognitive behavioral therapy have all shown to be beneficial. I know it can be unsatisfying to not have a concrete reason for the pain, but there are still some things that can be done that can help. Hope this helps!

[@mohdsufiyan309]

@@ConnectedRheumatology thank you for this reply doctor, I'm 26 and have been suffering from lower back pain for 4 years and it's really disabling, very similar to the person in the above. I occasionally have pain in my wrists and knees too. One day its bad and an other day its completely gone. Got my blood test done for RF factor and it was negative which I think it's good but confusing 🙃.

[@maqsoombegum1412]

@@mohdsufiyan309hope you are feeling better. Any pain is horrible and I had really bad back pain that was horrendous 😢 I started taking higher dose of vitamin D 2000 and magnesium and it helped me. You can ask your doctor to check your levels after taking it and my levels were fine. I’m no longer in severe pain and my diagnosis is L5 S1 nerve irritation and they wanted to inject my back to help with pain and luckily I didn’t have to have it done. Hope your okay and not suffering take care.

[@misenplas1]

Thank you, will be canceling my Rheumatology appointment that I Have been waiting for for quite some time. I personally am not interested in drugs. I hope rheumatologists are discussing the benefits of proper nutrition to combat inflammation. I don’t believe nutrition is focused on enough in medical school and that is sad!

[@vicenteluismontenegro5422]

Do rheumatologists do invasive procedures or any other surgeries?

[@ConnectedRheumatology]

Most Rheumatologists can and will do different types of joint injections and joint aspirations. This means they can take fluid out of a joint or injection medicines into a joint. They can do this with the use of an ultrasound machine or just a good physical exam. Any and all other procedures or surgeries to the joint are done by Orthopedic surgeons.

[@shabbirhussain8760]

Hello ma'am! I'm from Pakistan and my wife is a SLE patient since 7 years. She is 29 year old. Can she be vaccinated against coronavirus?

[@ConnectedRheumatology]

This is a great question and one that is being discussed amongst rheumatologists daily. The short answer is, yes, she can and probably should be vaccinated. However, this really should be discussed with her rheumatologist as there are many caveats and exceptions that may be relevant to your wife. How active is her lupus? When was her last flare and how severe was it? What medications is she on? Are there any other medical problems that need to be considered (diabetes, kidney failure, etc)? These are all questions that need to be addressed between her and her doctor to feel fully confident in moving forward with the vaccine. With most patients, however, when weighing all the possible risks and benefits, the scale typically still falls on the side of getting the vaccine. Hope this helps!

[@shabbirhussain8760]

@@ConnectedRheumatology thank you very much.

[@tilawakohalamiauy4219]

Doc, are all rheumatologists lady doctors as pretty as u? :) cause I am worried , not all are beautiful :(