Talking to your doctor
Developing a good relationship with your doctor and nurse is important in ensuring that you get the best outcomes from your treatment. You should feel confident talking with your doctor about the impact of the disease on your life, determine what treatment options you have available to you and what you can expect to happen when treated. You may find it helpful to take a close friend or family member with you to help with these conversations.
You can make a positive difference to your own treatment outcomes by taking an active role in your arthritis care, with exercise, good nutrition, and regular medical follow-ups. You can also monitor and record the level of disease activity you experience over time as this information reflects how well your current treatments are working. This will help your doctor decide if you need to change your treatment, particularly if you are experiencing a worsening of your symptoms over time. This is important in reducing the joint damage that arthritis can cause. If you are not getting the response you want from your current therapy, talk to your doctor about the range of treatment options available.
To help you monitor changes in the severity of your condition and prepare for discussions with your doctor, use our printable question sheet and assessment tools. You can print and use these tools and then discuss them with your doctor at your next consultation. Remember to take a pen and paper to record your discussions too.