Questions You Might Want to Ask Your Doctor After Being Diagnosed With Arthritis

About Miles McGuinness

Miles McGuinness is a copywriter at Brookdale. Originally from Ohio, he graduated from The Ohio State University with a double major in English and marketing. Prior to Brookdale, he worked in digital marketing for a major cleanup and restoration company. When he’s not reading or writing, he enjoys watching movies, trying new restaurants, traveling, and cheering on Cleveland sports.

Most of us have heard of arthritis, and we may even have a family member or friend who has it. But what is arthritis? And what sorts of questions should you or a loved one ask a doctor after being diagnosed? Well, you’ve come to the right place — we’ve got some information you may find helpful.

But, first questions first.

What Exactly Is Arthritis?

Arthritis is a disease that can cause damage, swelling and tenderness of one or more joints. It’s extremely common, affecting approximately 53 million adults in the United States, with that number expected to rise as Americans’ life expectancy increases.

There are more than 100 types of arthritis. Some of the most common include osteoarthritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. Arthritis frequently occurs in the hands, wrists, knees, hips, feet, ankles, shoulders and lower back.

Now that we’ve established what arthritis is, let’s delve into some of the questions you might want to ask your doctor after a diagnosis.

1. What type of arthritis do I have?

Asking this question can help establish the proper type of treatment and management strategies that may work best for you. Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative arthritis, is the most common type, affecting more than 32 million Americans. It can occur in just one or two joints on one side of the body, and it happens when cartilage in your joints breaks down, causing bones to rub together and your joints to become inflamed. Compare this to something like rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune disease where your body attacks joint tissue that is otherwise healthy.

By describing your symptoms to the doctor and undergoing exams and tests as applicable, you and your doctor can be well on your way to establishing the type of arthritis you have and determining the proper treatment.

2. What caused my arthritis?

There can be many factors that contribute to the development of arthritis, including age, gender, medical history, genetics, obesity, joint overuse, injuries and more. The exact cause, however, depends on the type. Gout, for example, is caused by a buildup of crystals in the joints. These crystals, often known as urate crystals, form when there are high levels of uric acid in the body. Similarly, those with the genetic marker HLA-B27 have an increased risk of developing ankylosing spondylitis. Unfortunately, for some other types of arthritis, the exact cause is not known.

3. What is the long-term outlook for someone with my type of arthritis?

Most types of arthritis are chronic, so, more than likely, you could expect to be managing your symptoms for the rest of your life. Some people tend to experience more severe symptoms as they age, so it’s important you stay in contact with your doctor to determine the cadence of follow-up visits needed and then reach out if anything changes — including experiencing sudden, severe pain that lasts more than a week and/or worsening symptoms or flare-ups.

4. What treatment options and resources are available to help manage my arthritis?

While your treatment depends on the type and severity of your arthritis, there are certain common methods you could consider to help manage it, including:

Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicine
Prescription anti-inflammatory medicine
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (for rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis)
Physical therapy
Occupational therapy
Surgery, if necessary

5. Is there anything I should avoid after receiving an arthritis diagnosis?

While it may depend on the precise type of arthritis you have, there are some foods and drinks you might want to avoid following a diagnosis, as they could aggravate your symptoms or decrease your overall well-being. Consider avoiding foods with added sugars, such as ice cream, candy and soda. Other foods you might want to stay away from or limit include red and processed meats, food containing gluten, highly processed foods and foods high in salt.

Additionally, if you smoke, you should quit. You may also want to limit or stop any high-impact, repetitive actions or motions, including jumping, running, tennis and more.

6. What medications will I need to take for my arthritis?

In addition to the over-the-counter, prescription and disease-modifying rheumatic medications mentioned earlier, there are other kinds of medications you might consider taking as well to help manage your arthritis. These might include:

General pain relievers, such as Tylenol® (acetaminophen)
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Aleve®, Motrin® and Advil®; there are also others, such as Indocin® and Celebrex®, which require a prescription
Corticosteroids, which act like the natural hormone cortisol and can help reduce inflammation
Biologics, which are a special type of disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; these are often administered via a shot or an IV and are particularly helpful for those with rheumatoid arthritis or other forms of inflammatory arthritis
Targeted disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, which are taken by mouth and have specific targets in the immune system

Knowledge Is Power

As you can see, there are numerous questions you might consider asking after first discovering you or a loved one has arthritis. After talking with your doctor, you may feel better prepared to move forward with your diagnosis.

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