Osteoarthritis can often be managed under the care of a general physician. However, if your condition is severe, you might need to see a specialist.
Arheumatologistis a physician who specializes in treating inflammatory diseases and joint diseases, which includeosteoarthritisas well asrheumatoid arthritisand related disease.
Whether or not you need a specialist depends on the stage of your disease and how typical your case may be. The following insights should help you decide.
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Role of the Primary Care Doctor In Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis can range from mild to severe. It often occurs years after an injury, and it is not considered a systemic disease. This means that it doesn’t affect other body systems the way some inflammatory conditions—like rheumatoid arthritis do.
Your primary care doctor will make an initial assessment based on your symptoms, medical history, and physical examination. They can order X-rays, blood tests, or any other diagnostic tests needed. Your primary care doctor can also prescribe medications to relieve pain and other symptoms of osteoarthritis.
After test results come back and enough time has passed to evaluate how you are doing on the prescribed medications, your healthcare provider may continue to take care of your condition if you are responding to standard treatment. If not, they may decide to refer you to a rheumatologist, orthopedic surgeon, or a pain management specialist.
How to Choose a Primary Care Physician
Role of the Rheumatologist
After consulting with your primary care doctor, your diagnosis might not be clear-cut or you might not be improving as expected with treatment. In this case, your primary doctor may refer you to a rheumatologist.
You may need to a rheumatologist if:
A rheumatologist might determine that you have a different cause of your pain and that it’s not osteoarthritis. In this case, your treatment plan will be specific to your condition.
A rheumatologist can also consult on a limited basis to offer guidance about whether your treatment plan is appropriate and optimal for your condition. Then you can return to your primary healthcare provider for regular follow-up appointments.
A rheumatologist does not perform surgery. If surgery is indicated, anorthopedic surgeonwould be your best option.
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Other Providers Who Manage Osteoarthritis
There is no disease-modifying therapy that reverses osteoarthritis. This disease is a breakdown of a joint, usually due to wear and tear or after an injury. Management includes physical therapy, pain control, and sometimes surgery.
Other providers you might need to see:
Massage Therapy Helps Relieve Pain for Osteoarthritis
A Word From Verywell
A good team of healthcare providers that includes a primary care provider and specialists can work with you and together to ensure that you are getting advanced care for complex problems—as well as medical care that maintains consideration of all of your health problems.
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