Quick question, who treats fibro... What type of doctor?
Quick question, who treats fibro... What type of doctor?
most of us see a rheumatologist .....
What is a Rheumatologist
A rheumatologist is an internist or pediatrician who received further trainingin the diagnosis (detection) and treatment of arthritis and othermusculoskeletal diseases. Also called “rheumatic” diseases, these diseasesaffect the joints, muscles and bones. Many rheumatologists also conductresearch to find the cause of and better treatment for these disablingdiseases.
WHAT KIND OF TRAINING DO RHEUMATOLOGISTSHAVE?
Rheumatologists must first complete four years of medical school and threeyears of residency training in primary care (either internal medicine orpediatrics). After taking a national exam to become board certified,rheumatologists devote two to three years in specialized training in anaccredited rheumatology fellowship program.
Most rheumatologists who plan to treat patients choose to become boardcertified in rheumatology after their fellowship training. If the doctor hastrained in internal medicine, the subspecialty exam and certification are bythe American Board of Internal Medicine. Physicians who trained in pediatricstake their board exam from the American Board of Pediatrics.
Rheumatologists who are certified by these boards after 1990 must complete anextensive recertification process every 10 years. This process shows they havekept their medical skills and knowledge up to date.
WHAT DO RHEUMATOLOGISTS TREAT?
Rheumatologists treat arthritis, certain autoimmune diseases (when the bodycomes under attack by its own immune system), musculoskeletal pain andosteoporosis. There are more than 100 types of these rheumatic conditions. Afew of them are rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, lupus, ankylosingspondylitis, osteoporosis, fibromyalgia and tendinitis. Some of the rheumaticdiseases are very serious and can be hard to diagnose and treat.
WHEN SHOULD YOU SEE A RHEUMATOLOGIST?
If muscle or joint pains are not severe and began just a few days before,it makes sense to give the problem time to resolve on its own. But sometimes,pain in the joints, muscles or bones is severe or lasts more than a few days.At that point, you should see your doctor.
Many types of rheumatic diseases are not easy to find in the early stage, andyou may need to see a specialist. Rheumatologists are specially trained to findthe cause of joint swelling and pain. It is important for patients to get acorrect diagnosis early so that proper treatment can begin. Somemusculoskeletal problems respond best to treatment in the early stages of thedisease.
Because some rheumatic diseases are complex, one visit to a rheumatologist maynot be enough to get a diagnosis and treatment plan. These diseases tend to bechronic (long term) and often change over time. Sometimes they get worse, andsometimes they go away for a while and then return. Rheumatologists workclosely with patients to find the problem and design a treatment plan.
HOW DOES THE RHEUMATOLOGIST WORK WITHOTHER HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS?
The role the rheumatologist plays in health care depends on many factorsand the patient’s needs. Most often, the rheumatologist works with otherphysicians.
Sometimes the rheumatologist acts as a consultant to advise another doctorabout a diagnosis and treatment plan. In other cases, the rheumatologist actsas a manager and relies on the help of many skilled professionals. This teammay include nurses, physical and occupational therapists, psychologists andsocial workers. Teamwork is important, since musculoskeletal disorders oftenlast a long time. Health care providers can help patients and their familiescope with the changes these chronic diseases cause in their lives.
My rheumy told me she doesn't treat my fibro... Only my lupus.
OMG!! she said that she doesn't treat Fibro???? unbelievable as that falls directly under her expertise given the fact that you have Lupus. Why would she treat one but not the other when the symptoms overlap and the treatments are essentially the same? Perhaps her reluctance is because Fibro is not an auto-immune/connective tissue disease. At any rate, your GP is also quite capable of treating Fibro. The only issue is that there are still some GPs who do not believe that Fibro is an actual illness. I hope that you find someone to treat this for you. Please keep us posted.
Peace and Blessings
Saysusie, exactly!! I am so irritated with her. My thing is... She's been saying its not my lupus causing all the pain right now but fibro. I've been complaining and apparently wasting my time going to her since last Jan after my son was born. She tells me NOW, after telling me I have the damn syndrome 7 years ago, that she doesn't treat it. Smh. She's either an extreme air head or doesn't give a u know what! Anyway, primary care physician believes it is an actual illness and had no problem prescribing Cymbalta. Got it today. He also explained the rationale behind going to behavioral mental health, to teach us ways to cope. I'm down with that. Have my first appt in a couple weeks.
I would say that your rheumy falls under the "Don't give a D#!N category". So, she diagnoses you with Fibro, tells you that Fibro is the cause of your symptoms, and then tells you that she doesn't treat Fibro! I'd say that she needs to be reported to somebody because this smacks of total unprofessionalism, laziness, and downright ignorance. Maybe you can educate this idiot the next time that you see her. Here is some information that I found that you might want to pass on to her.
Here is a list of some of the doctors who specialize in treating fibromyalgia and pain:
- Rheumatologists diagnose and treat arthritis and other diseases of the joints, muscles, and bones. This includes fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, lupus, back pain, osteoporosis, bursitis, and tendinitis.
- Pain specialists are usually board certified anesthesiologists, neurologists, physiatrists, psychiatrists, or oncologists with additional training in pain management. They receive credentials from the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) in collaboration with the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ABPMR) and the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABP&N). Or they may receive credentials from the American Board of Pain Medicine.
- Neurologists diagnose and treat disorders of the nervous system. This includes treating common pain problems such as headaches, back pain, muscle disorders, fibromyalgia, neuropathy, and reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD).
- Orthopaedists specialize in the diagnosis, clinical treatment, and surgical repair of bone injuries. They also treat muscle problems and joint tissues -- tendons, ligaments, cartilage.
- Psychologists diagnose and provide therapy for problems associated with pain, perception, depression, and anxiety.
From FIBROMYALGIA RESOURCE INFORMATION:
What type of doctor or specialist treats patients with fibromyalgia ?
Physicians specializing in pain disorders, such as rheumatologists, neurologists, orthopedic surgeons, and chiropractors generally treat patients with fibromyalgia.
Who Treats Fibromyalgia?
Rheumatologists are internists who specialize in treating arthritis and diseases of the joints, muscles, and soft tissues. Rheumatologists, arguably more than any other physician, closely follow fibromyalgia developments and will likely have the best knowledge base on the condition. However, not every rheumatologist has an understanding of fibromyalgia.
Neurologists treat diseases of the brain and nervous system. Many neurologists have an understanding of fibromyalgia, but like rheumatologists, they're not all familiar with it. The pain from fibromyalgia is what typically prompts people to visit a neurologist, and this specialist may prescribe medications to control your pain.
Pain Management Specialists
A pain management doctor treats all forms of pain, including that caused by fibromyalgia. Before scheduling an appointment at a pain management clinic, make sure to ask if they treat fibromyalgia because not all clinics do. However, many pain management doctors can treat the disorder.Finding a doctor who understands fibromyalgia may take time, but don't get discouraged. There are many qualified doctors who acknowledge the disorder and will offer you the proper care, support, and knowledge to help you reduce your pain.
Did you notice that at the top of each of these lists was the RHEUMATOLOGIST??? So, she is lying to you because she doesn't care or because she's lazy or because she is just an ignorant idiot.
I am glad that your primary care physician was willing to treat your Fibro and I do hope that the Cymbalta provides you with relief. I wish you the very best.
Peace and Blessings
Wow! Lol. Thanks so much. I'm going to print and read some of this to her. I'm looking for a replacement as we speak.
Now that I think about it... It's like she completely hasn't been hearing me since my son was born. I've consistently been complaining of the same pains and she keeps saying it's not my lupus because all of my tests are coming back good. Which isn't true. They are the same as always. But I guess she means no worse. That's her explanation of why my pain is not attributable to lupus... My tests are same as always. Lol. That's dumb too now that I think about it. My tests now are the same as in 05 when I was diagnosed. I was in lupus, not fibro pain then. She is an idiot. Makes me mad though. It's just the same story over and over with these incompetent doctors. I'm beginning to think they seriously just don't give a care. Smh.
unfortunately, there are too many doctors who, in fact, do not give a S#!T. So, it falls upon us to be as knowledgeable about our disease, its symptoms, its treatments, its medications, and how it affects us personally, as we can be. We, then, must educate our doctors and DEMAND appropriate treatment, DEMAND that they listen to us, and DEMAND that they take us and our symptoms seriously!! Do not allow any doctor to deny you these things. I wish you the very best! Keep us posted.
Peace and Blessings
I like your response to this issue Saysusie :~}