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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffIf you have painful and inflamed joints, you're likely to start by seeing your primary care doctor or a general practitioner. However, in some cases you may be referred to an infectious disease or joint specialist. If you've been seeing a joint specialist for an existing condition such as arthritis, you may start by seeing this doctor first.
Because appointments can be brief and because there's often a lot of ground to cover, it's a good idea to be well prepared for your appointment. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.
What you can do
- Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
- Write down key personal information, including other medical conditions you may have and any recent infections.
- Make a list of all medications, as well as any vitamins or supplements, that you're taking.
- Take a family member or friend along, if possible. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
- Write down questions to ask your doctor.
List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For septic arthritis, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
- What is likely causing my symptoms or condition?
- Are there any other possible causes?
- Do I need any tests to confirm the diagnosis?
- What treatment approach do you recommend?
- How soon do you expect my symptoms to improve with treatment?
- Is there anything I can do now to help relieve my joint pain?
- Am I at risk of long-term complications from this condition?
- When should I be seen for a follow-up exam?
- I have these other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
- Should I see a specialist?
- Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What websites do you recommend visiting?
In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment.
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to spend more time on. Your doctor may ask:
- What are your symptoms, and when did you first notice them?
- Have your symptoms been continuous, or occasional?
- How severe are your symptoms?
- What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
- What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
- Have you had any recent infections?
- Do you have any chronic illnesses?
- What medications are you currently taking, including vitamins and supplements?
- Have you ever had joint surgery or joint replacement?
- Do you use recreational drugs?
What you can do in the meantime
Avoid activities that seem to make your symptoms worse. To ease joint pain, try resting your affected joint and applying warm compresses. Pain relievers, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and aspirin, also may help.
- George HO, et al. Bacterial arthritis. In: Firestein GS, et al. Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: W.B. Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/202388075-9/0/1807/746.html?tocnode=55734150&fromURL=746.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3285-4..10099-3_3613. Accessed May 30, 2010.
- Garcia-De LaTorre I, et al. Gonococcal and nongonococcal arthritis. Rheumatic Disease Clinics of North America. 2009;35:63.
- Zinc BJ, et al. Bone and joint infections. In: Marx JA, et al., eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. St. Louis, Mo.:Mosby;2006. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05472-0..00134-1--s0180&uniq=202388075&isbn=978-0-323-05472-0&sid=1002434146#lpState=open&lpTab=contentsTab&content=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05472-0..00134-1--s0110%3Bfrom%3Dtoc%3Btype%3DbookPage%3Bisbn%3D978-0-323-05472-0. Accessed May 30, 2010.
- Ohl CA. Infectious arthritis of native joints. In: Mandell GL, et al. Mandell, Bennett, & Dolin: Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..00102-8&displayedEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..00102-8--s0015&uniq=202388075&isbn=978-0-443-06839-3&sid=1002438834. Accessed May 30, 2010.
- Goldenberg DL. Septic arthritis in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 30, 2010.
- Krogstad P. Bacterial arthritis: Clinical features and diagnosis in infants and children. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 30, 2010.
- Steckelberg JM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. June 3, 2010.
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