Stupid question, how does your rheumy examine your joints??

suzygirl
suzygirl Member Posts: 2,005
edited 16. Dec 2011, 07:48 in Living with Arthritis archive
Me again!!! :oops:

My mind wasn't on my appt on Tues due to various circumstances. We all, have them. Therefore I wasnt on the ball as usual.

Normally, my joints are 'squeezed' and the rheumy tells me if I have inflammation or not in that joint. They start with the joints I tell them are inflamed, after 5 years I know a hot swollen joint when I see one!! :lol: then they progress, thats how they found the bursitis in my shoulder I didnt know I had, so I am no wimp.

My last appt which went badly, he did range of motion on all my joints, those affected dont move well, but he never commented on that, ankle, wrist, shoulder etc, being the worst affected and hip.

So, just pondering tonight, how are you examined?? My last rheumy determined no arfur by range of motion, yet if he had squeezed he would have found it,I know that by the next day!!!!

So, what do I make of this?? Thoughts from the more experienced of you??

Comments

  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Don't make anything of it is my advice. Rheumatologists differ in how they assess - it was a registrar who, a few years into this malarkey, rotated my hips to see how they were doing, no-one else had ever done that! Mine usually squeeze and watch the degree of wince, they can spot inflammation in joints that I think are fine (I still associate inflammation with ballooned knees rather than a slight puffiness) but they all work slightly differently. Each to their own, as per usual! DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • jillyb1
    jillyb1 Member Posts: 1,725
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    My rheumy does very little , " when you've had RA for over 30 years , not much if anything I can do . " His words not mine ! I tend to tell him what's worse etc , and as in my last visit ; I tell him if I want x rays etc to check on progress . They are all different in their approach , guess I've got stuck with the ineffectual version ! Jillyb
  • suzygirl
    suzygirl Member Posts: 2,005
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    A thought struck me this morning. I am such a numpty!!!! :oops: He was explaining to me that lupus causes joint pain but not arthritis, and that at present my joints had no inflammation in them. He meant it was a lupus flare and not an arthritis one. :roll: Which explains a lot as my raynauds and memory etc are bad. Which is why he has sent me away with a leaflet on Aza!!!!!

    Honestly, if I had brains I would be dangerous!!!! :lol:

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