When?

apt905

Hi,
I was first told I had RA then the I've been diagnosis was changed to OA. So far things have been pretty up and down with good periods and bad periods. On my last visit to the docs I asked about being referred to a rheumatologist. He asked me why when I would only be told the same things as he was telling me. I was given diclofenac and told the OA was more to do with my age (Im 56). How bad do you have to be before you are referred? I'm interested to know other people's opinion.
Many thanks in advance.

magenta

apt905 wrote:

Hi,
I was first told I had RA then the I've been diagnosis was changed to OA. So far things have been pretty up and down with good periods and bad periods. On my last visit to the docs I asked about being referred to a rheumatologist. He asked me why when I would only be told the same things as he was telling me. I was given diclofenac and told the OA was more to do with my age (Im 56). How bad do you have to be before you are referred? I'm interested to know other people's opinion.
Many thanks in advance.

Hello,
You should be referred to a rhuemy-I find it quite bizarre what your dr said. Who diagnosed your OA and how? Keep pushing and don't give up. You need xrays and bloods done. Take care,
Magenta x

skezier

Hi,
I totally agree with Magenta you could do with x ray and how did he actually diagnose it? You have the right to get a referral/x ray and I gen believe consultants be they Ortho's or rumo's understand and control pain so much better than a gp.
Good luck, and welcome to the site.

Magenta. I hope your having a better time today? x

elnafinn

Hi

I never saw a rheumy and was diagnosed by my gp years ago with OA after having xrays.

When one of the consultants I was seeing a good few years later, because of my arthritic knees, wanted me to have a blood test for RA and the result was positive I was referred to a rheumy. In the end I was told I did not in fact have RA, but OA even though my bloods said otherwise and I no longer see a rheumy.

Different parts of the country seem to do things differently.

Elna

magenta

skezier wrote:

Hi,
I totally agree with Magenta you could do with x ray and how did he actually diagnose it? You have the right to get a referral/x ray and I gen believe consultants be they Ortho's or rumo's understand and control pain so much better than a gp.
Good luck, and welcome to the site.

Magenta. I hope your having a better time today? x

I've sent you a PM x

colinone

I don’t think its up to your doctor to make that decision on your behalf without your consent, it is your right to see a doctor who specialises in your type of illness. otherwise there would be no point having them Arthrits is bad enough without this sort of added stress. My Gp did not know what enbrel was, My Gp prescibed for me the olnly antibiotic in the world you cant take with methotrexate
and when i asked him to look it up on the computer he told me it was fine and i ended up very ill. I dont expect doctors to know everything but where do you draw the line why bother having a specialist. I hope you get sorted, take care
Colin

woodbon

Hi
I think that I read in the NICE guidlines that the government is encouraging GPs the diagnos and treat OA, to save money. If they think it could be another form of artheritis, then they should refer to a specialist. They should only refer OA if they think surgery may be needed.

I can't say that I agree with the guidlines, as a GP is not trained to know all the ins and outs of the different problems of arthritis.
Sue