When living with rheumatoid arthritis, the relationship with your healthcare professional, usually a rheumatologist is vital to the success of your arthritis treatment and therapy. For many patients, finding the right balance of patient care can be time consuming and quite frustrating. As you search for the healthcare professional who will manage your rheumatoid arthritis, it is important to remember that not all rheumatoid arthritis sufferers are the same and, as a result, the right rheumatologist is usually one that is willing to try a variety of treatment options so as to tailor your treatment to your specific needs.

When you initially visit the rheumatologist, there will be a variety of tests that will need to be run. Before doing so, however, the healthcare professional will usually want to take a complete medical history, including a history of not only your health but also of your immediate blood-related family members. Additionally, the physician should conduct a hands-on physical examination followed by the variety of tests considered standard to the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.One of the first blood tests will be the CBC, also known as the complete blood count. This lab work will address such issues as your red blood count, white blood count, hematocrit, hemoglobin and platelet count.

In addition to the CBC, other blood tests will include a rheumatoid factor test, a test for erythrocyte sedimentation rate, a C-reactive protein test and an anti-nuclear antibody assay test; all of which can be performed through blood samples. If, after the blood samples, the rheumatologist is still unsure of the confirmative diagnosis, he may also request a more invasive procedure known as joint fluid analysis. Using a local anesthetic, the physician can perform this procedure in his office by aspirating synovial fluid from a joint.

While none of these tests specifically leads to a concrete diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, your healthcare professional can utilize these tests to rule out other complicating health conditions, apply medical treatment as needed and then gauge the success of those treatments with follow up testing. When seeking medical attention for rheumatoid arthritis, it is important to find a healthcare professional who is interested in obtaining a variety of medical screenings and tests and willing to communicate, openly, with you on the variety of treatment options available. Because this healthcare professional will be part of your medical team of doctors for many years to come, finding a doctor that you are pleased with is vital to the outcome of your care.