Call for an Appointment (314) 567-5100

Patient Education

Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic, systemic, inflammatory disorder that may affect many tissues and organs but primarily attacks joints. It leads to warmth, decreased range of motion, swelling and pain around joints. In the U.S an estimated 1.3 million people have RA with women affected more frequently than men.

https://www.arthritis.org/diseases/rheumatoid-arthritis

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is also called degenerative joint disease. It is the most common form of arthritis and occurs when the cartilage in your joints wears down over time. This can lead to pain, stiffness, swelling and difficulty using joints. It can affect any joint but it occurs most often in the knees, hips, back, neck, small joints of the fingers and bases of the thumbs. Nearly 27 million people in the U.S. have OA.

https://www.arthritis.org/diseases/osteoarthritis

 

Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis is a condition that causes pain and swelling in the joints in people with psoriasis. Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease characterized by a dry, scaly, itchy rash. Only 10-30% of people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis.

https://www.arthritis.org/diseases/psoriatic-arthritis

https://www.psoriasis.org/

 

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Systemic lupus Erythematosus (SLE or lupus) is a chronic autoimmune disease that can affect the skin, joints, blood, kidneys and other parts of the body. In lupus, the immune system produces antibodies that attack the body’s own tissues.

https://www.lupus.org/

https://www.arthritis.org/diseases/lupus

 

Sjogren’s Syndrome
Sjogren’s syndrome is an inflammatory autoimmune disease that causes dryness, especially of the eyes and mouth. It can also cause problems in other parts of the body leading to inflammation of the joints, lungs, kidneys, liver, nerves and skin.

https://www.sjogrens.org/

https://www.arthritis.org/diseases/sjogrens-syndrome

 

Scleroderma
Scleroderma means “hard skin”. It is a condition that causes the skin to get tight and harden, and may affect internal organs. It affects women more often than men. There are two types: localized and systemic.

https://scleroderma.org/

https://www.arthritis.org/diseases/scleroderma

 

Ankylosing Spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a type of arthritis that primarily affects the spine. The joints and ligaments along the spine become inflamed and cause pain and stiffness. It is a chronic disease and the severity of symptoms and disability varies from person to person.

https://spondylitis.org/

Gout

Gout is a form of arthritis that causes sudden, severe episodes of pain, tenderness, redness, warmth and swelling of joints. It usually affects one joint at a time but can become chronic and affect several joints. The most common joint that is affected is the large joint of the big toe.

https://www.arthritis.org/diseases/gout

 

Vasculitis
A diverse group of disorders characterized by blood vessel inflammation. Both arteries and veins may be affected.

https://www.vasculitisfoundation.org/

 

New Patients, What to Expect From your Rheumatology visit?

Your Primary Care Physician, Orthopedic Surgeon, or other specialist referred you to Rheumatology. You may be wondering, what is next, what can you expect from our visit?

What is a Rheumatologist? Rheumatologists are medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and management of some autoimmune and musculoskeletal diseases, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Sjögren’s Syndrome, Psoriatic Arthritis, Polymyalgia Rheumatica, autoimmune vasculitis, inflammatory myositis, and gout. Despite our name, we handle MUCH more than just arthritis.

We do not specialize, however, in ALL autoimmune diseases. There are many other autoimmune diseases that are treated by other specialties such as Hashimoto’s/Grave’s thyroid disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and Myasthenia Gravis. For these disorders, we may refer you out to appropriate specialists or your primary care provider.

We will diagnose gout, osteoarthritis or mechanical pain caused by degenerative arthritis of the joints or spine, but these are not inflammatory arthritis/autoimmune diseases, and we are not pain management physicians. If we rule out inflammatory arthritis/autoimmune disease, we then may refer you out to appropriate specialists or your primary care provider.

Please make sure to fill out your new patient paperwork. We really do take the time to review them prior to your appointment. We cannot provide you with the best care without all the information that pertains to you and your health.

Please make sure to arrive early at least 30 minutes prior to your first and 15 minutes before your follow-up visit. Our physicians strive to stay on time and want to ensure all your paperwork is processed and you are roomed prior to the start of your scheduled appointment time.

If you need to cancel/reschedule an appointment, please do this at least 24 hrs. in advance of the appointment time, during Arthritis Consultants’ phone hours (8:30 AM – 3:30 PM Monday-Thursday and 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM on Friday) to avoid a No Show/Late Cancellation or Late Rescheduling charge.

We will most likely order bloodwork and imaging. It will take 10 days-two weeks to obtain complete results of the bloodwork. In most cases, you will be scheduled for a follow-up in 2-3 weeks to review all your results with one of our providers. You will have access to your results on our portal prior to your appointment.

Do you accept my prescription insurance?
We can fill most prescription insurances for patients who use Medicare and Medicare Advantage and some commercial plans. If you’re curious about whether we can fill for you – reach out to us at 314-998-4594.
What kind of medications can I fill with you
We can fill your prescriptions for specialty medications such as oral and self-injectable rheumatologic treatments as well as other select medications. In cases where we cannot fill your prescription in-house, we can help you navigate your insurance benefits, find financial assistance, manage side effects, and more.
How long will it take to receive my medication?
We fill your prescription as quickly as possible by supporting you through insurance approvals and arranging convenient in-clinic pickup for your medication. Most patients receive their medication within 2-5 days from receiving a prescription from their doctor.
If you would like to know the status of your prescription, please call us at 314-998-4594.
How will I know when my prescription is ready?
We will coordinate with you on pick-up options when we’re scheduling the order and provide you updates on the status. If you would like to check on a prescription, please call us at 314-998-4594.
What do I do if I think my medication is causing side effects?
If you are feeling unwell or experiencing side effects, please call us at 314-998-4594. Our pharmacists are knowledgeable about your medical history, potential side effects, and can quickly get in touch with your doctor.
I have a question about my medication. Who should I contact?
Please call us at 314-998-4594 to reach a pharmacist who is knowledgeable about your condition and prescribed medication.
Will it cost me more to fill my prescription with you?
In most cases, patients save money by filling their prescriptions with us. We take on the work of verifying your insurance coverage before dispensing your medication and will be able to give you more information about the out-of-pocket cost. If you need assistance, we can investigate financial support options on your behalf.
I cannot afford my medication. What should I do?
Our team understands the importance of getting you your medications quickly and affordably and there are a number of financial assistance options we can explore. When filling with our in-house Specialty Pharmacy, a care coordinator who is knowledgeable in financial assistance for your medication will work with you to determine the best options.
What are the benefits of filling my prescription with you?
Filling your prescription with our practice allows you to receive your medication quickly while making sure your financial needs are met. Being able to dispense your medication and help coordinate refills for you allows us to monitor your care
and intervene if you experience side effects. We also know that navigating insurance and financial assistance can be overwhelming. Let us do that for you so you can focus on your health.”