More than one in five Americans find out they have some form of arthritis every year. For some, it’s a minor inconvenience, producing discomfort or mobility issues. For others, it’s a significant health factor, causing pain and interfering with their ability to function normally.
In either case, it’s valuable to build an arthritis management team to help care for the variety of effects and symptoms that arthritis can cause. This helps to minimize the impact of the disease, potentially slowing its progression and preserving your quality of life.
Dr. Farah N. Khan covers two of the medical disciplines that are essential to your arthritis care. As a comprehensive primary care and internal medicine practice, Millennium Park Medical Associates plays a key role in arthritis management. Here’s a look at the caregivers you may need to assure the best results.
Primary care
This is your gateway and focal point for medical care. Your primary care physician provides suggestions and referrals to specialists, targeted therapy, dieticians, and other resources as needed to meet the needs of your condition.
Internist
An internal medicine specialist focuses on all organ systems. They train as medical management specialists for patients facing multiple chronic diseases. Choosing Millennium Park Medical Associates provides you with primary care and internal medicine in a single practice.
Rheumatologist
Inflammatory diseases of the bones, joints, and muscles are the specialty of rheumatologists, making them key players in arthritis management, particularly if you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and aggressive cases of osteoarthritis.
Orthopaedic surgeon
Specialists in the musculoskeletal system, orthopaedic surgeons use both surgical and nonsurgical techniques to treat joints affected by arthritis. If your case advances to joint replacement, you’ll need an orthopaedic surgeon.
Dermatologist
Psoriatic arthritis affects your skin and joints, so you may need a dermatologist to deal with the skin symptoms of this condition.
Nurse practitioners
Registered nurses with additional training fill a gap between traditional doctor and nurse roles. Brittany Aliberti is the nurse practitioner on staff with Millennium Park Medical Associates, ensuring continuity of care in Dr. Khan’s absence.
Occupational therapist
If you face mobility challenges that affect your work or home life, an occupational therapist may be able to help with your ability to approach and perform tasks you may once have taken for granted.
Pain management specialist
Keeping active is often a key part of osteoarthritis management, but the pain of the condition may nudge you toward a comfortable chair. A pain management specialist can help you live in a pain-free way while avoiding harmful medication side effects.
Podiatrist
If arthritis affects the joints of your feet and ankles, a podiatrist offers the specialty care you’ll need to keep your condition under control.
Sleep disorder specialist
Quality sleep is an important part of your body’s natural recovery systems, but the joint pain of arthritis can interfere with deep sleep. Adding a sleep specialist to your team can help ensure you’re getting the rest you need.
Arthritis management starts with a visit to Millennium Park Medical Associates in Greenwood Village, Colorado. You can call the office directly or book an appointment through the convenient online tool. Beating the symptoms of arthritis may be possible, so schedule a consultation today.