lower back and hip pain

[painmom]

can RA start in your lower back and hips before it can be seen in your hands and feet??

[txsilver]

Fibromyalgia is a sore spot for me.  (ok, that came out funny but you know what I mean.)  Fibro is real, but when your other condition is treated the fibro pain disappears.  
Can you get to Jacksonville to see a doctor on your insurance?  It may seem far, but if you find a good doctor, it is worth the trip.  A large number of my rheumy's patients actually come from out of state to see him.  (I considered that to bode well.)
If you cannot, I would ask the current doctor about the medications being used to treat RA.  At least some relafen, priolsec (to protect your stomach) and plaquenil.
Never mind, methotrexate, humira, enbrel and remicade.  Even if he thought it was just back pain and not RA, an antiinflammatory, muscle relaxer and something for the pain are fairly standard treatments.

[painmom]

I have medicaid and it is very hard to find a specialist to take it. My primary care dr is getting frusterated with this situation as well. This is not her field and feels like the dr she sent me to is just brushing me off because im not a cash paying patient. Medicaid doesnt pay him enough I guess.But in the mean time I sit and suffer Its NOT FAIR!!!! They should care about thier patients no matter what! The money shouldnt matter but I guess it takes all kinds to make the world go round.Maybe my primary dr can figure something out I HOPE for my sake that is.Can she order the bone and joint scan? I have an appt with her at the end of the month.I tried talking to this man being nice but in the end I just lost it and let him have it, left out cring was so upset.I dont see how he keeps his patience talking down to them that way. sorry Im rambling on.Got get it out somehow i guess,And you have been so helpful.If you only knew how much i appreciate your help!!!!! Thanks Again

[painmom]

Can my primary Dr order this bone and joint scan just to see what is going on or does a specialist have to order it?Would appreciate you input! Go back to primary Dr on the 27th and would like to be able to ask her if possible. thanks so much for you help dont really know where to go from here!!!

[txsilver]

I believe your primary doc can order it, but I am not sure if that will impact whether or not insurance will cover it.  Might want to give them a call and investigate that.  If the rheumy is not working out, what about seeing an internist?

[painmom]

Thanks , I will talk to my primary DR about that. Will let you know what happens.

[painmom]

sorry so long before talking to you but I had the scan done and i go to DR tomorrow to find out the results!!!!!!!!! hope this is the answer I was looking for