Arthritis patients can effectively rate their own condition, researchers find

For individuals who require a prescription to buy Celebrex to treat their rheumatoid arthritis, it is important for medical professionals to be kept aware of the condition of their joints. This is central to the ability of doctors to adjust treatments or recommend new lifestyle habits.

A recent study published in the journal Arthritis Research and Therapy indicated that patients can play a role in their own assessments, which means they may not have to visit the doctor as often as previously thought.

Researchers gauged the ability of arthritis patients to measure their own inflammation and tenderness levels. Patients' ratings were compared to those given by medical professionals. In most cases, patients rated their condition about the same as doctors.

Furthermore, most patients were able to measure the state of swelling and tenderness in their joints without much training. Some participants in the study were put through an educational program. The researchers found that this did not necessarily improve an individual's ability to score their condition.

The findings suggest that it may be possible for patients to simply fill their doctors in on their condition, rather than having to go to the office. This could save patients time and the healthcare system money.