Questions to Ask Your Doctor

Use the following list of questions as a tool for discussion with your doctor. Space has been provided between each question so you can take notes or write down what the doctor says.

Here are some specific questions you might ask:

1. What is my diagnosis?
2. How many times do I have to experience joint and skin symptoms before a diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis is made?
3. At what age should I be concerned about getting psoriatic arthritis?
4. Psoriatic arthritis runs in my family. Am I more at risk for developing it?
5. I have psoriasis, and I do have symptoms such as joint pain and stiffness, especially in my hands/feet/lower back area, but they come and go. Should I be concerned?
6. What is happening to my body as a result of my psoriatic arthritis?
7. Am I a candidate for biologic therapy?
8. Will the treatment you have selected for me treat both joint and skin symptoms?
9. Can REMICADE help stop the progression of joint damage and help me manage joint and skin symptoms?
10. How and when will this treatment make me feel better?
11. What are the benefits and potential side effects of treatment?
12. What should I do if I experience side effects?
13. How is my arthritis likely to change in the future?
14. What activities should I modify or avoid?
15. What lifestyle changes should I make?
16. What would happen if I simply tolerated my psoriatic arthritis symptoms and didn’t treat them?