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There is a national shortage of rheumatologists.
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Jan 1 7:37am | Replies (33)Comment receiving replies
"Have you considered a University Medical Center in the state where you live might be a solution?"
That may be a solution for me. There is a university medical school about six hours away, but I'm too tired to go by myself. Luckily my wife can usually help, but that turns it into a major trip. I'll make a few phone calls and thanks for the help.
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Wow ... six hours is a long way to go. I live about 4 hours from Mayo Clinics in Rochester, MN and I thought that was too far. It doesn't have to be in your own state. It can be at a University Hospital in a nearby state.
Start with your primary care provider and ask for a referral. Your care at a University Hospital can be for a one time consult. The University rheumatologist can then get you hooked up with a rheumatolgist closer to where you live. Otherwise, the University rheumatologist and your primary care doctor can consult with each other.
A PCP can manage PMR with back-up from a rheumatologist. A PCP often manages PMR alone but it depends on how complicated your treatment gets. I'm currently on a biologic medication to treat PMR. My PCP says the biologic medication is "out of his league."