As a person with arthritis, you probably have quite a few appointments to keep with doctors.

As a person with arthritis, you probably have quite a few appointments to keep with doctors. It's important for you to make sure these meetings are as productive as possible, especially since the visits are brief. To get the greatest benefits from seeing your doctor about your arthritis, follow these tips:

Put together a binder of information

Getting organized is the first step to better doctor's appointments. Buy a binder or portfolio to keep track of medical information and concerns. To begin with, make a list of every medication you take, including dosage and frequency. This is very helpful to have, and will save you from needing to wrack your brain or bring prescription bottles when you see a new provider. You should obtain your medical records and include them in the binder as well.

Other materials you may want in your binder include information sheets about your conditions and your arthritis medications, any articles you find that are relevant to you or that you want to ask your doctor about and contact information for your family members and all of your providers. Having all of this information together in one place will help you, and it can also help your doctor.

Don't forget to include plenty of paper to take notes on, which brings us to the next step.

Write down your questions

Have you ever suddenly remembered an important question you wanted to ask your doctor after you left your appointment? While you can always call a provider's office and speak to him or her that way, it's nice to be able to have a conversation in the office.

Whenever you think of a question to ask your doctor, write it down in your binder as soon as you can. Maybe you're experiencing something that could be a medication side effect, or you noticed new arthritis symptoms that come and go. Even if you're just curious about how exactly a particular treatment works or what the future of your condition is expected to be, write it down so you have the question available to you. Next time you see the doctor, you'll have a list of everything you want to know.

Don't be afraid to take notes

If you think it would help, go ahead and take notes during your medical appointments. If you need your doctor to slow down or repeat something so it's clear and you have a written record of it, just ask. Most doctors will be happy to help you stay on top of all of the information you get during an appointment. When you keep notes, you're better able to follow directions your doctor gave you or look up sources of information he or she recommended.

Managing your arthritis can sometimes feel like a full-time job - so take advantage of these tips and make your work a little easier.

For more on arthritis doctor visits:

Going to the Doctor? Why You Need to Take a Friend
Talking to Your Doctor: When Your Doctor Won’t Talk about Your Emotions
What to Do When Your Doctor's Treatment Plan is Wrong for You