Your relationship with your doctor is very important. Having strong mutual trust and respect is vital to getting the care that's best for you. Since you're placing your life in your doctor's hands (often literally), that ability to speak openly and be comfortable with your medical care providers is vital, especially for people with arthritis pain or other chronic conditions. One study, reported on the Wiley Online Library, found that a positive patient-doctor relationship was linked to patients taking a more active role in their overall health.

If that relationship isn't strong, it may be time to find a new doctor. There are some clear signs that you and your doctor aren't working productively together. For example, if you don't feel comfortable talking about your symptoms, or you feel you're being ignored, you should talk with your doctor about it. If things don’t get better, definitely consider looking for a new medical care provider. Other issues, like long waits or poor bedside manner, might be deal-breakers for some but less bothersome to others. It comes down to what matters to you most. If you decide you need a new doctor, here are the steps you should take:

Changing doctors

According to the Washington Post, your very first step should be finding a new doctor. This is to prevent having a period of time when you can’t see a doctor who is familiar with you and your medical history. Finding a new doctor before leaving your old one gives you a clear plan of action and eases your transition.

Once you've figured out who your new doctor will be, there's the matter of transferring your medical files from your old doctor. Most offices have forms you can fill out that authorize the paperwork transfer. Ask your new doctor if his office can take care of the transfer. If not, reach out to your previous doctor’s office and ask what you need to do to have your files transferred. If your doctors' offices use electronic health records, this process may be a simple matter of sending the information online.

If you want to reach out to the doctor you're leaving to give them feedback, a letter is appropriate. You don't have to provide a reason for switching doctors, but many doctors appreciate knowing if they've done something wrong so that they can improve in the future.

To learn more about your doctor:

How to Question Your Doctor's Recommendation
What to Do When Your Doctor's Treatment Plan is Wrong for You
Going to the Doctor? Why You Need to Take a Friend