Consultation

History

Dr Elliott will take a detailed history of your presenting complaint. He will need to know how your condition is affecting your ability to perform activities of daily living, personal cares, work duties and recreation.

Examination

Dr Elliott will examine your affected joint and possibly adjacent joints that could cause referred symptoms.

Dr Elliott recommends attending the clinic in clothing that can easily expose your problematic joint. In addition it is ideal to see the opposite joint to compare for asymmetry of muscle mass and alignment. 

Knee conditions - wear or bring shorts or a skirt 

Shoulder conditions - wear a singlet or be prepared to take off your shirt for examination.

Hip conditions - wear appropriate underwear as you may be asked to remove your trousers or skirt for the hip examination. 

Elbow conditions – wear clothing that can expose above the elbow to the upper arm.

Investigations

Dr Elliott may require further investigations to achieve a diagnosis. These may include:

• Xrays

• Ultrasound scan

• CT Scan

• MRI scan

• Nerve conduction studies

Injections

Injections can serve two purposes:

• They can take away pain transiently or permanently and avoid the need for surgery.

• They can help confirm a diagnosis. If an injection takes away your pain its very likely the correct diagnosis and root of your problem has been identified. If your pain recurs surgery may be a good option. 

Assessment

On the basis of the information Dr Elliott has gathered, he will formulate an opinion as to your diagnosis, and discuss a management plan. This may evolve as further investigations and treatments are applied. 

At the end of each consultation Dr Elliott will dictate a letter with his current assessment to your referring practitioner, your GP, and yourself.