Rheumatology

A rheumatologist detects, treats and manages patients with arthritis and other rheumatic diseases that affect the joints, muscles, bones and even internal organs. Because these diseases are complex and chronic, they benefit from the care of an expert and only rheumatologists are experts in this field.

While many rheumatic diseases may not be curable, but can only be managed by drugs and physical therapy, a rheumatologist helps patients with rheumatic disease to have a good quality of life. A rheumatologist also teaches the patient, family and community about medications, coping mechanisms and techniques for preventing disability or regaining function. The more common rheumatic diseases include joint arthritis disease, gout, spinal problems and osteoarthritis. Muscle and tendon problems in clued fibromyalgia, polymyalgia rheumatica and tendonitis.

Many patients won’t require a rheumatologist if they visit their general practitioner with back pain, neck pain, muscle pain or swollen and painful joints. Often, these symptoms are not severe and may last just a few days. But if the pain persists or is severe, your GP may decide to refer you to a rheumatologist. Blood tests can be done to determine whether certain inflammatory agents are present, or the rheumatologist may recommend physiotherapy to help reduce the inflammation present in a tendon or joint. Injections of cortisone may be administered.

The diseases treated by a rheumatologist can be hard to diagnose, and even harder to treat. They can be life-long issues that start even when people are young. Talk to your GP about whether your back pain or joint inflammation could be better diagnosed by a referral to a rheumatologist.