Rheumatology
Rheumatology
Rheumatology is a subspecialty in internal medicine & pediatrics. It is devoted to diagnosis and therapy concerning rheumatic diseases (clinical problems in soft tissues and joints, vasculitis, heritable connective tissue disorders, and autoimmune diseases). Well, this field is quite multidisciplinary in nature; in other words, it depends on close relationships with various other medical specialties.
Rheumatologist
A rheumatologist is a pediatrician or an internist who has received more training in the diagnosis and treatment of various musculoskeletal diseases and systemic autoimmune conditions that are generally called rheumatic diseases. As mentioned earlier, these diseases affect the muscles, joints, and bones resulting in pain, stiffness, swelling, and deformity.
Where do rheumatologists work?
They work primarily in outpatient clinics. General physicians or primary care providers can probably refer a patient to a rheumatologist for an assessment. A few rheumatologists don’t require referrals from any other physician. Rheumatologists are normally affiliated with a hospital/clinic and are expected to evaluate patients that are hospitalized with symptoms/complaints of a rheumatic disease.
When should you visit a rheumatologist?
From time to time, everyone experiences joint and muscle pain. When the pain doesn’t resolve as expected, additional evaluation is required. Generally, a general physician or primary care physician is visited for the first evaluation. Upon examination, if the physician believes there is an underlying rheumatic condition, the patient will be referred to a rheumatologist for evaluation.
Normally, referrals must be made if the patient has relatives with rheumatic or autoimmune disease (because these conditions tend to run in families) or if symptoms are remarkably worsening over a short duration. A few signs and symptoms can resolve gradually or temporarily resolve when treated initially; however, can return the moment medication is stopped. A rheumatology evaluation may be required if the symptoms tend to return. A rheumatologist must be resorted to at the earliest to avoid making the condition worse.
Few of our Panelists
APLAR Fellowship, DM (Clinical Immunology), MD (Gold Medal)