A rheumatologist is a doctor who specializes in inflammatory (rheumatic) diseases. When we think of arthritis, we usually think of the rheumatologist. However, it treats many other conditions, including tendon problems, muscle injuries, and rare genetic disorders.
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What is a rheumatologist?
A rheumatologist is a specialist in internal medicine who has received her training in the subspecialty of rheumatology. This medical specialty deals with musculoskeletal, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases in people of all ages. Many of these disorders can occur within families.
What does a rheumatologist do?
Rheumatologists diagnose, treat, and treat a variety of conditions, including:
An inflammatory (rheumatic) disease that affects muscles, joints, and bones. A connective tissue disorder that affects supporting structures such as ligaments and tendons and can affect the skin and other organs. Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system attacks healthy tissue.
Conditions treated by rheumatologists include:
Complex genetic disorders
- Beckett’s disease.
- Osteoporosis.
- Psoriatic arthritis. Rheumatic fever.
- sarcoidosis.
- Scleroderma.
- Sjögren’s syndrome.
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
Joint problems
- Ankylosing spondylitis.
- Bursitis.
- Gout.
- Arthrosis.
- Rheumatoid arthritis.
Tendon problems
- Achilles tendonitis.
- De Quervain tendonitis.
- patellar tendonitis.
- rotator cuff problem.
- tennis elbow. muscle disease
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
- Myopathy.
- Myasthenia gravis.
- Polymyositis.
- Rhabdomyolysis.
What is the difference between a rheumatologist and an orthopedic surgeon?
Orthopedic surgeons and rheumatologists specialize in diseases of the joints, bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. They treat many of the same conditions, such as joint pain and tendonitis. However, there are some differences between these medical specialties. Rheumatologists consider each organ system when looking for the cause of your condition. Orthopedic surgeons focus on trauma, congenital diseases, and wasting (degenerative diseases). Orthopedic surgeons also perform surgery, but rheumatologists do not. Both rheumatologists and orthopedic surgeons help diagnose and treat musculoskeletal disorders, although rheumatologists have specialized training in musculoskeletal disorders of inflammatory and autoimmune etiology.
What medical training do rheumatologists have?
Education begins with a traditional bachelor’s degree, followed by a four-year medical school curriculum (Doctor of Medicine or MD) or osteopathic training (Doctor of Osteopathy or DO). Osteopathic physicians learn a holistic approach that considers the human body, mind and spirit.
After studying medicine, doctors complete three years of specialized training focused on internal medicine (adult medicine) and/or pediatrics (children and adolescents). Physicians gain experience in dealing with a wide variety of ailments through their training as specialists. To specialize, a doctor must pass an exam in internal medicine or pediatrics.
