What is a rheumatologist?
A rheumatologist is a physician with training in inflammatory (rheumatic) disease. This medical specialty diagnoses, treats, and manages auto immune disease, as well as inflammatory and musculoskeletal condition in patients of all ages.
What does a rheumatologist treat?
- Inflammatory (rheumatic) disorders that affect muscles, joints and bones.
- Connective tissue diseases that affect your ligaments and tendons, skin and other organs.
- Autoimmune diseases that happen when your immune system attacks healthy tissue.
The most common reasons to see a rheumatologist include:
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Lupus
- Osteoarthritis
- Gout
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Sjogren’s syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Vasculitis
What are reasons to see a rheumatologist?
One reason is a family history of rheumatic or autoimmune disease. You may also make an appointment if you have symptoms of a condition they treat. It’s especially important for symptoms that come on suddenly or worsen quickly.
Symptoms of rheumatic disease include:
- Dermatitis.
- Dry eyes.
- Dry mouth.
- Fatigue.
- Hair loss (alopecia).
- Inflammation in the lining of the lungs.
- Itching.
- Muscle weakness.
- Stiffness.
- Swelling.
- Swollen lymph nodes.
If you notice any of these symptoms, start by consulting your primary care doctor.