A rheumatologist is a type of physician that specializes in both musculoskeletal disorders and autoimmune conditions. Rheumatology is the specialty that diagnoses and treats “rheumatic diseases.” These types of diseases occur when the immune system gets confused and believes it is fighting a virus or infection – resulting in inflammation – but it’s actually attacking the body itself. These diseases affect a patient’s joints, muscles and bones.
Injuries and other diseases or illnesses can also result in musculoskeletal pain. Though muscle and joint pain are not uncommon, patients that have pain that lasts for more than a few days or display symptoms such as swelling, stiffness, or even deformity it may be time to see a rheumatologist.
Joint stiffness that lasts more than 30 minutes, especially if it’s worse in the morning after long periods of inactivity, or any joint swelling should also be promptly evaluated by a doctor.
Joint pain and swelling are usually the first symptoms of potential rheumatic disease.
Other tell tale signs are:
Redness, warmth and swelling in the joints
Shoulder, hip and knee pain
Pain in multiple joints
New joint pain not related to injury
Prolonged stiffness in the morning lasting over one hour
Pain that is worse in the morning
Joint or muscle pain that is accompanied by fever, fatigue, rashes or chest pain
Patients over the age of 50 who suffer from recurring headaches or muscle aches
Patients with a family history of musculoskeletal syndromes or autoimmune diseases
Rheumatologists are often confused with orthopedists. However, rheumatologists usually treat rheumatic diseases with nonsurgical interventions, whereas an orthopedist usually performs surgeries.
Everyone experiences muscle and joint pain at some point in their lives. Rheumatologists try to determine if the pain is related to an improperly functioning immune system.
In some cases, abnormal blood test results are a good indication it’s time to see a rheumatologist. Examples of these include:
Antinuclear antibodies (ANA)
Rheumatoid factor (RF)
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).
A rheumatologist should be consulted after any positive test to determine the underlying condition.
There are over 100 types of arthritis. Rheumatologists specialize in the care of many of these conditions. Additionally, rheumatic diseases are complex and can affect any human organ. These diseases can occur in the eyes, skin,and internal organs – not just the muscles and joints.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS)
Myositis
Sarcoidosis
Temporal arteritis (giant cell arteritis)
Since these rheumatic diseases can lead to permanent damage over time, they need to be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. Patient outcomes improve when these conditions are treated earlier, even for chronic and progressive diseases.
The board-certified rheumatologists at SWCA Rheumatology in Hallandale and Aventura, Florida are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases. Each condition is as individual as the patient who presents with them. Therefore, one size fits all treatment plans often fail. At SWCA Rheumatology in Hallandale Beach and Aventura, FL their team approach offers patients a variety of treatment plans to address their individual needs.
SWCA also offers custom made Vitamin Infusions that work alongside any treatment plan, offering patients healthy support from within.
For more information please visit www.SWCARheumatology.com