RHEUMATOLOGY

Rheumatology is the branch of medicine dealing with non-surgical evaluation and treatment of problems with muscles, tendons, joints and bones. Many of the symptoms associated with rheumatology are caused by autoimmune disorders. Thus, training in this speciality area also involves studying the immune system.

 

Symptoms of Arthritis

• Swelling in one or more joints
• Stiffness around the joints that lasts for at least 1 hour in the early morning
• Constant or recurring pain or tenderness in a joint
• Difficulty using or moving a joint normally
• Warmth and redness in a joint

Apart from the musculoskeletal system, the other organs such as the kidneys, lungs, skin and eyes may also be affected in patients suffering from autoimmune disorders.

Common Conditions Treated by a Rheumatologist

• Osteoarthritis
• Gout and crystal arthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Systemic lupus eryhtematosus
• Spondyloarthropathies - ankylosing spondylitis, reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis
• Juvenile arthritis, Still's disease
• Fibdromyalgia
• Vasculitis - Wegener's granulomatosis, Takayasu's disease,temporal arteritis, Behcet's disease
• Soft tissue rheumatism, tendonitis, bursitis
• Osteoporosis
• Sjogren's syndrome
• Inflammatory muscle disease - polymyositis, dermatomyositis
• Scleroderma, systemic sclerosis
• Cervical and lumbar spondylosis, Spinal stenosis