A rheumatologist is an internal medicine or pediatrics doctor who has specialized training in diseases of the joints, muscles, and bones, the most common of which is arthritis. In addition to diagnosing and treating arthritis and other rheumatic diseases, many rheumatologists are involved in research to further our understanding of these diseases. Due to the chronic nature of the patient’s disorder, rheumatologists can act as a consultant to a primary care physician, or they can manage an individual’s healthcare team to provide an interdisciplinary care approach.
In the United States, a person’s primary care physician is likely to refer them to a rheumatologist. This type of referral is made when a patient has severe or persistent pain in their bones, joints, or muscles. Rheumatologists treat people with various types of arthritis on a regular basis. Lupus, vasculitis, scleroderma, sarcoidosis, fibromyalgia, and polymyositis are just a few of the systemic conditions and autoimmune disorders that rheumatologists treat. Rickets, achondroplasia, tendinitis, and Marfan’s syndrome are examples of diseases affecting the joints or bones that a rheumatologist might treat.
A rheumatologist treats bone, joint, and muscle disorders without the use of surgery. A rheumatologist may recommend physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and the use of certain medications as part of an individualized treatment plan. These drugs could include analgesics, steroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or specialty medications for specific disorders, depending on the disease being treated.
A rheumatologist in the United States typically receives up to three years of specialized training after completing approximately seven years of general medical training. Many rheumatologists also go through a rigorous certification process. A rheumatologist’s credentials will show that he or she is a Fellow of the American College of Rheumatology, or F.A.C.R., or a Fellow of the American Osteopathic College of Rheumatology, or F.A.O.C.R. for an osteopathic rheumatologist.
As of 2011, arthritis affected over 46 million adults in the United States, making it the most common disorder treated by rheumatologists. Osteoarthritis, which involves the wearing down of joints over time as cartilage breaks down, and rheumatoid arthritis, which involves an abnormal inflammatory response, are two common types of this disorder. Weight-bearing joints, such as the hips and knees, are commonly affected by osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by joint stiffness and swelling, as well as systemic symptoms such as fever, pain, and fatigue.