Our doctors define difficult medical language in easy-to-understand explanations of over 19,000 medical terms. What training does a rheumatologist receive? What diseases and rhumatologue do rheumatologists treat? How should patients prepare for their rheumatology visit?
What can patients expect during a visit with a rheumatologist? Rheumatology is the field of medicine that is concerned with the evaluation and treatment of people with autoimmune conditions and joint diseases, including arthritis. A rheumatologist is a subspecialist in the nonsurgical treatment of rheumatic illnesses, including autoimmune diseases and especially the many forms of arthritis and joint disease. Classical adult rheumatology training includes four years of medical school, one year of internship in internal medicine, two years of internal medicine residency, and two years of rheumatology fellowship training. There is a subspecialty board for rheumatology certification, offered by the American Board of Internal Medicine, which can provide board certification to approved rheumatologists. Pediatric rheumatologists are pediatricians who have completed an additional two to three years of specialized training in pediatric rheumatology and are usually board certified in pediatric rheumatology. A joint is an area of the body where two different bones meet.
A joint functions to move the body parts connected by its bones. Arthritis literally means inflammation of one or more joints. Arthritis is frequently accompanied by joint pain. Joint pain is referred to as arthralgia. When four or more joints are involved, the arthritis is referred to as polyarthritis. When two or three joints are involved, it is referred to as oligoarthritis. When only a single joint is involved, it is referred to as monoarthritis.
How many types of arthritis exist? Together, the many types of arthritis make up the most common chronic illness in the United States. Be prepared for questions about your health history for your visit with the rheumatologist. After your medical history is reviewed with the doctor, be prepared to have a thorough examination. It can be helpful to bring a family member along.
Because many rheumatic conditions can be complex medically, may require serious medicines that can have side effects and need monitoring testing, and because the conditions can affect the day-to-day functioning of the patient in the family environment, doctors will generally welcome the presence of the family member. QUESTION The term arthritis refers to stiffness in the joints. Kelley’s Textbook of Rheumatology, 9th Edition. Treatment focuses on preventing clotting by thinning the blood with the use of anticoagulants and aspirin. Symptoms and signs include joint pain, swelling, heat, and redness, typically of a single joint.
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Connective tissue diseases are disorders featuring abnormalities involving the collagen and elastin. Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis caused by inflammation, breakdown, and eventual loss of cartilage in the joints. Unless one experiences a fracture, a person may have osteoporosis for decades without knowing it. See a picture of Psoriatic Arthritis and learn more about the health topic. These “quick fix” treatments are promoted as cure-alls, but they really have no right to such claims. WebMD demonstrates helpful exercises to get you started. Learn about treatment, diagnosis, and the symptoms of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.