Rheumatology

Rheumatologists are specialists in treating rheumatic diseases including arthritis and other disorders of the muscles, ligaments, bones and joints. These diseases include osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis), crystalline arthritis (e.g. gout or pseudogout), connective tissue disease (e.g. lupus or scleroderma) and fibromyalgia. Some of these conditions affect other organs of the body including skin, lungs, kidneys, the blood vessels and nervous system in addition to joints.

Different rheumatic diseases require specific treatments. A rheumatologist is a medical doctor with specific skilled in determining the type of arthritis and prescribing the correct treatments, to maximize health.

These treatments may include medications, (orally, by injection or directly into the joint or tendon) or rehabilitation.