Who are rheumatologists?
Rheumatologists specialize in diagnosing arthritis, musculoskeletal conditions, and systemic autoimmune disorders. These issues can cause pain, swelling, or stiffness in the joints, bones, and muscles. Additionally, autoimmune diseases, which result from unnecessary inflammation in body parts, affect the eyes, skin, and other internal organs beyond the joints, bones, and muscles.
The care that rheumatologists provide ranges from short-term to long-term. Depending on the condition, they may also provide follow-up care.
What kind of education and training do rheumatologists receive?
To become a rheumatologist, one must complete four years of medical school. They can also alternatively acquire osteopathic medicine training. Subsequently, rheumatologists must undergo three years of residency training to attain experience in the field. They can complete this residency in pediatrics or internal medicine, with many prospective rheumatologists simultaneously pursuing both.
Lastly, doctors can undertake a two- to three-year rheumatology fellowship, which enriches their knowledge of autoimmune and musculoskeletal conditions and their treatment. Some rheumatologists may also choose to become specialists in different subfields of rheumatology, such as pediatric rheumatology. To obtain board certification, rheumatologists must take an American Board of Internal Medicine exam.
What is the difference between rheumatologists and orthopedists?
Rheumatologists and orthopaedists specialize in helping with joint, bone, muscle, ligament, and tendon issues. They treat similar problems like joint pain and tendinitis, but they have some differences.
Rheumatologists look at all the parts of your body to find out why you have certain symptoms. On the other hand, orthopaedists focus more on injuries, problems from birth, and conditions that happen over time (like wear and tear or degeneration). Another difference is that orthopaedists can do surgeries, but rheumatologists don't.
Even though both rheumatologists and orthopaedists deal with musculoskeletal problems, rheumatologists have special training to handle conditions related to inflammation and your body's immune system.
What conditions do rheumatologists treat?
Rheumatologists can treat the following conditions:
- Osteoporosis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Reactive arthritis
- Tendonitis
- Gout
- Fibromyalgia
- Lupus
- Osteoarthritis
- Myositis
- Scleroderma
- Back pain
What examinations do rheumatologists perform?
Rheumatologists perform various examinations and procedures to diagnose and treat rheumatic conditions, starting with a thorough physical examination. During the initial or routine checkups, they comprehensively evaluate the patient's physical health, including pulse, heart and lung function, and lymph nodes. Special attention is given to areas where patients experience pain or stiffness. Rheumatologists often ask patients to bend, flex, or stretch the affected areas, allowing them to evaluate joint inflammation, range of motion, and function. Additionally, they review the patient's medical history, existing conditions, and family history to identify possible connections with other symptoms.
Diagnostic testing is crucial in pinpointing the cause of systemic inflammatory or musculoskeletal disorders. Rheumatologists utilize various diagnostic tests to assess the sources of inflammation, which may be related to environmental exposures, genetics, infections, autoimmune disorders, or abnormal uric acid metabolism. They also diagnose conditions that lead to bone or cartilage loss, such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.
Imaging tests like X-rays, ultrasounds, MRIs, and CT scans are often used to detect joint damage. Rheumatologists and primary care physicians employ these imaging techniques to visualize the extent of the disease and monitor its progression over time.
Laboratory tests provide further insight by analyzing blood, urine, skin, or joint fluid samples. Lab results help identify elevated inflammatory markers, antibodies, and white blood cell counts, which may indicate infections or inflammation. Specific genetic tests may reveal genetic markers linked to autoimmune or inflammatory conditions, such as HLA-DR4 in rheumatoid arthritis or HLA-B27, ARTS 1, and IL23R in ankylosing spondylitis.
What is rheumatoid arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic (ongoing) autoimmune disease. Unlike other types of arthritis, it develops in the joints of both sides of the body. Pain and inflammation in fingers, hands, wrists, knees, ankles, feet, and toes are symptoms of RA. The exact cause is unknown. However, researchers believe a mix of genetics, hormones, and environmental factors causes it.
Uncontrolled inflammation wreaks havoc on cartilage, which serves as a shock absorber in the joints. Over time, this can cause joint deformation. Your bone will eventually deteriorate, resulting in joint fusion, which is your body's attempt to defend itself from persistent irritation.
Certain cells in your immune system aid this process. These compounds are generated in your joints but circulate throughout your body, causing discomfort. Moreover, rheumatoid arthritis can affect body parts other than joints, including skin, eyes, mouth, lungs, and heart.
What kind of lifestyle changes help with RA?
While you cannot control certain aspects of RA, lifestyle changes like the following may help:
- Enough rest: Inflamed joints increase the risk of injury to them and nearby soft tissue structures. Hence, giving them proper rest is essential. However, working out is still important. Maintaining a decent range of motion in your joints and general fitness is vital when dealing with RA.
- Regular exercise: Pain and stiffness might make it difficult to move. People with RA usually become inactive, resulting in a loss of joint mobility and muscle strength. This, in turn, causes more pain and fatigue. Regular exercise can prevent and reverse these effects. Consulting a physical or occupational therapist for advice can help.
How does a rheumatologist treat arthritis or autoimmune conditions?
When individuals are diagnosed with rheumatic conditions, the critical objective of treatment is to modify the immune system's activity to decrease the associated inflammation. Immunomodulatory medications and steroids serve as the main approaches for managing these conditions.
Additionally, one can get symptomatic relief through over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and acetaminophen, along with topical analgesics. Medications suppressing the immune system may be necessary in advanced or severe conditions.
It's essential to exercise caution with immune suppression, considering its vital role in preventing infections. The decision to suppress it is made based on the severity of the individual's condition.
When to see a rheumatologist?
You must visit a rheumatologist near you routinely if you suffer from a rheumatological ailment such as rheumatoid arthritis. This helps monitor the progression of your disease, keep track of the flares, take note of triggers, and identify how you are adjusting to medications. It would help to let your rheumatologist know of any new lifestyle changes, dietary modifications, or exercise patterns. It may be necessary to visit your rheumatologist for the following reasons:
- You are experiencing a flare
If your arthritis or other rheumatological issue flares, visiting a rheumatologist's office may become necessary. The inflammation can be more painful and lead to permanent joint damage or deformity when the inflammation flares up. Flares differ in intensity and symptoms for all patients. Thus, you must seek medical assistance promptly.
- You start experiencing pain in a new location
Typically, rheumatological ailments affect the joints, resulting in pain, heat, redness, and swelling. However, pain may begin in some other body parts due to autoimmune conditions. These can attack the eyes and mouth or result in inflammation in the blood vessels. In some rare occurrences, rheumatoid arthritis can also impact the tissues around the lungs and the heart.
- Your sleeping or eating habits have changed
If you notice a reduction in your eating or sleeping, it may be because of your rheumatological problems. Sleeping a whole night is difficult for those with arthritis or other joint pain due to discomfort in sleeping positions. Some medicines also affect your appetite, leading to weight gain or nausea. It may also cause an aversion to eating. If you experience these changes, you must see your rheumatologist. They can also suggest lifestyle changes and adaptation techniques to assist you.
- You are facing medicine side effects
To help manage rheumatological issues, a rheumatologist prescribes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), corticosteroids, and other newer treatments such as biologics. These drugs are effective and help improve the lives of people suffering from these issues. However, they may have side effects, including edema and stomach discomfort.
Corticosteroids may spike blood sugar and cholesterol, causing weight gain due to increased appetite. Biologics and DMARDs can cause more infections or rarely lead to autoimmune issues such as psoriasis or lupus. If the medications affect your life, you must seek medical care from a rheumatologist.
Other reasons that may necessitate a rheumatologist visit include changing your insurance plan or developing a new symptom. You may also need to see one if you think your treatment could be better.
How should one prepare to see a rheumatologist?
Getting ready for your first appointment with a rheumatologist may take a few weeks, especially if you're a new patient. Here are some simple steps to help you prepare:
1. Document your medical history: List all the medications you're currently taking for any health issues. Remember to mention any vitamins or supplements you use.
2. Organize your records: Collect notes from your previous doctors and gather copies of lab and imaging test results. This will give the rheumatologist a clear picture of your medical history.
3. Keep a symptom journal: Since symptoms can vary and change, keeping a journal is helpful. Write down the symptoms you experience and how often they occur. This way, you can provide detailed information to the rheumatologist during your appointment.
What should one expect during a visit to a rheumatologist?
Rheumatic diseases are dynamic and progress over time. Your rheumatologist will set up personalized treatment plans to manage your unique symptoms. After you reach the clinic, you will have to undergo a physical examination. The rheumatologist will enquire about your personal and family medical history.
Apart from medications, the rheumatologist may prescribe physical therapy, joint and tendon injections, or surgeries. Rheumatologists can also refer you to other specialists if required. Your rheumatologist will have follow-up sessions to help deal with your symptoms.
Rheumatologists enable you to improve your quality of life and regain the function of your affected body parts.
Finding a rheumatologist in Atlanta, GA near you
Now that you know when to see a rheumatologist, Zocdoc can help you find the one best suited to your needs. You can enter the details of your condition, location, preferred date, and insurance plan, and Zocdoc will then direct you to a list of providers. Here, you can find the best rheumatologist in your vicinity. You can browse each practitioner's profile to learn about their qualifications, experience, specializations, affiliations, location, and even the languages they are fluent in. You can also find rheumatologists who can cater to your insurance plan.
If you have multiple insurance plans, you can add medical, dental, and vision insurance plans to your Zocdoc account. However, you can only search for and book appointments with one insurance plan at a time. If you have multiple insurance plans, you can include details of your secondary carrier in the provider notes during the final booking step. Additionally, if your provider uses Zocdoc's Intake forms, you can add secondary insurance information when completing the forms online. For more insurance-related questions, you can visit Zocdoc's patient help center.
Once you have browsed to your satisfaction, you can also read reviews from patients who have previously sought treatment. Zocdoc verifies these reviews and helps you make an informed decision. After you have decided upon the practitioner of your choice, you can book an in-person or online consultation.
Booking appointments with rheumatologists near you through Zocdoc is easy, safe, and quick.
Rheumatology statistics in Georgia
In a 2015 survey conducted in Georgia, 1660 out of the 4,678 respondents had arthritis. An estimate of the state population suggests that 1,890,000 Georgia residents had arthritis. The study found that the chances of obese people encountering arthritis are higher than those of non-obese people, with an estimated 759,000 Georgians living with both obesity and arthritis.
RA affects about 1.3 million people in the United States. Females are 2.5 times more prone to it than males. Though RA's development is regardless of age, it often develops between 30 and 60. Young-onset rheumatoid arthritis (YORA) affects children and young adults, usually between 16 and 40. Later-onset rheumatoid arthritis (LORA) affects adults aged 60 and above.
A 2015 Workforce Study of Rheumatology Specialists in the United States registered 105 adult practicing rheumatologists with valid certificates. There are 73,452.1 people per active rheumatologist in the state. There are 50 female rheumatologists in Georgia, i.e., 41.0% of the active rheumatologist workforce.
Source
WebMD
National Library of Medicine
American College of Rheumatology
Healthline
Cleveland Clinic[1]
Cleveland Clinic[2]
Houston Methodist
Medical News Today
