Rheumatology

Our Rheumatology Department specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of musculo-skeletal disorders. The study of rheumatism, arthritis, and other disorders of the joints, muscles, and ligaments.

Our Rheumatology Department treats the following:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Osteoarthritis
• Raynaud’s syndrome
• Lupus
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Bursitis, tendonitis
• Polymyalgia rheumatica
• Sjogren’s syndrome
• Gout and other crystal-related arthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Various other auto-immune disorders
• Bone density testing

When Should You See a Rheumatologist?

Most people experience muscle and joint pain from time to time. When the muscle and joint pain is not resolving as one would expect, additional evaluation may be needed. Typically the primary care physician is seen for the first evaluation. If there is concern for an underlying rheumatic condition, he/she will refer you to rheumatology for evaluation.

Joint damage can occur if the symptoms of joint pain are ignored or not treated properly over a period of time. This damage cannot always be reversed with treatment and may be permanent. Do not delay appropriate evaluation.

What Should I Expect from my Rheumatology Visit?

Rheumatic diseases can be complex in nature and difficult to diagnose, so our rheumatologists will gather a complete medical history and perform a physical exam to look for signs and symptoms of inflammation throughout the entire body and musculoskeletal system. Family history can also be very important in diagnosis of rheumatic disease and will be assessed.

Our rheumatologist will also look and review any prior testing that has been performed on a patient and may order additional tests to help diagnose the rheumatic disease.

All the results will be combined to determine the source of a patient’s symptoms and develop a personalized treatment plan. Treatment recommendations may include medications, referral to physical therapy, referral to other specialists, or joint/tendon injections. Some rheumatic diseases can be difficult to diagnose and may require several visits for the rheumatologist to fully understand the underlying process.