What is a Rheumatologist ?
A Rheumatologist is a superspecialist doctor who after completing MD Degree does a three year training in Rheumatology as a stand alone subject and learns to deal with various autoimmune conditions which have a common finding of arthritis in all.
Which all conditions are treated bh Rheumatologist?
He/she treats Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriatic arthritis, Ankylosing spndylitis(HLA B27 disease), Gout, Systemic lupus erythematosus, sjogrens syndrome(dry eye dosease), systemic sclerosis, vasculitis among many other.
Why its important to meet
Rheumatologist rather than other specialist?
All rheumatological diseases are chronic diseases. With time these diseases can involve organs other than joints. A simple specialist can treat the symptom not the disease. Also the rheumatologists are well versed with natural course of disease and can guide a patient about current treatment, future complications etc.
Is it true that rheumatological diseases are non curable?
Arthritis and rheumatological diseases are chronic diseases and need long term therapy. Most of the patients get better with treatment. Patients who recieve right treatment in the starting 6 months of the therapy have chances of becoming disease free more as compared to those who delay it. Thus these diseases can be suppressed and at times patients can go into remission too.
