• Rheumatology is a multidisciplinary branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, management, and investigation of patients with many different and related conditions primarily affecting the joints, but also other extraarticular manifestations i.e. uveitis, etc. They also manifest in skin, cardiovascular, lung, kidney, or gastrointestinal conditions. Most rheumatic diseases are complex or multifactorial entities with pathogeneses that interact with both multiple genetic factors and a high number of diverse environmental factors.
• A rheumatologist is an internal medicine physician with sub specialized training in rheumatology. This medical specialty deals with musculoskeletal conditions, as well as autoimmune and inflammatory conditions in people of all ages. Many of these conditions may run in families.

What does a rheumatologist do?

Rheumatologists diagnose, treat and manage a broad range of conditions, including:

• Inflammatory (rheumatic) disorders that affect muscles, joints and bones.
• Connective tissue diseases that affect supporting structures like your ligaments and tendons, and may involve the skin and other organs.
• Autoimmune diseases that happen when your immune system attacks healthy tissue.

What does a rheumatologist treat?

Complex and inherited disorders

• Bechet's disease, Osteoporosis, Psoriatic arthritis, Rheumatic fever, Sarcoidosis, Scleroderma, Sjögren’s syndrome, Systemic lupus, erythematosus

Joint problems

• Ankylosing spondylitis, Bursitis, Gout, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis.

Tendon issues

• Achilles tendinitis, De Quervain’s tendinosis, Patellar tendonitis, Rotator cuff issues, Tennis elbow.

Muscle conditions

• Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, Myopathies, Myasthenia gravis, Polymyositis, Rhabdomyolysis