Consultation of a rheumatologist

Who is a rheumatologist?

Rheumatologist is a medical specialist who deals with diseases of connective tissue (tendon and ligamentous apparatus, cartilage, bone tissue of joints and other organs and systems.

Services

Doctors

Reasons why you need to consult a rheumatologist:

• limitation of movements, pain in the joints, back, morning stiffness in the knees, hands;
• symmetrical swelling or pain in the joints (both knee joints, elbow joints);
• rash, subcutaneous nodules in the joint area;
• muscle weakness in the arms and legs;
• increase in body temperature (up to 38 degrees);
• deformation of the joints of the hands and feet;
• peeling, redness and dryness of the skin, increased sensitivity or pain when touched;
• discoloration of the skin of the fingers, occasional numbness, tingling and cold sensation;
• butterfly-shaped rash on the skin of the face (the rash spreads over the entire surface of the cheeks and wings of the nose);
• accelerated heart rate, pulling pains in the heart, low blood pressure, etc.

How is the examination going?

Consultation of a rheumatologist begins with a survey of the patient regarding the complaints that concern him/her (a family history is collected to determine the presence of a hereditary predisposition to the development of rheumatological diseases).

The next step is a thorough examination of the patient, which, according to complaints, may include:

• auscultation listening to heart murmurs and pulmonary respiration
• visual assessment of the skin and joints
• manual examination of problem areas

How to diagnose the problem?

Consultation of a rheumatologist begins with a survey of the patient regarding the complaints that concern him/her (a family history is collected to determine the presence of a hereditary predisposition to the development of rheumatological diseases).

• laboratory diagnostics (general clinical and biochemical tests allow to detect inflammatory process, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay – most accurately determines the type of disease);
• ultrasound diagnostics of joints, heart, internal organs of the abdominal cavity;
• radiological diagnostics (X-ray, computer and magnetic resonance imaging).

How are rheumatological problems treated?

Based on the results of examinations and laboratory parameters, the rheumatologist conducts an individual selection of treatment, which may include:

• drug therapy
• the use of physiotherapy procedures, and in some cases
• surgical treatment of the patient's problems