Rheumatologist diagnoses, heals and also conducts preventive measures to prevent rheumatic diseases of bones, joints and inflammatory diseases of connective tissue. Contrary to popular belief, rheumatology is not a branch of medicine that only helps the elderly, but unfortunately the truth is that people visiting a rheumatologist often suffer from severe pain. Read on with what symptoms to see this specialist and what the rheumatologist does.

Rheumatologistdeals with a very large group of diseases related to degenerative and inflammatory diseases of connective tissue, bones and joints.Rheumatologyis a field of internal medicine, and the help of a doctor of this specialization is used by people experiencing recurrent and intense pains in joints, tendons or muscles, accompanied by other symptoms and who do not want to be treated with medications proposed by the doctor first contact.

We are referred to a rheumatologist by a family doctor, many people also visit private specialists.

With what symptoms should I visit a rheumatologist?

You will find it helpful to see a rheumatologist if you suffer from the following symptoms:

  • your muscles, joints, bones hurt;
  • the pain is recurrent and intense, often occurs not only in one, but several joints - over time, the disease takes a symmetrical form - symptoms appear in the joints on both sides of the body;
  • the pain is accompanied by: low-grade fever and / or swelling and / or rash or reddening of the skin;
  • you also feel ailments in the abdominal cavity and they are not caused by problems with the stomach or intestines;
  • when you wake up, your joints are red and you feel stiff;
  • you have trouble holding items in your fingers;
  • you have a problem bending down, picking up items;
  • joints become distorted and swollen;
  • you have difficulty moving;
  • the joints are red and the temperature around them is higher than in the rest of the body.

What diseases does a rheumatologist treat?

A specialist in the field of rheumatology heals many typesdiseases. Among them are:

  • rheumatoid arthritis;
  • psoriatic arthritis;
  • rheumatic fever;
  • ankylosing spondylitis;
  • chronic inflammation of the connective tissue - systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, dermatomyositis, polymyositis, Sjögren's syndrome, chronic non-thrombotic vasculitis;
  • osteoporosis;
  • sarcoidosis;
  • fibromyalgia.

How is the treatment at the rheumatologist?

The course of treatment at a rheumatologist depends on a specific disease. Unfortunately, in the case of degenerative and inflammatory diseases of bones, joints and connective tissue, treatment is usually long-term. The rheumatologist carries out medical, physical and functional examinations of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue, and may refer the patient to additional and laboratory tests. The doctor also performs punctures, blockages, and regular injections, and when necessary, he sends the patient to surgery. He also determines the appropriate course of action in the rehabilitation of his patients.

The results of the following tests are particularly important for a rheumatologist:

  • morphology,
  • OB,
  • CRP,
  • urine test,
  • RF - rheumatoid factor.

How much does a visit to a rheumatologist cost?

The cost of a private visit to a rheumatologist is about PLN 100-170 - depending on the doctor's experience and the size of the city in which he or she is visiting.

Worth knowing

The name "rheumatism" has its origin in Hippocrates. In ancient times, it was believed that a he althy organism was in a fluid balance. When it is disturbed, the fluid that we have too much is excreted by the body. This is the case, for example, with mucus in a runny nose or with inflammatory fluid in rheumatism. The Greek "reuma" means flowing into the ponds.

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