Medical Conditions

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Osteoarthritis
• Reiter’s Syndrome
• Autoimmune arthritis
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Juvenile arthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Metabolic bone disease

Specialty Areas of Interest

• Juvenile arthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Osteoarthrits
• Bone disease

Associated Tests

• Plain X-Ray
• Ultrasound
• Bone scan
• Bone densitometry
• CT scan
• Magnentic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Blood tests
• Autoantibodies
• Inflammatory markers

Procedures

• Joint aspiration
• Joint injection
• Physiotherapy
• Occupational therapy

What to expect

Your rheumatologist must first make a diagnosis, assess severity and complications and then move on to making management plans.

History

History will focus on your current joint problems and how they effect you and your life.

Examination

Examination will focus on your joints, however a general examination is an important part of the rheumatological examination.
Investigations will include blood tests, imaging and often joint aspirations.

Treatment

Treatment will involve a multidisciplinary team including doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. Medical management may involve injections, medications and advice whilst the other members of the team will attempt to optimise mobility and joint function.

Training and Qualifications

• Basic medical training
• Internship
• Residency
• Specialty Training

Links

• Find a Rheumatologist
• Australian Rheumatology Association – Links
• Wikipedia – Rheumatology

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. If in doubt, HealthEngine recommends consulting with a registered health practitioner.