Rheumatology is the specialty of Medicine that studies, diagnoses, and treats the various diseases that affect the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue of the organs and structures of the body, such as joints, tendons, bones, muscles, skin, heart, lungs, and kidneys.
Rheumatic diseases are also known as rheumatism and include about 150 conditions, which can be acute or chronic, affecting people of all ages and genders, from young children and adolescents to adults and the elderly.
Detailed clinical evaluation, through clinical history and objective examination, is essential for the diagnosis and appropriate treatment, which will be personalised to suit the needs of each person.
Some laboratory tests and radiographic analyses help to complement the investigation of rheumatic disease. The various rheumatic diseases include the following:
- Periarticular lesions of non-traumatic cause, such as back pain, bursitis, and tendinitis.
- Metabolic diseases, such as gout and osteoporosis.
- Degenerative diseases, such as osteoarthritis (OA).
- Inflammatory rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), spondylarthritis (including psoriatic arthritis in patients with psoriasis), systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis and Sjogren's syndrome.
- In addition to vasculitis and more complex rare diseases.
It is important to note that, if not diagnosed and treated at an early stage by a rheumatologist, rheumatic diseases can cause serious physical and, consequently, psychological damage. This can lead to difficulties in performing simple daily tasks due to pain, deformities, and functional limitations.
As such, the rheumatologist is the specialist who has the necessary knowledge to diagnose, treat and help prevent rheumatic diseases. It is recommended you see a rheumatologist if you have persistent pain in your body, especially in the joints, as well as swelling and stiffness in the morning or during the night.
At Joaquim Chaves Saúde medical clinics, experienced rheumatologists collaborate with other specialties such as Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, Orthopedics, Ophthalmology or Pain Therapeutics, among others, in order to provide a holistic approach to the global assessment of the patients.
