Rheumatology
Rheumatologists deal mainly with clinical problems involving joints, soft tissues and the allied conditions of connective tissues. Sometimes these conditions are referred to as Rheumatic Diseases. Rheumatology is a medical specialty devoted to the diagnosis and therapy of Rheumatic Diseases.
Many Rheumatic Diseases involve the joints (arthritis), but many are also conditions of the muscles, bones or tissues that support and move the joints. People often think that there are only 2 types of arthritis, but in fact, there are more than 100 medical conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system.
- Osteoarthritis
- Regional joint pain
- Eg shoulder, wrist, ankle, back
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Psoriatic Arthritis
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Gout
- Osteoporosis
- Vasculitis
- Connective Tissue Diseases
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus)
- Sjögren’s Syndrome
- Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma)
- Dermatomyositis
- Polymyositis
- Mixed Connective Tissue Disease
Arthritis-related problems include pain, stiffness, inflammation and damage to joint cartilage (the tissue that covers the ends of bones, providing cushioning and a smooth surface) and surrounding structures. This can result in joint weakness, instability and deformities that can interfere with the most basic daily tasks such as walking, driving a car and preparing food.