A Rheumatologist specializes in the non-surgical treatment of rheumatic illnesses, especially arthritis.
Rheumatologists have special interests in unexplained rash, fever, arthritis, anemia, weakness, weight loss, fatigue, joint or muscle pain, autoimmune disease, and anorexia. They often serve as consultants, acting like detectives for other doctors.
Rheumatologists have particular skills in the evaluation of the over 100 forms of arthritis, and have special interest in:
- rheumatoid arthritis
- psoriatic arthritis
- systemic lupus erythematosus
- dermatomyositis
- vasculitis
- scleroderma
- mixed connective tissue disease
- sarcoidosis
- Lyme disease
- osteoarthritis
- back pain
- gout
- reactive arthritis
- fibromyalgia
- Raynaud's disease
- growing pains
- osteoporosis