What Does a Rheumatologist Deal With Medically?

Rheumatology is a very specialized field of medicine dealing with disease of the joints, bones and muscles. Rheumatologists can spend up to 16 years developing their skills in this medical field. There are many reasons someone may seek the advice and care of a rheumatologist.

Broken Bones

One of the most common reasons people see a rheumatologist is to repair broken bones. Rheumatologists may set the broken bones or perform surgery to try to save some parts of bones that may be completely shattered. Some rheumatologist may choose to deal only in children's broken bones as children's bones are still growing and require special care and consideration when setting.

Arthritis

Another common reason someone may see a rheumatologist is for arthritis. There are rheumatologists who specialize in treatment and diagnosis of arthritis. They may prescribe medication to help control arthritis pain or they may advise a patient to attend physical therapy. Some arthritis rheumatologists may also perform complex surgeries to control the pain in particularly swollen joints and muscles.

Research

Some rheumatologists may choose to perform research in their field. They may work to find cures for fibromyalgia or lupus. They may also work to find medication to control arthritis symptoms without causing side effects for the patient. Many rheumatology researchers may have once been physicians in their field, but may now be dedicating their career to research.

Other diseases

A rheumatologist also specializes in treating lupus, fibromyalgia, tendonitis, gout, or osteoporosis. Any disease or disability of the muscles and joints would fall to into the hands of a rheumatologist.