Rheumatology is the medical specialty that deals with diseases of joints and structures around them (e.g. tendons, ligaments etc.). If you suffer from stiffness (particularly in the morning) and pain with or without visible swelling in joints (e.g. knees, ankles, shoulders, wrists, elbows, knuckles etc.) or back or neck, you need to see an arthritis specialist i.e. a Rheumatologist.
There are at least 100 different types of arthritis and rheumatism. Many of these are self-limiting disorders i.e. once in lifetime events; others are `remitting and recurring’ type (e.g. reactive arthritis, gout, Still’s disease), and the worst are chronic and crippling type if not properly treated early enough (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, osteoarthritis). A rare category of arthritis includes conditions that can even be life-threatening (e.g. lupus, scleroderma, polymyositis, vasculitis etc.) Modern medical treatment is highly effective in controlling arthritis. To avoid a bad outcome such as joint deformities, work disability and damage to vital organs, medical treatment must begin at the earliest without delay. Advanced cases of arthritis with destroyed joints generally require surgical treatment i.e. joint replacement surgery.
