What is Rheumatology?

Rheumatology is a subspecialty of internal medicine. Doctors who specialize in rheumatology are referred to as rheumatologists. They diagnose and focus on non-surgical treatment of arthritis, autoimmune and rheumatic diseases.

Autoimmune disease:

Is where an abnormality in the immune system leads to the body’s defence harming its own cells by an error.

Common rheumatologic problems & terminology:

Osteoarthritis (OA):

OA is a degenerative joint disease, is a progressive disorder of the joints caused by gradual loss of cartilage (that acts as a protective cushion between bones) from aging process or previous injury to the joints.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA):

RA is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system attacks the lining of the joints. This results in painful stiff inflamed (red, hot, swollen) joints and if not treated might lead destruction of the cartilage and bone of joints. RA can occur at any age and affect females more than males. The cause is unknown but could be genetics and environmental elements that make some people more susceptible to RA.

Gout:

A disturbance of uric-acid metabolism occurring chiefly in males, characterized by painful inflammation of the joints, especially of the feet and hands, and arthritic attacks resulting from elevated levels of uric acid in the blood and the deposition of urate crystals around the joints. The condition can become chronic and result in deformity. It is more in males and higher incidence as we age. The cause is unknown but some factors play a big role in its occurrence like genetics and excessive food high in proteins (sea food/red meat) and alcohol in susceptible individual.

Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) or Fibromyalgia:

A syndrome characterized by chronic pain, stiffness, and tenderness of muscles, tendons, and joints without detectable inflammation, also fatigue and sleep disturbance. FMS does not cause body damage or deformity.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE):

SLE is an autoimmune disease where the immune system harms cells of the body.  It can affect the joints, skin, nervous system, kidneys and heart.

It affects all age groups but females are more affected than males. We can treat the SLE but no cure. If not treated appropriately and depending on the severity it can progress and cause various organs.

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR):

PMR is a disorder that almost always occurs in people over 50 years old. The cause is unknown. It is an inflammatory disorder involving pain and stiffness in the hip or shoulder area. The disorder may occur alone, or with or before Giant cell arteritis (GCA) which is  is an inflammation of blood vessels (usually in the head).

Back and neck pain:

It could be due to either mechanical problem or inflammatory. Mechanical problem could be seen in wear and tear (degenerative) or injury to disc or soft tissues.  Inflammatory problem could be seen in conditions like ankylosing spondylitis (see below) or psoriatic back disease.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS):

A type of arthritis that causes chronic inflammation of the spine and the sacroiliac joints (sacrum joining pelvis). The chronic inflammation causes pain and stiffness in and around the spine. Over time, chronic spinal inflammation (spondylitis) can lead to a complete cementing together (fusion) of the vertebrae, a process called ankylosis. Ankylosis causes total loss of mobility of the spine. It is more common in males

Psoriatic arthritis:

It is a form of arthritic joint disease (back and peripheral joints) associated with the chronic skin scaling and fingernail changes seen in psoriasis.