Rheumatology
Diagnosis and treatment of connective tissue and joint disorders. Consultations with a rheumatologist
Symptoms and main conditions
The symptoms of rheumatological disorders can include stiffness, pain, and swelling in the joints, the development of subcutaneous nodules, swelling and tenderness of the temporal arteries, limited range of motion, discomfort and pain in the lower back, knees, and other joints. In such cases, a consultation with a rheumatologist is necessary.
The main rheumatological diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, acute rheumatic fever, gouty arthritis, rheumatism, acquired rheumatic heart disease, Raynaud’s phenomenon, osteoporosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and others. The treatment of these conditions can be prolonged.
What does a rheumatologist do:
- Conducts a comprehensive examination of the patient
- Prescribes additional investigations if necessary (including instrumental tests such as CT scans, ultrasound), laboratory analyses, and interprets their results
- Diagnoses and treats rheumatological disorders
- Administers intra-articular injections of medications
- Refers patients for physiotherapy, therapeutic exercises, and manual therapy