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Rheumatology treats musculoskeletal and autoimmune diseases, including arthritis, lupus, gout, and vasculitis.
Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.
Rheumatology is a sub-specialty of internal medicine devoted to the diagnosis and therapy of rheumatic diseases. These are conditions that affect the joints, muscles, bones, and sometimes other internal organs (like the kidneys, lungs, and blood vessels). A Rheumatologist is an internist with specialized fellowship training in identifying and managing these often complex, chronic, and systemic disorders.
Unlike orthopedics, which focuses on surgical corrections and acute injuries, rheumatology focuses on the medical management of inflammation and autoimmunity. The field is often referred to as “clinical immunology” because many rheumatic diseases result from the immune system attacking the body’s own tissues.
To understand rheumatology, one must examine the structures that enable the body to move and the systems that protect it.
Rheumatologists treat over 200 distinct diseases. These are generally categorized into inflammatory, non-inflammatory (degenerative), and metabolic conditions.
Rheumatic diseases are often called “the great imitators” because their symptoms can be vague, fluctuating, and overlap with many other conditions. Early recognition is vital because, in conditions like Rheumatoid Arthritis, the “window of opportunity” to prevent permanent joint damage is in the first few months of the disease.
One of the most critical distinctions in rheumatology is determining if the pain is Inflammatory (Autoimmune) or Mechanical (Degenerative).
Back Pain at Night: In young people, back pain that wakes them up in the second half of the night can indicate Ankylosing Spondylitis.
The exact cause of autoimmune rheumatic diseases is usually a complex interplay between genetics and the environment, a theory known as the “Two-Hit Hypothesis.”
Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.
Rheumatology is a Sherlock Holmes-style specialty. There is rarely a single test that confirms a diagnosis; instead, rheumatologists rely on clinical criteria a combination of symptoms, physical findings, and test results. At Liv Hospital, we utilize comprehensive immunological panels and high-resolution imaging to catch these diseases in their earliest, most treatable phases.
The rheumatologist performs a specialized exam:
Blood tests look for markers of inflammation and specific autoantibodies.
Rheumatologists use scoring systems to “stage” disease activity and monitor treatment success.
The philosophy of modern rheumatology is “Treat to Target.” This means setting a specific goal, usually remission (absence of symptoms) or low disease activity, and adjusting medication aggressively until that goal is reached. The era of simply managing pain with aspirin is over; today, we use sophisticated biologic therapies to halt the immune attack and prevent joint destruction
Medication alone is rarely enough. A holistic approach is required.
Rheumatic diseases are systemic. Treatment involves monitoring for associated risks:
Rheumatic diseases are lifelong companions. Managing them requires a partnership between the patient and the physician, built on trust, accessibility, and expertise. At Liv Hospital, the Department of Rheumatology provides a comprehensive ecosystem of care, integrating cutting-edge immunology with rehabilitation and support services to ensure our patients live active, pain-free lives.
Autoimmune diseases affect the whole body, so our team covers the entire body.
An empowered patient is a healthier patient.
At Liv Hospital, we do not just suppress inflammation; we aim to restore your quality of life, helping you move freely and live fully.
Rheumatology is the medical specialty dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management of inflammatory and autoimmune conditions affecting the joints, muscles, and connective tissues. A rheumatologist is a physician who uses non-surgical methods, mainly medications, to manage these diseases.
Rheumatology treats over 100 complex conditions, including various forms of arthritis (like Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis), autoimmune diseases (like Lupus and Sjögren’s syndrome), gout, and inflammatory conditions of the blood vessels (vasculitis).
The main types include inflammatory arthropathies (like RA and Psoriatic Arthritis), systemic connective tissue diseases (like Lupus and Scleroderma), degenerative joint diseases (like Osteoarthritis), and metabolic joint diseases (like Gout).
You should see a rheumatologist if you have joint pain, stiffness, or swelling that is not related to an injury, especially if it involves multiple joints or is accompanied by systemic symptoms like fever, fatigue, or rash.
Rheumatology is a non-surgical medical specialty focused on treating diseases like arthritis and autoimmune disorders with medication. Orthopedic surgery is a surgical specialty focused on repairing injuries and performing joint replacements.
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