rheumatologist

With a so-called Rheumatologist it is a specially trained specialist. As part of his work, a rheumatologist primarily treats chronic diseases that are based on an auto-immune disease.

What is a Rheumatologist?

The basic knowledge of the rheumatology are always conveyed as part of further training. In principle, the multi-year further training to become a rheumatologist builds on a successfully completed medical degree.

Following their license to practice medicine, the prospective specialists take part in a so-called specialist course. As part of the specialist medical degree, you specialize in a certain area. If a specialization in the field of internal medicine is considered, rheumatology can be taken up as a focus.

Similar to the basic medical course, the medical specialist course also ends with an examination. If you are interested, additional additional designations can be acquired. The area of ​​rheumatology is basically divided into the area of ​​internal rheumatology and the area of ​​orthopedic rheumatology.

Treatments

A rheumatologist has specialized in the treatment of rheumatic diseases as part of his training. In principle, the field of rheumatology comprises more than four hundred different diseases.

It is not uncommon for rheumatic diseases to lead to severe pain in the muscles and bones. Often individual tendons or joints are also affected. The diseases of the musculoskeletal system include the so-called [[arthrosis [[and osteoporosis. Osteoporosis in particular leads to an increased incidence of bone fractures.

Women are primarily affected by osteoporosis. Numerous expert rheumatologists attribute osteoporosis to a severe lack of estrogen. Like gout, osteoporosis is one of the rheumatic metabolic disorders. However, gout not infrequently leads to a build-up of extremely harmful uric acid in the joints and under the skin. For an experienced rheumatologist, the main priority is to relieve acute symptoms. This is the only way to restore the affected person's ability to move as well as possible. The patients of a rheumatologist include older people as well as young children.

Diagnosis & examination methods

In principle, a rheumatic disease is relatively difficult to diagnose. In the context of an initial survey, the respective symptoms are specified as precisely as possible. For this purpose, the rheumatologist ask the person concerned a few questions.

Among other things, it is important for the rheumatologist to know exactly when the patient is suffering from the symptoms. Often the complaints only occur in the context of a heavy load. During the first interview, it will also be clarified which medication the person concerned is taking. Numerous competent experts attribute individual rheumatic diseases to the different ingredients in the medication.

Following the questioning of the person affected, the rheumatologist examines the painful areas. For better diagnosis, blood is also taken from the person concerned. The blood is evaluated in a laboratory. If there is a rheumatic disease, the so-called rheumatoid factor is significantly increased.

The rheumatoid factor is a special inflammation value. Imaging methods such as x-rays or computed tomography are used to make a reliable initial diagnosis.

What should the patient pay attention to?

The best possible therapy is essential so that those affected are restricted as little as possible in their everyday life.

However, this therapy can only be carried out by a qualified specialist. So those affected have to choose between an internal medicine Rheumatologist as well as an orthopedic rheumatologist. Often, however, a corresponding recommendation is given by the family doctor. In addition to the professional level, however, the personal level also plays an important role in relation to the choice of a suitable doctor.

For example, extensive communication between the doctor and the patient requires a relatively good relationship. It is often extremely helpful to ask friends or family about experience. Those affected can also obtain detailed information on practicing rheumatologists in their own area from the respective health insurance companies or in the online directory of the German Medical Association.