Rheumatology
Rheumatology is a specialty in internal medicine devoted to the diagnosis and therapy of rheumatic diseases which mainly involve clinical problems with joints, soft tissues, autoimmune diseases, vasculitis and heritable connective tissue disorders. Related conditions include:
What is a Rheumatologist?
Rheumatologists are physicians who begin their specialty training with three years of an internal medicine residency, followed by two years of subspecialty training in rheumatic diseases. This is a broad term that includes autoimmune conditions, or those associated with specific antibodies, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. It also includes some well-known inflammatory processes such as gout and arthritis associated with psoriasis.
In their training, rheumatologists also study more poorly understood conditions such as diffuse musculoskeletal pain and fibromyalgia.
Because of the frequent complexities of these problems, a rheumatologist will obtain a comprehensive history of the problem beyond the presenting symptoms to determine whether there is underlying inflammation.
Family history, diet, activity and sleep disturbances are all potential factors that may be relevant. Treatment is tailored to the individual and may change over time.
Appointments
For appointments, call 952-856-4000. Generally, patient wait time is less than two weeks. Same-day appointments can often be arranged for urgent cases.
