Rheumatic diseases can affect your joints tendons, ligaments, bones and muscles. Among them are a couple of different kinds of arthritis, a term used for conditions that affect your joints.
Sometimes they’re referred to as musculoskeletal diseases. Some of the most common symptoms include:
- joint pain
- loss of motion in joint/s
- inflammation — swelling, redness, and warmth in a joint or affected area
The medical field that studies these kinds of conditions is referred to as rheumatology. If your regular doctor thinks you have a rheumatic disease, he’ll probably send you to a rheumatologist — a doctor who’s specially trained to treat these disorders.
Your rheumatologist will examine you to diagnose your condition, then oversee a treatment plan for you that will more likely include medications, regular exercise, a healthy diet, stress management and rest.
