rheumatologist

rheumatologist /rheu·ma·tol·o·gist/ (roo″mah-tol´ah-jist) a specialist in rheumatology.

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rheu·ma·tol·o·gist (rm-tl-jst)

n.

A specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of rheumatic disorders.

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Rheumatologist

Physician specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis and related conditions.

Mentioned in: Knee Injuries

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rheumatologist

[ro̅o̅′mətol′ə′jist]

a specialist in the treatment of disorders of the connective tissue.

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rheumatologist

An internist with a subspecialty interest in chronic diseases of the joints, connective tissues, and muscles; rheumatologists may also manage vasculopathies Meat & potatoes diseases Arthritis, gout, SLE

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Patient discussion about rheumatologist.

Q. What kind of Doctor is a Rheumatologist? My GP referred me to a Rheumatologist. What is it? Should I be worried?

A. The Rheumatology specialty is devoted to the diagnosis and therapy of rheumatic diseases. Rheumatologists mainly deal with clinical problems involving joints, soft tissues and allied conditions of connective tissues.

Q. Does this mean a patient with fibromyalgia should see a neurologist rather than a rheumatologist? If fibromyalgia is not an autoimmune disease does this mean a patient with fibromyalgia should see a neurologist rather than a rheumatologist?

A. Fibromyalgia is not an autoimmune disease. It's a disease in which the brain and spinal cord over-interpret sensation. Rheumatologists are pain management experts, so it would make sense for them to see people with fibromyalgia. However, fibromyalgia is so common that my hope is that primary care providers will become the experts in fibromyalgia management.