30/07/2019
What is Difference Between Rheumatology and Orthopedic?
That’s what people ask when I tell them about this specialty. Mostly people equate it with arthritis treating doctor.
Yes we do treat arthritis, both non inflammatory which is degenerative (old age wear and tear) and inflammatory such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and many of such illnesses.
However a major part of teaching center rheumatology that I have been practicing includes autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, mixed connective tissue disease, scleroderma, autoimmune myopathy such as polymyositis, dermatomyositis.
Vasuculitis: ANCA positive, cryoglobulinemic, henochs schonlein purpura, Takayasu disease and the dreaded Giant cell Arteritis which when not treated in timely fashion can leave someone blind.
Osteoporosis: brittle bones of post menopausal females which can make one a very high risk of fracture
And my favorite Fibromyalgia: chronic generalized aches and pains with sleeping issues, generalized fatigue and the depression and anxiety.
Please feel free to ask questions on any of the above.
Awareness in rheumatology is very important, so that your loved ones don’t sit back while their joints are destroyed irreparably or they just suffer silently in pain and anguish.
