Frequently Asked Questions About Rheumatology

Rheumatology is the study, diagnosis and treatment of degenerative, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases that affect your musculoskeletal system, commonly referred to as rheumatic disorders. Many of these conditions are lifelong, and they can run in families. Rheumatologists help patients manage chronic pain and stop harmful inflammation.

Rheumatologists treat more than 100 complex medical conditions, including autoimmune diseases that cause your immune system to attack your own tissues, connective tissue diseases that affect supporting structures throughout the body, and inflammatory disorders or infections that affect your muscles, joints or bones.

Common rheumatic conditions treated by rheumatologists include the following:

• Osteoarthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Lupus
• Gout
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
• Sjögren’s syndrome
• Fibromyalgia
• Rheumatic fever
• Sarcoidosis
• Scleroderma

Patients are typically referred to a rheumatologist by their primary care provider. However, if you are experiencing any of the following warning signs and symptoms, be proactive and ask for a referral.

• Persistent Joint Pain – Pain, warmth or swelling in multiple joints that lasts more than six weeks
• Prolonged Stiffness – Stiffness that lasts longer than 30 to 60 minutes after getting up in the morning
• Whole-Body Symptoms – Joint pain combines with unexplained fevers, extreme fatigue, muscle weakness or skin rashes
• Family History – Joint pain combined with a close family history of autoimmune diseases, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatic diseases are sometimes complex in nature and difficult to diagnose, which requires a thorough physical examination to look for visible signs of inflammation a detailed report of family history, and imaging tests. Laboratory tests and radiographic tests (CT scans, MRIs, X-rays, and ultrasounds) can further assess inflammation or musculoskeletal abnormalities.

Treating rheumatic conditions is complex, and rheumatologists use many different methods depending on your symptoms and how they respond. Treatments commonly include the following:

• Physical and occupational therapies to build strength, keep joints flexible, and learn easier ways to perform daily tasks with less stress
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to ease pain and swelling
• Corticosteroid pills or injections to knock down severe inflammation and suppress the immune system quickly
• Immunosuppressants or disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) to calm the overactive immune system and prevent long-term damage
• Advanced biologic therapies that block specific parts of the immune system

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Infusion therapy provides patients with medication intravenously (IV). It is a safe and effective alternative to oral medication for the treatment of a range of rheumatoid diseases and autoimmune disorders.

TPMG Rheumatology in Newport News, VA offers in-house infusion therapy, allowing patients to receive treatment in a comfortable, convenient and familiar setting.

Most chronic rheumatic disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, cannot be completely cured, but their symptoms can be managed, long-term joint or organ damage can be prevented, and some diseases can even be treated to a state of remission. While complete prevention is not always possible, conditions like rheumatic fever are entirely preventable with prompt antibiotic treatment of strep throat.