To receive timely medical care, it is important to familiarize yourself with the characteristics of a disease such as arthritis.
Before going to the hospital, it is advisable to find out which doctor treats arthritis. Every year thousands of people experience this disease.
Arthritis is an inflammatory process that occurs in acute or chronic form in the joints. Both one and several joints are affected by inflammation. Types of arthritis – secondary and primary. Given the different symptoms and course of the disease, you need to contact different doctors.
To find out which doctor treats arthritis, you need to understand the primary and secondary inflammatory process.
The clinical picture of rheumatoid arthritis is as follows: swelling appears in the joints, local hyperthermia and pain develop. After a short period of time, morning stiffness appears, which lasts about thirty minutes.
Stiffness has characteristic features - there is no ability to make full movements. For example, if you make a fist or try to clench your palms so that there is no distance, the patient will not succeed.
Many patients note this condition with the association of a tight corset or very tight gloves.
The danger of rheumatoid arthritis is the following consequences:
If primary symptoms of the disease are detected, it is important to immediately contact the clinic to begin timely treatment.
As for juvenile arthritis, it most often appears in children and adolescents under the age of sixteen. The main affected area is the child’s ankle, knee and elbow joints. Signs of juvenile arthritis:
The consequences of the disease are very serious and fraught, since the correct formation of the child’s skeleton is disrupted and growth problems arise.
If symptoms are detected, it is important to urgently consult with your doctor to avoid dire consequences.
Spondylitis is an inflammatory process that occurs in the spinal column. Characteristic symptoms and signs of the disease:
With spondylitis, some complications arise associated with irreversible deformation and destruction of the vertebrae, as well as the spinal column, which entails many dangerous problems and diseases.
Idiopathic gout differs from other types of arthritis in that salts are deposited in the joints, forming tophi around it. Most often, the disease affects the toes, namely the big toes.
The development of symptoms is lightning fast, painful and sudden. The clinical picture is as follows: swelling of the joint appears, redness of the skin, development of severe painful sensations that do not go away, but intensify.
As for osteoarthritis, it causes severe damage to the tissue and cartilage that covers and protects the joints. The clinical picture develops rapidly: the occurrence of aching pain, stiffness in movement, swelling.
If you do not visit a doctor in time and start treatment, the consequences will be catastrophic. Irreversible processes appear - deformation of the joint and the entire muscle-tendon complex, and then paralysis
The appearance of secondary arthritis occurs in parallel with other diseases. Most often found:
So, the symptoms of inflammatory processes in the joints (limited mobility, pain and swelling) are reinforced by the signs of a specific listed ailment. For example, if a patient has arthritis and lupus erythematosus, then a butterfly-shaped rash appears on the face.
In the presence of psoriasis, a numerous rash forms, in the form of specific plaques.
If the first symptoms of arthritis occur, which doctor should you consult? It is best if the patient is examined by an arthrologist. This is a specialist who carries out high-quality diagnostics and then carries out treatment and prevention of the inflammatory process.
If there is a suspicion of lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis, then the help of a rheumatologist will be needed.
It is important to note that the specializations listed are very narrow! Therefore, such doctors do not work in every hospital. If it is not possible to consult with such a doctor, you can visit a therapist or pediatrician (for the child).
When the disease is primary in nature, the doctor independently treats the patient. As for juvenile and rheumatoid arthritis, a mandatory examination by an immunologist is required, since the cause of the disease is a kind of autoimmune reaction.
Gout requires examination by a nephrologist because it develops due to incomplete elimination of uric acid. It is important to check your kidneys and take appropriate tests. In addition to the nephrologist, a nutritionist is involved in the treatment process.
This is due to the fact that gout can occur with the abuse of tea, coffee and chocolate, and protein foods.
If you have spondylitis, you need to consult a vertebrologist and orthopedist. A vertebrologist is a specialist who treats the spinal column and its pathologies. For secondary arthritis, you can consult a dermatologist.
In any case, arthritis is a dangerous inflammatory process in the joints that requires timely treatment, which you can learn more about from the video in this article. Do not self-medicate!
Arthritis is a group of inflammatory diseases of the joints, which is characterized by periods of acute inflammation and subsidence of symptoms. The pathology is one of the most common in the world and has various types and forms of clinical manifestations. Before you understand which doctor treats arthritis, you need to know the main symptoms and causes of the disease. Arthropathy has no age restrictions and affects both older people and middle-aged and adolescent people. In modern medicine, the issue of prognosis and prevention of this serious illness has still not been resolved; doctors and scientists are looking for ways to treat the disease.
The main cause of occurrence is a violation of trophism in bone and cartilage tissues. Pathology can also occur for a number of other reasons:
In order to determine which doctor treats arthritis, you need to know the main clinical manifestations of the disease. Arthritis is a general concept that unites various types of diseases (psoriatic, rheumatoid, gouty, juvenile and other forms). Basically, all of the listed pathologies begin with similar symptoms. However, each form of arthritis has its own clinical features, diagnosis and treatment.
Let's consider the general articular and extra-articular symptoms of arthritis, which are characteristic of each form of pathology:
General (extra-articular) signs of the disease:
Arthritis causes various clinical manifestations, so the question arises: which doctor should you contact first and where to start examination and treatment? First of all, you need to consult a general practitioner at a clinic at your place of residence or at a private center. The doctor will conduct a physical examination of the main systems and organs, as well as differential diagnosis of articular pathology with an illness of a different nature. Then the general practitioner will give a referral to specialists, depending on the severity and stage of the disease, or prescribe treatment.
A general practitioner is a multidisciplinary specialist who treats diseases of the cardiovascular, respiratory, excretory and other systems. The doctor will examine the affected and healthy joints. During the conversation and writing a medical history, the doctor asks about chronic and hereditary diseases, allergic history, injuries and operations. At the appointment, the doctor will interview the patient about rheumatological disease. The specialist will ask about the time of onset of pain, stiffness, presence of crunching and swelling. In addition, he will prescribe the necessary research methods (blood and urine tests, ultrasound diagnostics and radiography of joints). At the end of the examination, a referral with a preliminary diagnosis to a specific specialist (rheumatologist, orthopedist, etc.) is issued. The therapist will also explain which doctor treats arthritis in a particular case, based on the clinic and the severity of the process.
After visiting a therapist, the patient is referred to specialists. Let's take a closer look at which doctors treat arthritis and other joint diseases?
What other doctors are involved in the treatment of arthritis? These include physical therapy doctors, massage therapists, and physiotherapists. They also play an important role in treating illness, relieving pain and reducing inflammation in the joint. After surgery on the knee or hip joints, they will help you adapt to new living conditions.
Diagnosis of arthritis includes physical examinations by specialists, consultations with specialist doctors (cardiologist, neurologist, etc.), laboratory and other research methods. Diagnostics consists of several parts:
General blood and urine analysis, biochemical blood test with mandatory examination of rheumatological samples. In moderate and severe forms of the disease, joint fluid is collected with preliminary puncture of the affected joint.
X-ray examination of bones and joints in 2 projections (direct and lateral) will help determine the stage and advanced stage of the process. Magnetic resonance imaging is a more accurate examination method, which is carried out to clarify the location, stage of the disease, as well as additional inclusions and lesions (erosions, growths, etc.). Ultrasound examination allows you to assess the extent of damage to the joint, the presence of fluid and the inflammatory process.
After diagnosis, the doctor who treats arthropathy prescribes etiotropic, symptomatic therapy and additional treatment.
There are general groups of drugs prescribed for all types of arthritis:
Joint pathology is treated not only with medications, but also with physical impact on the affected limb, thereby relieving pain and reducing inflammation. Improves mobility in the bone joint. Additional treatment methods include: physiotherapy (electrophoresis, magnetic therapy, laser therapy, UHF, etc.), therapeutic exercise, swimming. An important role in treatment is played by adherence to the basics of dietary nutrition (refusal of fried, salty, smoked and other unhealthy foods). It is necessary to eliminate bad habits (alcohol abuse, smoking). You should prevent ARVI and take vitamin complexes during the period of vitamin deficiency (autumn, spring).
Joint diseases are often diagnosed at a doctor's appointment. Arthritis and arthrosis cause pain in the limbs and limitation of movements; if chronic, they can lead to disability. Timely seeking medical help prevents the formation of irreversible changes in the musculoskeletal system. To undergo diagnosis and begin therapy, you need to know which doctor treats arthritis and arthrosis.
Arthritis and arthrosis are diseases that affect large and small joints. They differ from each other by reason of occurrence, nature of the course, prognosis, and treatment tactics. The correct diagnosis can be made by a specialist after examination and additional examination of the patient.
Inflammatory joint damage is commonly called arthritis. The pathological process usually involves not only the joint, but also the surrounding soft tissues (ligaments, muscle tendons, skin). The disease occurs at any age and can develop in children and the elderly. Arthritis is usually diagnosed in young patients aged 18-40 years.
Important! Advanced forms of arthritis can transform into arthrosis and lead to persistent limitation of movement in the joint.
Systemic diseases make up a large group of arthritis, which are characterized by a chronic relapsing course, require long-term treatment, and often lead to disability. Autoimmune joint damage includes:
Arthritis is characterized by an inflammatory reaction of the joint and surrounding soft tissues:
Arthritis of the fingers and toes, arthritis of the knee joint, damage to the spine and pelvic bones are more often diagnosed. Systemic diseases are characterized by damage not only to the musculoskeletal system, but also to visceral organs (kidneys, heart, liver), and the organ of vision.
Degenerative-dystrophic joint damage is called arthrosis. The disease occurs due to disruption of metabolic processes in the body. Arthrosis is more common in older people, which is associated with age-related withering of tissues and organs. In recent decades, doctors have noted that age-related changes in the body begin in young people under 40 years of age - the disease “gets younger” due to poor diet and lifestyle. With arthrosis, the synthesis of synovial fluid is disrupted, and the nutrition of the cartilage and other components of the joint deteriorates. This leads to the destruction of the cartilage layer, the articular surfaces of the bones and impaired movement in the affected joint.
Clinical signs of the disease:
Interesting! According to statistics, in 80% of cases, arthrosis is diagnosed in obese people leading a sedentary lifestyle. A healthy diet and regular exercise effectively prevent the development of the disease.
With arthrosis, large joints are most often affected - the knee, elbow, hip joints.
The initial visit of patients to a doctor in most cases is associated with intense pain or discomfort when moving. You must make an appointment with a doctor immediately after the occurrence of alarming symptoms. If the disease occurs for the first time, it is recommended to consult a general practitioner - a local therapist. The specialist will collect complaints at the time of admission, find out the history of the disease, examine the joints, and prescribe additional diagnostic methods. After the examination, the therapist determines a preliminary diagnosis and, if necessary, will give recommendations on which doctor to contact at the next stage. The doctor writes out a referral for consultation with a specialist - a rheumatologist or orthopedic traumatologist, depending on the specifics of the disease.
If you have newly diagnosed arthrosis and arthritis, which doctor is needed? Conservative treatment of joint pathology is carried out by a rheumatologist. This is a specialized medical specialist who works in large city hospitals, regional treatment centers, and private clinics. In some district clinics, the doctor provides consultations on certain days. When visiting a rheumatologist, you must have a referral from your attending physician, an outpatient card, results of laboratory tests and instrumental studies (in case of preliminary diagnosis).
The doctor conducts a survey of the patient about complaints at the time of treatment. Finds out the history of the disease: when the first symptoms appeared, what the patient associates the disease with, how the pathology developed, what treatment was carried out. After the interview, the specialist examines the affected and healthy joints, determines the degree of joint mobility, and evaluates pain at rest and during movement. Listens to heart sounds and breathing, palpates the abdomen, assesses the condition of the mucous membranes of the mouth and pharynx.
After the examination, the rheumatologist determines the list of necessary diagnostic examinations:
Based on the examination, the specialist determines the final diagnosis of the disease or prescribes additional diagnostic methods. After making a diagnosis, the rheumatologist prepares a course of adequate therapy on an outpatient basis or gives a referral for hospitalization in a specialized hospital.
If you have advanced arthrosis or arthritis, which doctor should you schedule a consultation with? An orthopedic traumatologist deals with surgical treatment of diseases and provides orthopedic care for persistent dysfunction of joints. Surgical intervention is indicated for patients with purulent infectious arthritis, grade 3 arthrosis, irreversible anatomical and functional changes in the joints due to systemic diseases (rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis). Orthopedic care consists of selecting special shoes and devices to facilitate movement, prevent the progression of pathology, and eliminate discomfort.
Attention! Orthopedic devices are necessary to unload a diseased joint and contribute to effective rehabilitation after injuries and surgical interventions. Following your doctor's recommendations gives you a chance of recovery.
When contacting an orthopedic traumatologist, you must be prepared to undergo the necessary list of examinations and a long course of rehabilitation therapy. At the appointment, the doctor examines the patient’s medical record, gets acquainted with the results of the examination and treatment. Collects the patient's complaints, examines the affected joint, and assesses the degree of mobility in the joint. If necessary, the specialist prescribes additional diagnostic methods. Determines therapeutic tactics, gives referrals for consultation to other specialists, prepares the patient for surgery.
Treatment of joint diseases includes conservative therapy, surgery, and orthopedic care.
Conservative therapy includes:
Orthopedic care consists of wearing orthopedic shoes, insoles, knee braces, and orthoses.
Surgical therapy is carried out in 2 ways:
After surgery, a long course of rehabilitation is carried out, which helps restore mobility in the joint, normalize local blood circulation and metabolism.
If joint diseases occur, it is necessary not only to know which doctor to contact, but also to schedule a consultation with a specialist in a timely manner. Early diagnosis and therapy reduces the risk of complications, disease progression, and persistent irreversible changes leading to disability.
Various diseases await us on every path. Either we catch some virus, then inflammation develops. We know how to cope with some diseases, but others require urgent medical intervention to relieve pain and not start the inflammatory process. Sometimes visits to several specialists are required. But what about joint pain?
The causes of joint pain can be a virus, inflammatory processes, immunological problems, metabolic disorders, lack of vitamins, injuries and some other reasons. Joint disease is common among people of various ages and professions. It can be difficult to explain to a patient which doctor treats joints, because everything depends on the diagnosis and stage of the disease.
Arthritis is the general name for inflammatory joint diseases. The most common is degenerative osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis, which occurs due to inflammation caused by bacteria and viruses, is also common.
When your joints hurt, you ask questions about which doctor treats your joints, who to make an appointment with: a therapist or immediately look for a specialist. Such diseases are treated by an arthrologist. However, in our country there are few such specialists. And if such a specialist works in a clinic, then make an appointment with him a month or two in advance. Therefore, if the question arises about which doctor treats joints, the right decision would be to contact a therapist.
The therapist, after carefully listening to the symptoms, will either prescribe an additional examination or refer you to an orthopedist, rheumatologist, or surgeon. You may need to consult other doctors: a neurologist, a virologist, a traumatologist, an osteopath, for example.
At the initial stage of the disease, it is advisable to consult a rheumatologist, check for the presence of rheumatism, and take rheumatism tests. If the disease has taken hold of the joints and the disease is advanced, then you need to go to the surgeon. This disease is characterized by prolonged, persistent pain that bothers you even at rest. It happens that the limb is difficult to bend. After examination and diagnosis of a specific disease, surgery may be necessary. The sooner you seek medical help, the better, of course!
The early stage of the disease is characterized by joint fatigue, mild and fleeting pain. This is the first stage. If such symptoms are observed, then you need a joint doctor - a rheumatologist. After examination, diagnosis, rheumatic tests and x-rays, the doctor will prescribe treatment and necessary procedures. Why is it important to seek advice from this specialist? A rheumatologist deals with joint diseases of a viral nature. To understand what exactly causes joint pain, you need to confirm or deny the presence of the virus in the body.
If there is prolonged pain, fatigue, a feeling of pressure in the joint, difficulty in straightening the joints, this is the second stage. An orthopedic doctor will be able to diagnose such arthrosis and prescribe appropriate treatment: physical therapy, massage, appropriate medications and ointments. Also, joint pain can occur not only due to arthrosis, arthritis and gout, it can also be a bruise or dislocation. In this case, the specialized doctor will be an orthopedist-traumatologist.
Not every person with joint pain will consult a neurologist. But it is this specialist who will help determine the true cause of long-term joint pain. If neurological problems are present, a neurologist will be able to help, diagnose and treat joint disease. The cause of pain in this case may be pinching in the spine or inflammation of the nerve. These problems can occur due to hypothermia, as well as improper sudden movement. After accidents, as a result of fractures, nerve endings can be pinched. Also, if the muscles that hold the spine are weak, an overweight person may have problems with the location and functioning of the vertebrae, which have their own response in the joints.
If you have problems with metabolism, an endocrinologist will be able to help, diagnose and treat arthritis of the joints. In this case, additional hormone tests will be needed. Many people know that most diseases occur due to poor nutrition and stress. So it is with joint diseases - frequent consumption of dairy products with a lack of other microelements in the body leads to the deposition of calcium in the joints in the form of salts. As a result, they lose their elasticity and various diseases appear.
Improper metabolism threatens joint dysfunction. Acidic, refined foods are unacceptable food for the elasticity of tissues and cartilage. When eating berries, fruits, and raw vegetables, the work of the joints is not hampered in any way - they remain elastic and healthy. To prevent diseases of this kind, it is important to lead a healthy, active lifestyle and eat right. For joint pain, consultation with an endocrinologist is necessary, as he can help prevent metabolic disorders in the body.
In modern times, a disease such as arthrosis occurs in fairly young people (around 20-25 years old). Experts blame poor ecology and an inappropriate lifestyle for the increased development of the disease.
A large number of people do not attach any importance to the primary symptoms that directly indicate the onset of the disease - arthrosis, and accordingly do not even think about visiting and examining a doctor. This is a big omission, because such a disease, without treatment, can lead to loss of ability to work, and if completely neglected, to a wheelchair.
But sometimes the reason to go to the doctor is not a person’s laziness, but a simple lack of information about which doctor treats joints. Treatment of joints is carried out by specialists of several categories; in each specific situation of the development of the disease, a doctor is required who deals with a specific problem.
Immediate consultation with a doctor requires the presence of certain symptoms:
Discomfort in the joint area, gradually turning into constant, quite severe pain. Feeling of sharp attacks of pain, with the inability to move the affected parts of the body. Swelling and redness of the skin, as well as crunching in the joints: legs, arms or fingers. Changing shape.
Causes of joint pain:
Inflammatory processes in the body; Infection through open wounds near the joint; Injuries; Metabolic disease.
Joint diseases have two types of development:
Degenerative-dystrophic - in this case, the active nutrition of cartilage tissue is disrupted. Inflammatory - when serious inflammatory processes develop, including synovial membranes, cartilage, and ligaments.
It is based on the etiology and mechanism of the lesion that determine which doctor should be consulted.
A general practitioner who works exclusively with the initial stages of diseases against the background of viral infections. If you notice mild pain and increased fatigue of the joints due to stress, you should consult a rheumatologist. The specialist will prescribe all the necessary studies after he finds out the causes of pain in the joints of the arms and legs:
Ultrasound; X-ray; Rheumatic tests.
Determines the presence or absence of viruses in the body. After carrying out all diagnostic measures, the doctor will make an accurate diagnosis and give recommendations for further treatment. Treatment by a rheumatologist is only conservative, using intra-articular injections, physiotherapy, massage or exercise therapy. In more complicated stages of the disease, he will be able to refer you to the right specialist.
When treatment with conservative methods does not bring results or the disease takes on a more complex form, then you should seek the help of an orthopedic traumatologist. The doctor deals with surgical methods to restore joint function. The main symptoms to contact this specialist:
Complete or partial destruction of the joint. Deformation up to complete loss of motor ability. Painful sensations are constantly present, even at night.
An orthopedic traumatologist performs several types of surgical interventions:
Organ-preserving operations (joint resection, arthroplasty, arthrodesis) - this type of intervention helps eliminate pain, restore natural functions, while preserving as much of the patient’s own tissue as possible; Endoprosthetics - this type of operation is performed for the most severe forms of arthrosis, with complete destruction of the joint. A complete replacement of the joint with a prosthesis occurs to ensure full motor activity.
Most often, prosthetics are performed on the knee and hip joints, restoring normal life, avoiding the risk of disability.
Naturally, few people with joint pain consult a neurologist, but the role of this specialist is quite large in the treatment of pain, including pain in the joints of the arms, legs and fingers. There is a possibility of neurological causes for the development of the disease - a pinched nerve by the spine or an inflammatory process of the nerve ending; it is with such lesions that a neurologist will help fight.
A doctor of this profile can help with arthritis associated with metabolic disorders. After all, everyone knows that many diseases appear due to stress and poor nutrition. Due to impaired metabolism, there is an active accumulation of salts on the joints, which quickly lose elasticity and are at risk of impaired functionality. An endocrinologist will help restore metabolic processes in the body and prevent the development of arthritis.
To determine which doctor treats spinal joints, you need to know some features.
Osteochondrosis is a pathological change in the spine. The development of the disease has two factors:
The bone and cartilage tissues of the vertebrae change. Inflammation and pinching of the spinal roots.
Therefore, doctors of two specialties treat this disease:
Orthopedist – prescribes treatment to restore the elasticity of intervertebral discs, and also carries out therapy for osteoporosis of bone tissue; Neurologist – treats osteochondrosis, which is caused by pinched spinal roots. Determines the exact location of the disease.
When spinal lesions require surgical interventions, this task falls on the shoulders of neurosurgeons.
From the above, it becomes clear which doctor treats joints.
Some joint diseases, their types, symptoms and which doctor treats:
Bursitis is inflammation of the joint sac, followed by fluid accumulation. Bursitis is accompanied by severe pain, swelling and redness of the inflamed area. The most common types of bursitis are the knee and elbow joints. If you have bursitis, you should first consult a rheumatologist or orthopedic doctor; Baker's cyst of the knee joint is a watery formation, the cyst is localized only under the kneecap. The disease was discovered by Dr. W. Baker and named after him. A Baker's cyst is accompanied by pain in the knee area and swelling. Becker cysts are treated by a traumatologist and orthopedist. In some cases, internists and rheumatologists can diagnose this disease; Synovitis is an inflammation process localized inside the synovium of the knee or elbow. It manifests itself as severe swelling, rarely painful. Synovitis most often affects the elbow and knee joints. Basically, the person is referred to a surgeon, but in some cases the victim immediately goes to see a traumatologist; Gonarthrosis of the knee joints is the complete decomposition of the cartilage tissue of the joints of a non-inflammatory nature. Gonarthrosis is accompanied by pain in the knee when walking. The patient can be referred to an orthopedic traumatologist, rheumatologist, and in milder cases of arthrosis - even to a therapist.
At the slightest suspicion of the presence of these diseases, you urgently need to seek help from a professional specialist!
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Which doctor should I contact for joint problems? Other specialist doctors involved in treatment How to choose a good doctor and clinic? Resumes by specialists
Answer the question “which doctor treats joints?” it is both simple and complex at the same time. It’s simple - because there are not many such doctors, but it’s difficult, because each of them deals only with a specific type of joint pathology, and to determine “your” specialist, you must first carry out a differential diagnosis.
Often several specialists are involved in treatment at the same time. For example, psoriatic arthritis is treated by a rheumatologist together with a dermatologist, and may also require consultation with an orthopedist or arthrologist. At the diagnostic stage, in order to establish the type and cause of joint damage, consultations with several doctors are often necessary.
The table below contains a list of specialists and the diseases they treat:
(if the table is not completely visible, scroll to the right)
Later in the article I will tell you which doctor you should contact first, I will describe in more detail what each of the highly specialized doctors does, who is better to contact and why, as well as how to choose a good doctor.
Before you figure out which doctor treats joints, you need to know the root cause and mechanism of development of joint damage in a particular case. It is these two indicators that determine the profile of the doctor who will treat joint disease in your case.
The main joint diseases are arthritis and arthrosis. Arthritis is an inflammatory lesion of the elements of the joint: cartilage, ligaments, synovial membrane and fluid. Based on the causes, there are a large number of types of arthritis, each of which is treated by doctors of narrow specializations.
Arthrosis develops as a result of malnutrition of cartilage tissue, its thinning, flattening, and micro-tears. Without treatment, the disease leads to joint destruction.
If the patient comes in too late that only surgery can help him, it is necessary to consult an orthopedist to choose treatment tactics.
A rheumatologist is a specialist who deals with the conservative treatment of inflammatory and degenerative diseases of the joints. It is this doctor who treats the most common types of primary arthritis and arthrosis, as well as systemic autoimmune diseases that manifest themselves as inflammation of the joints.
He is also competent to conduct diagnostics, which includes laboratory and instrumental studies:
various blood tests (biochemical, serological, enzyme immunoassay, etc.); bacteriological and (or) microscopic examination of synovial fluid; biopsy of the articular membrane and its examination; X-ray diagnostics; arthroscopy.
At the first signs of joint problems, you should definitely consult a rheumatologist.
Arthroscopy of the knee joint is performed by a rheumatologist
This is a surgical doctor who deals exclusively with pathologies of joints and periarticular tissues. Getting an appointment with an arthrologist is quite problematic, because he works in highly specialized medical clinics in large cities, and you rarely see him in a regular clinic.
The competence of an arthrologist includes diagnosis and surgical elimination of the consequences of inflammation and destruction of articular structures.
A specialist in the surgical treatment of traumatic injuries and destruction of the musculoskeletal system is called an orthopedic traumatologist. It is the last hope in case of an advanced pathological process in the joints - in the last stages of arthrosis or arthritis with irreversible deformation and a pronounced degree of destruction of the joints, significant limitation in movement.
Orthopedists practice surgical treatment methods. The table shows the types of surgical interventions they perform:
The photo shows total knee replacement. This complex surgical intervention is performed by an orthopedic traumatologist.
If pain in one or more joints bothers you for more than a week, you should not ignore the pain so as not to trigger the disease; you need to visit your local physician.
He will conduct an initial examination: x-rays and blood tests for inflammation, as well as a rheumatic test (a blood test that helps diagnose rheumatic and autoimmune diseases). Based on the results obtained, the therapist will make a presumptive diagnosis and write a referral to a rheumatologist or other specialist.
Often in small towns there are no doctors with a narrow specialization. In this case, you should contact a therapist, he will prescribe treatment for inflammation or, if necessary, refer you to a regional hospital where the necessary specialist is available.
If inflammation in the joint is caused by a pathogenic microbe, virus or parasite, then secondary arthritis develops against the background of the underlying disease. For example, with brucellosis, an infectious disease specialist eliminates the root cause - intracellular parasites of the genus Brucella - i.e. treats the underlying disease. Similarly, syphilitic and gonorrheal arthritis are treated by a venereologist, tuberculosis - by a phthisiatrician.
Conservative therapy and the postoperative rehabilitation period include various physical procedures, manual therapy, massage, and exercise therapy. Which doctor treats joints in this case? The following are involved in the treatment process:
physiotherapist, physiotherapist, chiropractor, massage therapist, rehabilitation specialist.
When choosing a specialist and medical institution, be guided by the following five criteria:
qualification category of a doctor: the higher it is, the more knowledge and experience this doctor has;
the presence of highly specialized specialists in the clinic, with whom, if necessary, you can consult;
availability of extensive capabilities in terms of equipment and the use of modern treatment methods;
oddly enough, the presence of a queue to see a certain doctor means that many patients trust him with their health;
reviews about the doctor from other patients who have already been treated by him.
Many people face such a problem as arthrosis. Recently, this disease has become very “younger”; if a couple of decades ago osteoarthritis was the prerogative of older people, today the symptoms of this disease can be found in twenty-year-old patients. Doctors attribute the increase in the disease to modern lifestyles and unfavorable environmental conditions.
Unfortunately, many people who suffer from joint arthrosis, in the initial stages of the disease, do not pay any attention to the symptoms, do not attach a significant role to them and, accordingly, do not rush to see a doctor. This is a very big mistake, which in the future will lead to loss of ability to work, and sometimes to disability, since osteoarthritis is a progressive disease that is not capable of spontaneous regression.
Modern and timely methods for diagnosing arthrosis and complex conservative treatment will help the patient avoid surgical intervention and preserve the function of the affected joints.
Often people do not seek medical help because they do not know which doctor treats arthrosis and where to start their examination: visit a local doctor, or immediately contact a specialist?
Osteoarthritis is a chronic, progressive, degenerative-dystrophic disease of the joints, the main symptoms of which are pain and dysfunction of the joint. Arthrosis is an inevitable stage of aging of the body, like age-related skin changes and gray hair. But there are predisposing factors of the disease that lead to premature joint damage.
Risk factors for developing arthrosis:
When the first symptoms of the disease appear, you should consult a rheumatologist. A rheumatologist is a therapeutic doctor who deals with inflammatory and degenerative diseases of the joints and connective tissue.
A rheumatologist will make an accurate diagnosis, examine you, and determine which joints are affected. He will prescribe laboratory and instrumental diagnostic methods, for example, radiography, ultrasound of the affected joints, MRI, CT, densitometry, etc. With the help of a complete examination, the specialist will be able to answer the main question, what stage of osteoarthritis the patient has and what kind of treatment he needs.
In his practice, a rheumatologist uses only conservative treatment methods; he treats arthrosis of the joints with medications, ointments, injections (intravenous, intramuscular and intra-articular).
Intra-articular injections for arthrosis effectively eliminate inflammation and pain
The therapeutic complex prescribed by a rheumatologist often includes procedures that are beyond the scope of the doctor’s competence. Thus, specialists from other fields of medicine can also be involved in the treatment process:
In some highly specialized medical centers, arthrosis is treated by an arthrologist. This is a surgical doctor who deals exclusively with joint problems. But such a specialist is not found everywhere, and getting an appointment with him is sometimes very difficult.
If treatment is not started on time or pathological processes in the joints progress despite the entire range of therapeutic measures, when any movements in the joints cause unbearable pain or the limb loses its function due to contractures and deformities, then only an orthopedic surgeon can help.
An orthopedist is someone who treats arthrosis in an advanced stage, when conservative methods of therapy are not enough. The doctor performs 2 types of operations:
Often, only endoprosthetics can restore function to damaged joints
The following symptoms of arthrosis should alert you and force you to see a doctor for medical help:
Osteoarthritis is a disease that progresses steadily without treatment. Therefore, at the first signs of damage to the joints, consult a doctor, and which specialist you choose is not so important, the main thing is to start.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW! The only remedy for JOINT PAIN, arthritis, arthrosis, osteochondrosis and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system, recommended by doctors! Read more.
Arthritis is the collective name for joint joints, for which diseases are more characteristic, and not degenerative, as in joints, processes. By definition, the treatment of inflammatory joints should be dealt with. But not all small towns have doctors of this specialty. Arthritis, due to the large degenerative types of arthritis, for successful therapy can be determined by consulting various specialists. Therefore, the final answer to the extent to which a doctor treats depends on the type of disease.
If the cause of the disease is arthrosis, a visit to a traumatologist is required; in the case of rheumatoid arthritis (it must be an autoimmune disease), an immunologist is required. The leading doctors in the treatment of patients with a diagnosis of gouty arthritis will be a rheumatologist, an endocrinologist and processes, since the disease is associated with metabolic joints and also deal with nutritional correction.
In the event of any unpleasant symptoms, a person usually turns to an arthrologist, a therapist, who conducts a small examination, directs the patient to the number and, if necessary, to specialized specialists.
To diagnose arthritis in cities, doctors and blood tests, x-rays, ultrasound and such joint tests are prescribed. Based on the results of the consultation, a diagnosis is already made.
In addition, in the treatment of any arthritis of the joints, especially during the period of specialists, the help of an orthopedist and final (physical therapy instructor) is required.
There are many types of medical care for patients based on the principle of succession of specialists. Depending on the nature of the pathological success, the patient first turns to a general practitioner - a general practitioner, a family doctor, who refers the initial examination to a specialist. This can take a significant amount of different things, since it is necessary to make an appointment with a general practitioner, his family doctor, then wait in line, undergo minimal examinations and only then ask for a referral.
It depends on the private medical institution for which joint pathology it is necessary to reduce the time and begin treatment of the disease. Knowing that a doctor treats arthrosis, treats it makes it possible to reduce arthritis for the patient, so if he turns directly to the right person, bypassing related specialists.
Arthrosis to a traumatologist to degenerative-dystrophic diseases, with trauma their trophism (nutrition) is disrupted with rheumatoid destruction of articular cartilage, autoimmune. This pathology affects large joints in arthritis, most often the disease has several types:
Doctors symptoms of arthrosis is arthritis to contact the appropriate can. In large multidisciplinary clinics, a rheumatologist deals with joint diseases. If it is not there, then you should contact an orthopedist. An endocrinologist and a family doctor can treat the initial stages of the disease as a nutritionist, but for the best it is worth consulting with a doctor.
In violation of the health care law, the patient sharing the right to choose the appropriate one also. The choice of a specialist and substances for treatment must take into account the following recommendations:
Patient diagnosis and timely initiation of treatment by specialists are the key to diagnosing the result of arthrosis therapy. Assigned, it is necessary to navigate the symptoms of the pathology and the specialists (joint doctor or orthopedist) who will treat it.
IMPORTANT! Tests using folk remedies are allowed, but only in the urine of a lull in the disease.
It is not difficult to completely restore JOINTS! The most important thing is to rub this into the sore spot 2-3 times a day.
When treating arthritis, non-steroidal drugs, antibiotics, and physiotherapist results. Anti-inflammatory drugs relieve inflammation, reduce swelling and pain. If necessary, the inflamed area is diagnosed, and antibiotics and steroid treatment (Dexamethasone, Kenalog) are also administered into the joint. The affected tissue is restored with any chondroprotectors. Arthritis of the foot and hand diseases can be successfully treated with joints, gels, creams with anti-inflammatory and rehabilitation effects.
In advanced cases, especially surgical intervention with replacement of the joint using artificial materials. Ultrasound, if knee arthritis requires replantation or restorative assistance, the orthopedic surgeon will help restore the patient and prevent further development of the instructor.
IMPORTANT! During treatment for sustavzdorov it is necessary to reduce the load on which joints: long periods of treatment and heavy lifting are excluded.
Drug treatment is carried out in combination with physiotherapy and MRI.
Physiotherapeutic procedures include:
IMPORTANT! All activities are modern in the process of remission. For medical foot exercises, arthrosis is performed in a lying position.
Treatment of arthritis in patients' knees and feet never occurs with assistive orthopedic devices and the patient. An ordinary cane, a knee pad, or initially a bandage will help reduce the inflamed area and reduce the sensation.
A special energy-absorbing profile must be on a hard physical therapy convex sole.
The nature aspect of treating arthritis specialists is proper nutrition. The addiction nutritionist will draw up the correct daily routine, which will include the doctor, fruits, cereals, cooked on or off, as well as rich foods. It is better for a specialist to avoid eating fatty, salty meats and offal.
With traditional treatments, the use of folk therapists is widely allowed. At home, use warming applications with a solution of iodized salt, using herbal decoctions.
AFTER! In the acute phase of the primary, warm compresses are strictly applied directly.
Carrying out a comprehensive examination, a pathological correct diagnosis will help direct which doctor treats the specialist and arthrosis, so that treatment and examination and surgical intervention can be started as quickly as possible.
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Pain and minimal mobility in the knee joints tend to be observed during the whole process of pathological processes, which are characterized by inflammation, swelling and thinning of the tissue. Most often, examinations develop between the ages of 50 and 60 years. At only a young age, pain in & then; knee joints may be associated with traumatic lesions, sprains, injuries to the cup and bursitis. It is quite difficult to know which doctor treats joints. Therefore, it is necessary to undergo an examination, during which a potential cause of medical sensations and a limitation in the amplitude of degenerative mobility are identified. The most basic examination for arthrosis is an x-ray, which shows the structural structures of cartilage and bone tissue. The time to exclude rheumatoid inflammatory causes is prescribed by biochemical and general blood pathology, the C titer of the protein is examined.
When receiving a detailed examination of the joints, the question of which doctor treats the joint significantly becomes more possible. Depending on which part of the knee the disease is located in, gradual therapy may be carried out by a therapist, surgeon or orthopedic surgeon. All of these treatments use extremely limited curative measures, the goal of which is to begin with the elimination of pain treatment. An early surgical intervention may be recommended for knowledge of the bursa or suturing by the doctor, puncture for pumping to reduce or blockade of hormonal concerns. All these techniques do not interfere with complete recovery, since they do not help restore the physiological structure of tissues.
We offer you arthrosis, which doctor treats the patient’s joints without surgical destruction, using manual techniques as needed and guarantees complete recovery and physiological mobility.
When contacting the city joint, the answer to the question of whether the doctor is treating arthritis of the adjacent joint will depend on which inflammatory process is occurring. If for the consequences of rheumatism, then it is advisable for the pathology to see a therapist or meet. In case of systemic lesions, tissue arthrosis can be achieved without the help of a specialist from our manual therapy team. You have been prescribed a complex of manual treatments for arthrosis using osteopathy and therapeutic trophism, acupuncture and physical therapy. Cartilage of a complete course of nutrition, pain syndrome is mainly eliminated, movement is without restrictions.
For this period of treatment, a knee diet is recommended, which ensures that gonarthrosis receives proteins and hip proteins into the body. All these substances work to restore the large cartilaginous and bone tissue of the heads, joints, and the joint cavity of the bones.
More arthrosis patients with pain in the knee joints seek development after injuries. Just as there can be bruises, there are also sprains of the ligamentous apparatus, corresponding to arthrosis and bursitis. Which one treats knee pain pain injury in urban extension? This is most likely gradual, and in its absence the traumatologist knees. The standard of treatment for this includes a crunch bandage, taking painkillers while bending, physiotherapeutic procedures and various non-steroidal physiotherapeutic drugs included in their composition.
Which leg doctor does knee pain in our joint chiropractic? This is a knee therapist who, already in the initial consultation, offers an individually characterized rehabilitation scheme for pain, prevention of the development of contractures and related bursitis. It is usually recommended in the evening for periods of acute pain intensification. To alleviate the physical condition, therapeutic massage and long-term massage are used, with the help of which the syndrome is eliminated. Regenerative loads in damaged tissues are activated.
In the future, once the question of which doctor treats or in the knees is resolved, a multidisciplinary course of tissue restoration and walking is carried out. For this purpose, pathology massage and special sets of coxarthrosis exercises are prescribed.
The doctor, such knee joints, can localize patients to adhere to the regimen of arthrosis and rest. In particular, with symptoms of active measures to restore tissue connections, prolonged hip loads are not recommended. It is also important to pay attention to the weight of your running. For every extra 5 kg of weight, symptoms increase the compression pressure on the joints by 15%. Therefore, someone treating knees can signal a fasting diet in order to reverse excess pressure and further improve cartilage tissue.
In the process, the doctor may use techniques for major concomitant diseases. In some diseases, arthritis of the knee joints, joints and sprains may be associated with a violation of the position. Most often it affects people with flat feet. A less common cause of injury is clubfoot in adults.
In our arthrologist manual therapy you will then be provided with full qualified dystrophic care. Our efforts are aimed at eliminating the cause of pain, rather than masking pathological symptoms.
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The term “arthritis” actually refers to a number of diseases that involve inflammation of one or more joints.
Common signs for all forms of arthritis are joint pain, swelling, redness of the skin and local fever, as well as limited joint mobility, fatigue and poor health.
Arthritis can occur for many reasons - due to a bacterial infection, an autoimmune disease, a metabolic disorder, degenerative joint diseases, injury, or even a malignant tumor in the joint area.
This disease requires long-term and comprehensive treatment. Insufficient, untimely, or incorrectly selected therapy can lead to significant limitation of the mobility of certain parts of the body, and therefore it is so important not to delay visiting a doctor.
If joint pain occurs, the patient is usually referred to a therapist to find out the cause of this symptom. The therapist is a general practitioner and can provide effective assistance in the preliminary diagnosis of arthritis or in pain relief. However, it is better to entrust the direct treatment of this disease to a highly specialized specialist.
In some medical institutions you can find a doctor such as an arthrologist who specializes exclusively in joint diseases. However, orthopedic doctors are more often involved in diagnosing and treating arthritis. Specialists of the same profile also usually supervise the rehabilitation period after surgical treatment of arthritis.
The doctor makes a decision on the need for both conservative and surgical treatment only after carrying out all the necessary diagnostic measures: functional examination, laboratory diagnostics, MRI.
A preliminary medical examination must be carried out by a general practitioner. It is necessary to examine the general condition of the patient. The complex of treatment measures includes measuring blood pressure, body temperature, and identifying side diseases. In the future, the patient will be referred to a more specialized specialist. As a rule, rheumatoid arthritis is treated by a rheumatologist.
Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common form of inflammatory joint disease. This disease is widespread among older people. Moreover, the female population is exposed to it much more often than the male population.
Basically, the disease occurs gradually and unnoticed by the human body. A person feels well for a long period, leads a normal life, while existing antibodies kill the body's own tissues. When a large accumulation of antibodies occurs, all their components are damaged and inflammation of the joints begins. Deformation and slow destruction of tissue components leads to their functional impairment or their complete loss. At a later stage of the development of the disease, arthritis can affect other vital organs: kidneys, lungs, cardiac system, and muscle tissue atrophy occurs.
Any doctor admits that today there are no specific etiological factors that stop the development of antibodies in arthritis. There are only two probable theories about the cause of the disease:
Risk factors for getting this disease include injuries, hypothermia (hypercooled state of the body) and other infectious components. Signs of incipient arthritis appear gradually. Stiffness in joint movements and periodic pain make you think about the onset of the disease. Outbreaks of inflammation can last from a few minutes to several days. If the restless condition of the joints does not go away, you should consult a doctor and take urgent measures.
Correct diagnosis of the disease is very important in the early stages of the disease. Pathological processes of changes in the immune system occur several months before obvious signs of the disease. The results of a synovial membrane biopsy will help establish the correct diagnosis and begin treatment. Rheumatism is examined in several stages:
Rheumatoid arthritis must be treated comprehensively. Along with general therapy, physical therapy is a must. At an early stage, the patient is prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Based on the results of many months of continuous treatment, further tactics for using these medications are determined. If it is noticeable that the patient’s condition is significantly improving, then the treatment is correct. Arthritis can also be overcome using non-traditional folk remedies. You can improve joint plasticity by carefully selecting effective treatment. This may take from several months to a year.
In order to avoid the chronic form of rheumatoid arthritis, the attending physician prescribes the drug methotrexate. Thanks to effective treatment with these medications, surgery can be avoided. It is produced in the form of a concentrate for the preparation of injections or in tablets. Please note that before using the drug you must have your blood tested. During the entire treatment process, constant blood monitoring is necessary. All advice on dosage and use of the drug should be obtained from a doctor.
Rheumatoid arthritis is often treated more effectively with folk remedies than with traditional medicine. There are many examples of this. Treatment with folk remedies is aimed at containing relapses and maintaining joints in an elastic state. There are several widely applicable methods:
Rheumatoid arthritis forces you to change your usual lifestyle. Stiff joints require a good warm-up before a hard working day. Physical therapy will help to further stimulate muscle tone. Daily exercises will give elasticity to the joint parts and will be an excellent prevention of the disease. In the evening, treatment with joint massage will be effective. However, all recommendations for physical therapy and massage will be given by the rheumatologist who is treating you.
Follow the advice of experts, and arthritis will disappear from you forever. Be healthy!
It is impossible to unequivocally answer the question of which doctor treats arthritis. Several specialists deal with pathology at once, each of whom is more in demand for one or another variant of the disease.
In some cases, consultation with related specialists is required. If a person does not know which doctor to see, he can go to a therapist who treats general somatic diseases and will write out the necessary referral.
There are many variations of joint inflammation, so before treating arthritis, the doctor conducts a comprehensive examination of the patient to make an accurate diagnosis.
This problem is due to the fact that the everyday lifestyle of a modern person largely contributes to the rapid development of the disease. Risk factors for the development of such pathologies include:
Arthrosis is one of the traditional companions of the aging body. Along with gray hair and poor vision, a person begins to experience pain in the knee, hip, shoulder, and elbow joints. In most cases, a person does not know who to contact and which doctor treats arthrosis. Of course, if you contact a therapist, the doctor will refer you further to a specialized specialist.
A rheumatologist will be involved in the prevention and treatment of the disease at an early stage. A rheumatologist is a therapeutic specialist who deals with the treatment of inflammatory or dystrophic joints. Such diseases include:
There are also other joint diseases. This list contains the diseases that are most common.
After examination, the rheumatologist will identify which elements are affected and make a diagnosis. To make a diagnosis, the following instrumental studies will be needed: X-ray, ultrasound, CT and MRI of those joints that are affected. The most frequently performed examinations are the knee, hip, shoulder, foot and hand joints. These procedures will help determine the stage of the disease and prescribe treatment based on this.
Often, procedures prescribed by a rheumatologist will be performed by other specialists. The treatment and rehabilitation will involve: a massage therapist, a physiotherapist, an arthroscopist and a surgeon.
A massage therapist is a specialist who provides a patient with a series of restorative massages, following the therapeutic instructions of a rheumatologist. It helps develop the knee, shoulder, hip, elbow, foot and hand joints after injury or surgery. All this together will help you rehabilitate faster.
A physiotherapist is a specialist who uses physical exercises to restore range of motion in the shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee joints.
An arthroscopist is a surgeon who, using an arthroscope device, examines the joint cavity (minimally invasive surgical procedure). It is worth contacting him to diagnose rupture of the capsule, ligaments, cartilage, or detection of blood or other liquid in the cavity. This method can be used to examine: shoulder, knee, elbow, hip, ankle, hand and foot joints.
Orthopedic surgeon - you can turn to the help of this specialist if treatment was started at the wrong time, the stages progress quickly, and therapeutic methods are ineffective. He can perform operations in two areas: organ-preserving operations and endoprosthetics.
Often, due to the fact that patients ignore the symptoms of the disease or are simply afraid to see a doctor, they end up directly on the operating table. Diseases such as coxarthrosis, osteoarthrosis, polyosteoarthrosis, spondyloarthrosis cannot be ignored and it is very important to diagnose the pathology in the early stages.