What Is a Rheumatologist?

What does a rheumatologist do?

Rheumatologists focus on rheumatic diseases. These conditions often involve the joints, muscles, bones, connective tissues or immune system.

A rheumatologist may help with:

• Evaluating joint pain, swelling, stiffness or reduced movement
• Looking for signs of inflammation or autoimmune disease
• Reviewing symptoms that involve more than one joint or body system
• Ordering or interpreting blood tests and imaging when needed
• Diagnosing arthritis and other rheumatologic conditions
• Creating a treatment plan based on the diagnosis and symptoms
• Monitoring chronic conditions over time
• Coordinating care with primary care providers and other specialists

Rheumatologists do not usually perform surgery. Their role is often focused on diagnosis, medication management, nonsurgical treatments, monitoring and long-term care planning.

What conditions does a rheumatologist treat?

Rheumatologists treat many conditions that affect the joints, muscles, bones and immune system. Some are common. Others are complex or harder to diagnose.

North Memorial Health Rheumatology provides care for conditions such as:

• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Gout and pseudogout
• Lupus
• Osteoporosis
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Juvenile inflammatory arthritis
• Mixed connective tissue disease
• Systemic sclerosis, also called scleroderma
• Vasculitis
• Tendinitis
• Carpal tunnel
• Tarsal tunnel
• Other autoimmune or inflammatory conditions

This list does not mean every symptom is caused by a rheumatologic condition. Joint pain, stiffness, fatigue and swelling can have many causes. A provider can help determine whether rheumatology care is the right next step.

When should you see a rheumatologist?

Your primary care doctor might send you to a rheumatologist if your symptoms point to arthritis, inflammation or an autoimmune issue. Sometimes this happens right away. Other times, it happens after some initial testing or after symptoms just will not quit.

It is worth considering rheumatology care if you are experiencing:

• Joint pain that will not go away or keeps coming back
• Swelling, warmth or tenderness in a joint
• Morning stiffness that lingers longer than it should
• Pain in several joints at once
• Joint pain paired with fatigue, rash, fever or other symptoms you cannot explain
• An autoimmune condition that needs specialist care
• Gout flares or recurring joint inflammation
• Osteoporosis that might need specialist evaluation
• Symptoms that have been hard to pin down

These symptoms can have many different causes, but if they are persistent, recurring or affecting your daily life, your doctor can help determine whether seeing a rheumatologist is the right next step.

What happens at a rheumatology appointment?

A rheumatology visit usually starts with a detailed conversation. Your provider may ask when symptoms started, which joints or areas are affected, what makes symptoms better or worse, and whether you have other symptoms such as fatigue, rash, fever or changes in daily function.

Your rheumatologist may also review:

• Your medical history
• Your family history
• Current and past medications
• Prior lab results or imaging
• Previous diagnoses or treatments
• How symptoms affect work, sleep, movement and daily activities

Depending on your symptoms, the visit may include a physical exam, blood tests, imaging, point-of-care ultrasound or other evaluation. The goal is to understand the pattern behind your symptoms, not just one isolated symptom.

Treatment depends on the diagnosis and your needs. Care options may include medication, injections, infusion therapy for select conditions, osteoporosis infusion treatment, specialty pharmacy support, referrals to other specialists or guidance on movement and lifestyle habits that support joint health.

Frequently asked questions

What is a rheumatologist?

A rheumatologist is a medical specialist who diagnoses and treats conditions that affect the joints, muscles, bones and immune system. Rheumatologists often care for people with arthritis, autoimmune diseases, joint pain and inflammatory conditions.

Is a rheumatologist the same as an arthritis doctor?

Not exactly, but arthritis is one major part of rheumatology care. Rheumatologists treat many types of arthritis, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout. They also treat autoimmune and inflammatory conditions that may affect more than the joints.

What symptoms might lead to a rheumatology referral?

Symptoms that may lead to a rheumatology referral include persistent joint pain, swelling, warmth, tenderness, long morning stiffness, symptoms in multiple joints, recurring flares or symptoms that may be related to an autoimmune condition.

Do rheumatologists treat autoimmune diseases?

Yes. Rheumatologists often treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases that affect the joints, muscles, bones and connective tissues. Examples may include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, vasculitis, scleroderma and related conditions.

What is the difference between rheumatology and orthopedics?

Rheumatology focuses on arthritis, autoimmune conditions and inflammatory diseases that affect the joints, muscles, bones and immune system. Orthopedics focuses more on injuries, structural joint problems, bones, ligaments, tendons and surgical or nonsurgical treatment of musculoskeletal conditions.

Do I need a referral to see a rheumatologist?

Referral requirements can vary by insurance plan and clinical situation. If you are unsure where to start, a primary care provider or North Memorial Health scheduling team can help you understand possible next steps. We can be reached at 763-581-5954.

What should I bring to a rheumatology appointment?

Bring a list of your symptoms, current medications, past diagnoses, previous test results or imaging if available, and questions you want to ask. It can also help to note when symptoms started, what makes them better or worse, and how they affect daily activities.