Who is it for?
Dr. Olszynski is currently accepting selective referrals for:- Osteoporosis
- Osteoarthritis (for joint injections)
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Psoriatic Arthritis
- Gout
What is a rheumatologist?
A rheumatologist is a doctor who received further training in the diagnosis (detection), and treatment of diseases that affect the muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons. These diseases can cause pain, swelling, stiffness, and potentially cause joint deformities. An old-fashioned word for these problems is “rheumatism.” Therefore, a “rheumatologist” is the doctor that treats rheumatism.
Rheumatologists also treat a group of diseases called “systemic autoimmune diseases.” Other terms that you may hear or read that mean the same as systemic autoimmune diseases are “collagen vascular diseases,” and “connective tissue diseases.” This is a group of diseases where a person’s immune system attacks the person’s own body. This ends up causing inflammation in areas of the body where it is not needed, causing problems such as pain, swelling, and organ damage. These diseases can affect any part of the body to include the eyes, skin, nerves, kidneys, lungs, heart, and other internal organs. All the systemic autoimmune diseases can cause inflammation of the joints, or arthritis. Therefore, rheumatologists are considered the experts in treating this group of disorders. Some examples of systemic autoimmune diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren’s disease, scleroderma, polymyositis, and vasculitis. However, there are more than 100 different types of arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions. Many rheumatologists also conduct research to look for the causes of and better treatments for rheumatic diseases.
When should I see a rheumatologist?
Most everyone experiences muscle, bone, or joint pain from time to time. When the
pain does not resolve as one would expect, additional evaluation may be needed.
Typically, a primary care, urgent care, or an emergency room provider (physician,
nurse practitioner, or physician assistant) is seen for the first evaluation. If
there is a concern for an underlying rheumatic condition, he/she may refer you to
rheumatology for evaluation. Occasionally, other health care providers such as
physical therapists, occupational therapists, chiropractors, orthopedic surgeons, or
other medical specialists may recommend that you see a rheumatologist.
You should consider seeing a rheumatologist earlier if you have relatives with an
autoimmune or rheumatic disease (as these conditions often run in families) or if
the symptoms are significantly worsening over a short period. Some of the signs and
symptoms can improve or temporarily resolve when initially treated, but they can
occasionally recur after you stop treatment. If the symptoms continue to return, a
rheumatology evaluation may be needed.
Joint damage may potentially occur in some rheumatic diseases. Therefore, it is
essential to see a rheumatologist sooner than later. In many diseases, such as
rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, quicker diagnosis and treatment can
prevent permanent damage to the joints. This damage cannot always be reversed with
treatment and may be permanent. Do not delay appropriate evaluation.
What should I expect from my rheumatology visit?
Rheumatic diseases are sometimes complex and challenging to diagnose. So, a
rheumatologist will gather a complete medical history and perform a physical exam to
look for signs and symptoms that may give clues to the cause of the problem. Your
family history can be helpful in diagnosing rheumatic diseases. Your rheumatologist
will want to know as much about your family history as possible.
The rheumatologist will review the results of any prior testing. The rheumatologist
may order additional laboratory tests, imaging studies (X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan,
MRI), or other tests to assess for additional potential clues to the possible cause
of your musculoskeletal problem.
All of these results will be combined to determine the source of a patient’s
symptoms and develop a personalized treatment plan. Treatment recommendations may
include medications, referral to physical or occupational therapy, referral to other
specialists, or to perform joint/tendon injections. Some rheumatic diseases can be
challenging to diagnose and may require several visits with your
rheumatologist.
During follow-up appointments, rheumatologists may treat reoccurring conditions or
talk with patients about medications, coping mechanisms, techniques for preventing
disability or regaining function, and ways to improve their quality of life.