WHAT IS A RHEUMATOLOGIST?
A Rheumatologist is a specialist physician who has expertise in diagnosing and treating diseases of the joints, muscles and bones.
This may involve symptoms in one joint to involvement of every joint in the body. Some of the conditions treated by a Rheumatologist, such as Vasculitis and Lupus may involve internal organs in the body (e.g. kidneys, lung, brain and heart).
The main symptom that patient’s with rheumatological conditions complain of is musculoskeletal pain.
The more common conditions treated by a Rheumatologist (or as they are sometimes referred to: Rheumatic Diseases) includes:
JOINT CONDITIONS:
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
- Gout / Pseudogout
- Spinal problems, including arthritis of the spine and even nerve impingement
- Connective Tissue Disorders (such as Lupus)
IN ADDITION, RHEUMATOLOGISTS ALSO DEAL WITH
PERIPHERAL NERVE CONDITIONS, SUCH AS:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Ulna neuropathy
- Brachial plexopathy
BONE CONDITIONS::
- Paget’s Disease
- Osteoporosis
MUSCLES AND TENDONS:
- Tendonitis
- Fibromyalgia
- Polymyalgia Rheumatica
- Polymyositis
Meet DR LORETTA REITER
Accredited as an Approved Medical Specialist with Workers Compensation Commission, and Permanent Impairment Assessor with WorkCover NSW and MAA. Dr Reiter offers this expertise and knowledge through her consultancy with Medico-legal Companies and with MLOCA in Hobart, Melbourne and Adelaide.