If you're like many people, you might associate rheumatologists primarily with rheumatoid arthritis. Surprisingly, arthritis doesn't refer to one specific disease but is a generalized term for various conditions that can affect your joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is a specific autoimmune condition that can affect your joints and cause additional symptoms affecting your eyes, lungs, and even heart.

However, rheumatoid arthritis is only one disease in a broader category of conditions known as rheumatic disorders. These diseases typically stem from autoimmune issues and can result in symptoms ranging from severe joint pain to fatigue, fever, and worse. Since rheumatic conditions cover such a wide array of diseases, there's rarely one single plan for diagnosis, treatment, and management.

Who Should See a Rheumatologist?

Rheumatologists are specialists, so most patients schedule appointments after receiving a referral from their primary care physician. These referrals can occur for numerous reasons, such as joint pain that doesn't resolve within a few days or generalized musculoskeletal pain accompanied by other symptoms such as fevers, rashes, or swelling.

In many cases, you may need to rule out other causes for your pain before seeing a rheumatologist. For example, your doctor will want to check for prior injuries or other potential acute causes. Once they've ruled these potential diagnoses out, they will likely recommend that you schedule an appointment with a rheumatologist for a deeper investigation.

Does Seeing a Rheumatologist Mean You Have Arthritis?

Receiving a referral to a rheumatologist doesn't necessarily mean that you have arthritis. In fact, you may need to see a rheumatologist even if you aren't suffering from joint pain. While many inflammatory conditions may cause joint and muscle pain, not every rheumatic condition will start with these symptoms.

Once you arrive for your initial consultation, your rheumatologist will want to collect information about your symptoms and your family history. Since many autoimmune conditions have a genetic component, this information can help them narrow down the possible range of diagnoses. Recording information about your symptoms before your visit can also help your rheumatologist.

Ultimately, rheumatologists treat a wide range of conditions with symptoms that extend well beyond those usually associated with arthritis. If you've been suffering from unexplained pain or skin conditions, a rheumatologist may be able to help you get to the bottom of your symptoms. Once you know the root cause of these issues, you can begin to treat or manage them so you can get back to enjoying your life. 

For more information, visit a local clinic like Sarasota Arthritis Center.