Baptist Medical Group Rheumatology
Your joints help you move. When your joints aren’t functioning properly, or a health problem is deteriorating your joints, every day activities can become difficult. If this is the case for you or a loved one, the field of rheumatology can help.
Rheumatology is the study of arthritis and other disorders affecting the joints, muscles and ligaments. Rheumatologists are trained to diagnose, treat and prevent conditions in these areas of the body and therefore help patients get back to normal living as soon as possible.
What Do Baptist Medical Group Rheumatologists Do?
Baptist Medical Group rheumatologists have a deep understanding of the joints, soft tissues and immune system, making them the specialist of choice for patients with arthritis or other joint problems. These physicians work with patients to first assess their condition and then provide the proper treatment plan.
To make a proper diagnosis, Baptist Medical Group rheumatologists examine patients to assess:
- Warning signs and symptoms of a problem, including total (whole body) involvement by a rheumatic disease.
- Joint disorders
- Physical and mental well-being
- Level of independence
- Results of advanced imaging and laboratory testing
- Treatment options
- Need for referrals to other specialists
- Need for orthopedic aids (splint, brace, cane) or corrective surgery
- Need for a hospital stay
Types of Conditions Treated
When a patient sees a Baptist Medical Group physician who specializes in rheumatology, they may be dealing with one or more of the following health problems:
- Arthritis
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Autoimmune diseases
- Crohn’s disease
- Fibromyalgia
- Lupus
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Tendonitis/bursitis