July is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month. Back in May, we published an interview with Dr. Paul Tuttle explaining what juvenile arthritis is. Now, we want to explain why a rheumatologist is the best person to turn to if you think your child may have the disease, or if you or another loved one suffers from a different rheumatic or autoimmune condition.
Rheumatologists are Detectives
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Rheumatologists are physicians who specialize in the diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of diseases and autoimmune conditions that affect the bones, muscles and joints, including:
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Juvenile arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
- Lupus
- Gout
- Osteoporosis
- Vasculitis
- Scleroderma
- And many others
Since these diseases don’t have one known cause, and many are the result of the immune system mistakenly attacking the body’s healthy cells, they can be difficult to diagnose. They often require a physician to look at many different factors – family history, symptom descriptions, lab tests, imaging exams and physical exams. This is especially true for juvenile arthritis, as the symptoms may be very subtle at first.
Rheumatologists receive extensive, specialized training to recognize the warning signs of rheumatic diseases and put together all the pieces for a proper diagnosis.
“Not all of the problems I encounter have simple answers,” says Dr. Paul Utrie, rheumatologist at OSMS. “My goal is to work in a thorough, ethical manner to find answers and solve problems to the best of my ability.”
Rheumatologists are Researchers
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Rheumatic diseases are not only difficult to diagnose, but they can also be complex to manage and treat. That’s why rheumatologists are also researchers. Once they’ve done the detective work to determine a diagnosis, they must use their knowledge, past experience and new research to find the best possible treatment for each individual patient.
Rheumatic conditions also tend to change over time, which means rheumatologists have to continually learn and discover new solutions.
Rheumatologists are Health Partners
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Whether juvenile arthritis or lupus, the conditions rheumatologists treat are often chronic diseases, meaning patients may have to live with them for several years or maybe even the rest of their lives. Therefore, a rheumatologist becomes more than just a doctor. They become a life-long resource, helping patients find relief from symptoms, overcome health conditions and maintain quality of life.
Meet the OSMS Rheumatologists:
