Rheumatology is the branch/specialty of Medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of patients with Rheumatic or musculo-skeletal diseases- in simple terms, “Arthritis”. Rheumatic Diseases comprise a heterogeneous group of disorders of the connective tissue, joints and bones in which musculo-skeletal pain and stiffness are the prominent symptoms. Rheumatic diseases affect people of all ages and ethnic groups and are the commonest cause of physical impairment in the community. The most common symptom of rheumatic disease, is joint pain; and if it is due to an inflammatory cause,then the pain may be associated with joint swelling and stiffness and perhaps other systemic complaints. However, joint pain need not necessarily imply a rheumatic disease; therefore any patient with joint symptoms, would need proper evaluation to determine the cause. The full range of rheumatological disorders is seen in India, with the commonest condition being Osteoarthritis; however, the most common inflammatory condition is Rheumatoid Arthritis, which very much mirrors the worldwide incidence of these conditions.
Consultant Rheumatologists at Apollo Hospital are trained to appropriately evaluate any patient with joint symptoms or a suspected rheumatological disorder. Rheumatologists are well versed in the techniques of intra-articular and local injection therapy, including epidural injections where indicated and "Medical Synovectomy". Consultant Rheumatologists are particularly aware of the current treatment guidelines for managing a patient with arthritis and are fully familiar with the use of disease modifying drugs, immunosuppressant therapy and also the use of currently available Biologic agents. Anti TNF agents like Infliximab and Elanercept and Anti CD 20 agents like Rituximib, Anti IL 6 agents like Actemra and Co- Stimulity blocked like Abatacept.