Who Is a Rheumatologist? A Guide for Patients in Nigeria

Joint pain is common, but not every painful or swollen joint is caused by an injury or ageing. Some symptoms may result from inflammation or conditions affecting the immune system. A rheumatologist is a specialist who diagnoses and manages many of these conditions.

Who is a rheumatologist?

A rheumatologist is a medical doctor who specialises in diagnosing and treating diseases affecting the joints, muscles, bones and connective tissues.

Rheumatologists also manage autoimmune diseases. These occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy parts of the body. Some autoimmune conditions can affect not only the joints but also the skin, kidneys, lungs, eyes and other organs.

What conditions does a rheumatologist treat?

Conditions commonly managed by rheumatologists include:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Osteoarthritis
• Gout
• Lupus
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Scleroderma
• Sjögren’s syndrome
• Vasculitis
• Inflammatory muscle diseases
• Certain causes of persistent joint or muscle pain

Having joint pain does not automatically mean that you have one of these conditions. A proper medical assessment is required to determine the cause.

Rheumatology in Nigeria

Nigeria has very few rheumatologists relative to its population. Published reports have estimated that fewer than 30 rheumatologists serve more than 200 million people, although the exact number may change as more specialists are trained.

Rheumatology services are also concentrated mainly in teaching hospitals and larger urban centres. As a result, patients in some parts of the country may have difficulty finding a rheumatologist or may need to travel to another city for specialist care.

Limited access can contribute to delayed diagnosis, particularly because symptoms such as joint pain, swelling and tiredness may initially be mistaken for minor injuries, ageing or other illnesses.

Is a rheumatologist the same as an orthopaedic surgeon?

No. Although both specialists manage conditions involving the bones and joints, their roles are different.

A rheumatologist mainly treats inflammatory, autoimmune and other medical conditions using medicines and non-surgical care. An orthopaedic surgeon focuses more on injuries, structural problems and conditions that may require surgery.

The nature of your symptoms and the findings from a medical assessment will help determine which specialist you need.

Finding a rheumatology clinic

Rheumatology clinic days and availability vary between hospitals.

Before visiting, confirm that the hospital provides rheumatology services and check its current clinic information.

FindClinicDays helps you find hospitals offering rheumatology services and access available clinic information.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information and does not replace an assessment by a qualified healthcare professional.