The Benefits of Collaboration Between a Rheumatologist & Orthopedist

Fox Valley Orthopedics has expanded to include rheumatology. The benefits of combining rheumatology and orthopedics is clear: Rheumatology and orthopedics are both fields of medicine primarily focused on the joints, muscles, and bones. However, a rheumatologist is an internist physician who uses nonsurgical treatments for autoimmune diseases that cause inflammatory and systemic joint problems, while an orthopedist specializes in treatments of the musculoskeletal system.

Still, many patients aren’t sure whether they should schedule an appointment with a rheumatologist or an orthopedist when they suffer from painful joints. When in doubt, it’s best to defer to your primary care physician to ensure you see the correct provider for your joint pain. For example, your PCP may refer you to a rheumatologist if you have multiple painful joints, joint pain without prior injury, ongoing fever or sweats, or abnormal blood tests that indicate rheumatic disease.

Orthopedists are specially trained to diagnose and treat bone and joint diseases, and your PCP might refer you to one if you have a joint problem caused by an injury, or progressive pain in a weight-bearing joint such as the hips or knees caused by carrying excess body weight. If you require a joint replacement, an orthopedic surgeon is the best doctor to treat your condition.

A combination approach may be best for patients with autoimmune conditions like lupus or gout that require pharmacological and surgical procedures to manage the disease. When a rheumatologist and orthopedist collaborate, their patient can receive the best possible care for their joint disorder.

Contact Fox Valley Orthopedics to Schedule a Visit with a Rheumatologist or Orthopedist

Whether you need nonsurgical or surgical treatment for a joint disorder, our physicians at Fox Valley Orthopedics are here to help improve your quality of life and reduce pain symptoms. Our on-staff, board-certified rheumatologist Dr. Raheem Nazeer is available to treat patients with a number of conditions and diseases, from autoimmune conditions to osteoarthritis, and much more. He works closely with other orthopedists to collaborate on bone health management to help strengthen bones through appropriate imaging and lab workup and optimal medical treatment. To learn more, please contact us today.

To schedule an appointment with Fox Valley Orthopedics, please call (630) 584-1400 today