Rheumatology therapeutics or therapy is a subspecialty of internal medicine and pediatrics that deals with joints, autoimmune diseases, soft tissues, and heritable connective tissue disorders. Some treatments that a rheumatologist might recommend include medication, surgery, physical therapy, referrals to other specialists, and joint and tendon injections. Rheumatology diseases affect the connecting or supporting structures of the body, such as muscles, ligaments, joints, tendons, and some organs of the body.
Rheumatology diseases are autoimmune and inflammatory diseases that cause the immune system to attack organs, bones, muscles, and joints. Thus, with the increasing prevalence of rheumatic diseases, the demand for rheumatology therapeutics is also increasing rapidly across the globe. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder in the United States, especially in adults aged 60 years and more. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Osteoarthritis affects more than 32.5 million US adults.
There are more than 30 autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Some of the most common are lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, scleroderma, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatic, spondylarthritides, Sjögren's syndrome, and systemic vasculitis (including giant cell arteritis). Rheumatologists specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, and therapy of rheumatic diseases and much more. They treat patients with pain and disorders of the bones, tendons, muscles, and joints, other supportive or connective tissues.
Rheumatology therapeutics includes the study of the basic causes and triggers of inflammation and infection. The aim is to eliminate the cause so that normal life can be resumed. However, the intensity of the disorder and its management depends on various factors like the patient's age, general health, the type of disease, etc. Rheumatologist uses various procedures for the treatment of the disorders like Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, etc. Rheumatology therapeutics is highly beneficial in the long run.
The goal of treatment is to limit pain and inflammation while ensuring optimal joint function.