The doubts between which medical specialist to go to when we suffer some type of pain are very common. Normally, when we suffer a fall,receive a blow, and begin to feel pain in a bone, muscle or joint, we decide to make an appointment with a traumatologist to find out the extent of the injury. But there is also the rheumatologist, the specialist who assesses the health of bones and muscles after an injury.
In this article we will help youunderstand the differences between these two professionals and know where you should go when you are in pain. Bear in mind that the time it takes to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal injuries is very significant in relation to regaining mobility, so it is essential to know which specialist to visit according to the type of condition.
What does the orthopedist do?
A traumatologist,also known as an orthopedic surgeon, specializes in the orthopedic or traumatological treatment of conditionsthat affect the tendons, bones or joints,either due to congenital or traumatic causes. Among these physical conditions we find:
- Tendinitis: Inflammation or irritation of a tendon that causes pain and tenderness in the joint. It usually appears on the elbows, knees, shoulders and heels.
- Sprains: This is one of the most frequent physical complaints in the Canary Islands and consists of the violent twisting of a joint and may be accompanied by fibrillar or ligament tears.
- Fractures: These cause pain, inflammation, deformity, and loss of mobility and usually appear mainly due to trauma or falls.
- Epiphysiolysis: This is the fracturing of the cartilage and is most common among adolescents.
What is the specialty of the rheumatologist?
The rheumatologist is defined by the Spanish Society of Rheumatology (SER) as the medical specialist in charge of the diagnosis and treatment of pathologies of the locomotor system. In other words, this is the first specialist who should observe and assess your injury and then decide whetheryou should visit the orthopedic surgeon. These are the conditions that are frequently treated by a rheumatologist.
- Vasculitis: Inflammation of the blood vessels.
- Arthritis: This causes the joints to swell, ache and lose mobility.
- Soft tissue rheumatism: This encompasses many different conditions that affect tendons, serous pockets, muscles, and those that affect the peripheral nervous system.
- Autoimmune or systemic pathologies: Among which we find lupus, Sjörgen syndrome or polymyositis, which alters our immune system.
- Osteoarthritis: This can be characterized by the degeneration of articular cartilage and causes chronic pain and loss of mobility.
When should I go to each of these specialists?
Now that you are clear about what each of these medical professionals specializes in, you can see that they are two professionals who complement each other to offer patients an accurate diagnosis and treatment and help them recover from the musculoskeletal conditions they suffer from.
And although you already know what pathologies each of these specialists treats, surely you will be asking in what situations you will go to each one. The normal thing is to always visit the rheumatologist first and what to do next depends on the consultation of the traumatologist.
Make an appointment with the rheumatologist if:
- You are suffering pain without injury.
- You have psoriasis, fatigue or back pain and your joints also hurt.
- You feel muscle or bone pain.
Make an appointment with the orthopedist if:
- You have suffered an injury and your joints hurt.
- Aspecialist has recommended a prosthesis for any joint (knee, shoulder, etc.).
- You feel knee or hip pain that increases with weight bearing.
- You have moderate or advanced arthritis.
- You have done previous rheumatology treatments that have not worked.
Trust the CECOTEN multidisciplinary team
At THIS we always offer our patients the best and most complete medical care. That is why we work with CECOTEN, a center specializing in musculoskeletal conditions which employs a wide range of professionals, including, of course, rheumatologists and traumatologists, as well as neurosurgeons, physiotherapists or rehabilitation doctors.
If you have joint, bone, or muscle pain, make an appointment with them on 922 985 522 and do not let the pain get worse. At CECOTEN you do not have to wait for a quality medical diagnosis and we will also help you with treatment and rehabilitation, all in the same center.