The doubts between which medical specialist to go when we suffer some type of pain are very common. Normally, when we suffer a fall or give ourselves a blow and begin to feel pain in some 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 figure of the rheumatologist, that many other people come to assess the health of their muscles and bones after an injury.
In this article we will give you the keys so that you understand the differences between these two professionals and know where you will go when you are suffering any pain. Ten in mind that the time it takes to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal injuries is very important to regain mobility, so it is essential to know which specialist to visit according to the type of condition.
What does the orthopedist do?
The orthopedic surgeon, also known as an orthopedic surgeon, specializes in the orthopedic or traumatic treatment of pathologies that appear in the tendons, bones or joints and the sea due to congenital or traumatic causes. Among these pathologies we find:
- Tendinitis: Inflammation or irritation of a tendon that causes pain and tenderness in the joint. It usually appears mainly on the elbows, knees, shoulders and heels.
- Sprains: It is one of the most frequent pathologies in the Canary Islands and consists of the violent twisting of a joint that may be accompanied by fibrillar or ligament tears.
- Fractures: They cause pain, inflammation, deformity and loss of mobility and usually appear mainly due to trauma or falls.
- Epiphysiolysis: The cartilage fracture that usually occurs in all 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, he is the first specialist who should observe and assess your injury to decide whether or not to visit the orthopedic surgeon. These are the pathologies that are frequently treated by a rheumatologist.
- Vasculitis: Inflammation of the blood vessels.
- Arthritis: Causes the joints to swell, ache and lose mobility.
- Soft tissue rheumatism: Here we find all the pathologies 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 that alter our immune system.
- Osteoarthritis: Characterized by the degeneration of articular cartilage and genres, 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 is dedicated to, they realize that they are two professionals who complement each other to offer patients an accurate diagnosis and treatment and help them recover the musculoskeletal pathologies they suffer.
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 who directly refers to 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.
- An especialist have 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 specialized in musculoskeletal pathologies that has 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.
