OSMS Board Certified Rheumatologist and physician owner Dr. Manpreet Sethi joined Dr. Larry Loewen, chiropractor, and host of the Dr. Larry Radio Show, recently to talk about rheumatology.

When people think of rheumatology or rheumatic diseases, most people think of arthritis or joint diseases. Although this is true, there is more to rheumatology than people think.

Rheumatic diseases can be complex for many reasons. There is not just one type of arthritis since it can come from different conditions. Additionally, many diseases can affect someone systemically which means that they can be affected by a rheumatic disease across their whole body. Rheumatology deals with the whole body, not just a specific area.

Common reasons people may schedule an appointment to see a rheumatologist is swelling or pain in their joints, muscle weakness, and more. Many times, people are referred to a rheumatologist by their primary care physician. This may happen when the primary care physician determines that the patient’s case is more complex, ultimately deciding that it would be better for the patient to see a specialist.

One way that some rheumatic diseases can be treated is through an infusion. An infusion is when a patient is given their medication through an IV. Dr. Sethi covers the history of infusions, how the medications were developed and how they are still developing today.

Three rheumatic diseases that OSMS rheumatologists treat includes rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis or psoriasis, and myositis. Each of these rheumatic diseases can be treated in a variety of ways, where different medications will be used for patients, as their cases are all different. Dr. Sethi discusses some of the common medications that are used to treat each of these diseases.

Signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis include red, flaky skin which can be easily seen on the knees and elbows or can be hidden in the belly button or on the scalp.

Signs and symptoms of myositis, which is a disease that is not as common as the others discussed, includes muscle weakness, where people may find that they have difficulty raising their arms or moving their legs.

Finally, three rheumatic disease success stories were shared, where each patient had a unique case, with its own unique and positive outcome. Our rheumatologists strive to understand the history of their patients’ conditions and work closely with their patients to diagnose the disease, while they actively listen to their concerns during the entirety of their process together.

If you are facing any of these signs and symptoms, Schedule an Appointment with Dr. Sethi today!

To watch Part 2 of Dr. Sethi’s interview with Dr. Larry, click here: https://youtu.be/6Rpnpuri50M