Rheumatic disorders can be complex, tough to diagnose, and difficult to treat. And although rheumatic arthritis is the best known rheumatic disorder, there are others — including lupus, Sjogren's syndrome, and myositis. Because these disorders are so complex, there is an entire specialty of medicine, known as rheumatology, dedicated to managing these conditions. But what are the signs you need to be seen by a rheumatologist? 

Your general physician has diagnosed you with an autoimmune or rheumatic disease

General physicians can diagnose rheumatoid arthritis and similar conditions and prescribe medications for these disorders. But if your general physician diagnoses you with one of these diseases, get a second opinion from a rheumatologist. They may notice some peculiarities your doctor missed, allowing them to prescribe a medication that is more effective. Or, they may determine that you have a less-common condition, like Sjorgren's syndrome, whereas your general physician just diagnosed the more popular rheumatoid arthritis because that's what they're more familiar with.

You have ongoing joint pain that has persisted through several treatment attempts

There are many possible causes of joint pain. You could have osteoarthritis. Your posture may be causing joint soreness. However, if you have worked your way through a few different diagnoses and treatments and yet your joint pain persists, you need to visit a rheumatologist. There's a good chance these treatments are not working because your joint pain is caused by a rheumatic disease.

You have multiple strange and seemingly unrelated symptoms

Because they are mostly due to an irregular immune system, and the immune system can affect every other system in your body, rheumatic conditions can cause all sorts of strange symptoms. For example, you may have eye pain and sore ankles — two symptoms that seem unrelated, but can actually be the result of your immune system attacking both of these tissues. If you have been dealing with symptom after symptom or illness after illness, it's time to see a rheumatologist. These seemingly independent symptoms and conditions could all be connected by a common denominator: a rheumatic illness. By examining your health history and running a few tests, your rheumatologist can finally give you answers.

Rheumatology is a unique medical specialty in that it focuses on a series of diseases, rather than a specific body part. However, rheumatologists are very skilled at recognizing rheumatic diseases, and if any of the above situations ring true for you, then you should certainly see one of these professionals.

For more information, contact a company like Sarasota Arthritis Center.