When to see a doctor
When to see a rheumatologist?
Morning stiffness, swelling in several joints, raised CRP – find out when symptoms may point to a rheumatic disease.
In brief
See a rheumatologist when several joints are swollen and painful at the same time, you feel stiffness in the morning lasting more than 30–60 minutes, joint pain comes with fatigue, fever or skin changes, or inflammation markers (CRP, ESR) are raised without an infection.
When to come in
- morning joint stiffness lasting more than 30–60 minutes
- swelling and pain in several joints at once, especially the hands
- back pain that gets worse at night and eases with movement
- elevated CRP or ESR without an infection
- joint pain with a rash, dry eyes and mouth
- recurrent acute pain in the big toe joint (gout)
Don't wait for a visit if…
- hot, red, very painful joint with a fever
- sudden vision problems with a headache around the temple in a person over 50
Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Tests the doctor may order
- CRPglossary
- ESR
- Blood countglossary
- Uric acidglossary
- Rheumatoid factor (RF)glossary
What to bring to your visit
- results of inflammatory and immunological tests
- photos of swollen joints during a flare-up
- X-ray and joint ultrasound reports
Questions and answers
Do rheumatic diseases only affect older people?
No. Many rheumatic diseases, e.g. rheumatoid arthritis or spondyloarthropathies, start between the ages of 20 and 50.
The information is general and does not replace medical advice.
When to see a doctor
See also
When to see an internist?
When to see a cardiologist?
When to see a dermatologist?
When to take a child to a paediatrician?
When to see an ENT specialist?
When to see an orthopaedist?
When to see a physiotherapist?
When to see a psychologist?
When to see a urologist?
When to see an endocrinologist?
When to see a dietitian?
When to see a dentist?
