Rheumatologists are specialist physicians with expertise in the investigation, diagnosis and treatment of all forms of arthritis and other diseases of the joints, bones, muscles and soft tissues.

The Rheumatology Unit at The Hospital of St John & St Elizabeth practices to the highest clinical standards and enjoys an international reputation for excellence.  The Consultant Rheumatologists who lead this multidisciplinary service have access to:

• Fully CPA accredited pathology services
• State of the art Digital X-ray, CT, MRI Ultrasound imaging facilities
• Physiotherapists and occupational therapists with a range of specialist skills
• They also and have support from colleagues from a complete range of medical and surgical specialities.

Our team of Consultants have a wide range of experience in all areas of rheumatology.

The speciality includes a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions which vary from the complex inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and connective tissue disease, to degenerative joint disease and soft tissue disorders affecting muscle, tendon, ligament, bursa, intervertebral disc and meniscus.

Many of our rheumatologists also have specialist experience in paediatric and adolescent rheumatology, soft tissue rheumatic disorders brought on by exercise and hypermobility disorders.

Conditions Treated:

• General Rheumatology
• Inflammatory Arthritis
• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Sero Negative Arthritis
• Soft tissue Rheumatism
• Connective tissue disorders
• Crystal arthritis & Gout
• Back Pain & Sciatica
• Sports Medicine
• Hypermobility
• Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosis) SLE
• Osteoporosis
• Vasculitis
• Sarcoidosis
• Myositis
• Neck Pain
• Chronic Fatigue

Treatments include:

• The prescription and monitoring of pain-killing, anti-inflammatory and disease modifying medications.
• The administration of intraarticular, intramuscular and soft tissue injections.
• Extracorporeal shock wave therapy.
• The coordination of physical and surgical treatments.
• Advice and prescription of medicines to prevent and treat osteoporosis and other degenerative conditions.

Patients are usually referred to this service by their general practitioner (GP), physiotherapist or hospital consultant.