The Art of Rheumatology!

Chronic diseases are chronic. As the name suggests, they take time to develop and last almost forever. That being said, treating those conditions is a chronic process too. It takes time to find the right treatment and then it takes time for the right treatment to work.

It needs a team effort. And the main player of the team is the patient. Doctors, nurses, social workers and other health care staff are the supporting players. 

Be it Osteoarthritis, Gout, Rheumatoid arthritis,  lupus, Scleroderma, Myositis or any other connective tissue disease, the first step is diagnosing it correctly which more often than not, takes a convoluted route. It’s not straight forward at all.

It’s a very customized process. More appropriately said, it is an art. Not to mention, some of these diseases are so complicated and have the mind of their own on deciding how they want to present initially and how they want to evolve over time. It is not a surprise if the diagnosis changes over the course of time.

Once the diagnosis is made, the next important step is finding the right medication, which again is unique to the patient. The history of other medical ailments and the habits and personal choices are some of the factors that are taken into consideration while deciding a correct treatment.

Once the right treatment is decided, it must go through the test of time, efficacy and tolerance.

If all is well, compliance to the medications, routine monitoring and regular office visits are the key to ensure the safety and efficacy of the treatment.

It’s a commitment!

Healing is a process and it begins here.

Let us hold your hands, while you walk this path!

Jaya Sonkar MD MPH