You might think joint pain is part of getting older and shrug off stiffness or mild swelling in your hands or knees. The truth is that these signs sometimes actually point to conditions that need specialised care.
Your GP may suggest a referral to a rheumatology specialist in Singapore if you’ve tried simple pain relief or rest with no success. A referral means that you see a doctor who knows complex joint and immune problems.
This specialist is known as a rheumatologist. So, a rheumatology specialist in Singapore is a doctor who is trained in joint, muscle and immune conditions.
They study how your immune system may attack your own tissues and can tell when pain comes from wear and tear and when it comes from inflammation or an overactive defence system. On top of talking through your symptoms, they can order and read blood tests that look for markers of inflammation or autoimmunity. They also ask about family history and past infections among other clues.
What Conditions Does a Rheumatologist Treat?
There are several conditions that may warrant the visit to a rheumatologist in Singapore. However, the ones listed below are the most notable ones. Each of these conditions involves inflammation or immune system changes that cause pain, swelling or stiffness in joints and tissues.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis happens when cartilage that cushions your joints wears down. You might feel pain when you move, hear creaking sounds and notice stiffness after rest.
It often affects knees, hips and hands. If osteoarthritis is suspected, a rheumatology specialist will check your joint images or take fluid samples to confirm. If diagnosed with the condition, they will guide you on exercise, healthy weight and pain relief to protect your joints.
Lupus
Lupus is a disease where your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy parts of your body, like the skin and joints. This can cause symptoms like rashes, joint pain, tiredness, and fever that may appear and disappear.
A rheumatologist uses blood tests to look for signs of lupus. If diagnosed with the condition, your rheumatology specialist in Singapore can help you manage it with medicine and healthy habits to reduce flare-ups and improve your daily life.
Gout
Gout happens when there’s too much uric acid in your body. Because of this extra acid, you may develop sharp crystals in your joints, often starting with the big toe.
You may feel sudden pain, swelling and redness. A rheumatology doctor can test your blood and joint fluid to confirm it. They’ll also help you manage it with medicine, diet changes and exercise to lower your risk of future attacks.
Psoriatic Arthritis
This is a condition that links skin problems with joint pain. You might notice red, scaly patches on your skin, changes in your nails, and stiff joints that feel sore.
A rheumatology specialist in Singapore will be able to look at both your skin and joints, run some tests, and checks scans. Treatment usually includes medicines to slow down your immune system and simple exercises to help you move better and feel less pain.
Vasculitis
Vasculitis happens when your blood vessels get inflamed. It can cause different symptoms, like skin rashes, fever, tiredness, or numbness, depending on which part of your body is affected.
A rheumatology specialist may run blood tests, scans, or take a small tissue sample to check for it. Treatment usually includes medicine to calm the immune system and regular check-ups to keep your organs safe.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia causes long-lasting pain and tenderness in many areas of your body. You might also feel very tired, have trouble sleeping, or find it hard to focus.
A rheumatology specialist will first check for other causes and if it is fibromyalgia, they may recommend light exercise, ways to manage stress, and medicines to calm your nerves and muscles. You may also get help to sleep better and feel more in control.
Ankylosing Spondylitis
This condition mainly affects the joints in your spine and can make your back feel stiff and painful, especially after resting. Moving around often helps ease the pain.
At a rheumatology specialist clinic, the doctors may check your spine with X-rays and run blood tests for a gene called HLA-B27. With early treatment, including exercise, posture tips and medicine, you can slow down joint damage and stay more flexible.
At What Point Should You See a Rheumatologist?
Not every case of a joint pain demands immediate appointment with a rheumatology specialist. However, you should definitely see one if you experience joint pain or swelling that lasts more than six weeks, or when you have morning stiffness that lasts over 30 minutes.
The reason for this is because persistent joint pain or swelling is not normal. If pain wakes you up at night or stops you from doing daily tasks, you may really need expert assessment.
Look out for other signs, like unexplained fever, skin rash, sudden weight loss or deep fatigue that does not get better with rest. You will want to act early to limit joint damage and keep yourself moving.
On your first visit to a rheumatology specialist in Singapore, the doctor will begin by asking about your symptoms. They will ask when pain began, which joints hurt and what makes it better or worse.
They will also note any family history of arthritis or immune conditions. You’ll also discuss past injuries, infections or other health issues that may be linked.
After that, the doctor will check the affected joints to look for warmth, swelling and redness. You may be asked to bend and straighten your joints to test your range of motion.
They might watch how you walk or grip objects to look for any hidden signs that tests alone cannot catch. If needed, your specialist may order simple blood tests to find markers like rheumatoid factor or anti-CCP antibodies.
They may also check your general markers of inflammation, like C-reactive protein. Imaging tests, like X-rays or ultrasound scans might also be used to let them see bone changes or fluid in a joint.
Wrapping Up
Spotting the right time to see a rheumatology specialist in Singapore makes a big difference. If you can get early expert care, you will have good chances of getting clearer answers, precise tests and a treatment plan that fits you.
You do not have to live with unexplained pain or stiffness especially now that Singapore has many accredited clinics with teams who focus on immune and joint health. Talk to your GP if you notice signs that go beyond normal aches.
Or you can reach out to us directly to schedule an assessment. See details below;
Asia Arthritis & Rheumatology Centre – Dr Annie Law | Senior Rheumatologist | Lupus Treatment Singapore
3 Mount Elizabeth, #05-03 Medical Centre, Singapore 228510
Phone: +65 8030 7862
