I'm Dr. John Shim, and today I would like to talk about why you may need to see a rheumatologist.
As a spinal specialist, and with my experience with thousands of surgeries, I see patients
on a daily basis who have frustrations about their neck and back pains.
The truth is very few of these folks actually would benefit from surgical management.
But because of the desperation, they may seek a surgeon to see if there is an invasive option.
As I've stated in several other videos, the only time surgery is necessary is if there
is a significant threat to life, or an important bodily function.
I know sometimes the pain can be very severe.
But pain by itself is not the only reason you should pursue surgery.
The source of the pain should be identified, and if the source of the pain has potential
to cause a serious problem and is amenable to a surgical solution, then surgery may
be necessary, and sometimes even on an emergent basis.
On the other hand, these folks who have back pain, but after workup, there is no evidence
of a limb or life threatening bodily function are taking a significant amount of risk.
In this situation, nonsurgical options, and further diagnostic testing may be necessary.
To give an example, throughout the spine that rotates around may be a rheumatologic condition that would not benefit from surgery.
Should there be somebody with significant pain, but without a defined risky
situation, spinal specialists may ask additional questions about other conditions such as joint pains,
migrating areas of pains throughout the body, and family history of conditions such as rheumatoid
arthritis.
In that scenario, spinal specialists may refer you to a rheumatologist.
Rheumatologist are very specialized physicians who understand that sometimes that persons
own body may be the source of pain.
To try to simplify the understanding, rheumatologists deal with complaints related to inflammation
of the joints and tissues caused by the body abnormally reacting to their own tissue.
For certain rheumatological conditions, the body thinks its own tissues are foreign, and
may need to be removed, or isolated. The body basically attacks its own tissues.
The rheumatologist will perform a detailed physical examination, and then use various laboratory
tests to determine if you have 1 of these conditions.
Rheumatologist have a significant number of medications that can help alleviate, or reduce
the pains associated with this condition.
Rheumatologist can help people with neck and back pain from these various disease conditions.
Rheumatologist work together with an orthopedic surgeon to determine treatment options for
these conditions.
At times, the conditions may deteriorate to the point surgery may be necessary.
On the other hand, with the various treatment options including medications, it is possible
rheumatologist may have an effective treatment for certain pains that may suggest a spine
specific condition.
As always, I remind patients that when a surgeon recommends further nonsurgical options, or
consultation with other non-surgical specialists, it is because the surgeon has determined that
there was not a current need for urgent surgery, and that currently the risks of surgery may
not outweigh the potential benefits.
Also, if there are concerns that there is a condition that will not improve with surgery,
a prudent surgeon would always recommend against surgery at that time.
Every spinal specialist recommends a rheumatologic evaluation, I would certainly encourage that
person to see such a doctor.
As I always say, I am not tell you what to do.
As your consultant, I can only recommend what I would do.
This is Dr. John Shim, talking about why a spinal specialist may recommend a rheumatology evaluation.
I hope you learned something in this video.