What is Rheumatology?  

Rheumatology is a branch of medicine that specializes in diagnosing and treating rheumatic diseases. These conditions are autoimmune, inflammatory disorders that affect the joints, muscles, bones, and connective tissues throughout the body. Rheumatic diseases can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling, and may lead to joint deformity, disability, and other serious complications. In this article, we will explore the basics of rheumatology, including the types of rheumatic diseases, their symptoms, causes, and treatment options. 

What Are Rheumatic Diseases? 

Rheumatic diseases are a group of disorders that involve inflammation and damage to the joints, bones, muscles, and other tissues in the body. There are over 100 different types of rheumatic diseases, each with their own unique set of symptoms and complications. Some of the most common rheumatic diseases include: 

Osteoarthritis 

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that affects millions of people worldwide. It occurs when the cartilage in the joints wears down over time, causing pain, stiffness, and swelling. 

Top Rheumatologist In Albuquerque, NM 

1. Dr. David A. Blake, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
2. Dr. Richard J. Harris, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
3. Dr. Andrew W. Deupree, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
4. Dr. David S. Cottrell, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
5. Dr. Thomas J. Faunce, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
6. Dr. Richard M. Yoon, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
7. Dr. Robert J. Miller, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
8. Dr. Michael J. McDaniel, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
9. Dr. Stephen P. Pearson, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
10. Dr. James E. Hovet, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
11. Dr. Stephen C. Houser, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
12. Dr. David R. Schueneman, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
13. Dr. Brian S. Knobloch, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
14. Dr. Robert D. Korn, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
15. Dr. Mark S. Perry, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
16. Dr. William J. Miller, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
17. Dr. Peter D. Girolami, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
18. Dr. William R. Bresser, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
19. Dr. John J. Linehan, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
20. Dr. Michael J. Hayes, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
21. Dr. John P. Gately, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
22. Dr. Jeffrey S. Blohm, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
23. Dr. David G. Menaker, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
24. Dr. Charles S. Carman, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
25. Dr. Thomas F. Panno, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
26. Dr. Stephen J. Rogerson, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
27. Dr. Kenneth J. Tomczak, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
28. Dr. James A. Stroud, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
29. Dr. David L. Bricker, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
30. Dr. Richard A. Rabe, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
31. Dr. John G. Schmeling, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
32. Dr. John B. White, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
33. Dr. William S. Straub, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
34. Dr. Donald W. Miller, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
35. Dr. Charles W. Fink, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
36. Dr. Robert T. Hill, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
37. Dr. William F. Walker, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
38. Dr. John T. Kann, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
39. Dr. John G. Kraljevic, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
40. Dr. James A. Anderson, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
41. Dr. Charles E. Marsh, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
42. Dr. Joseph M. Sheehan, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
43. Dr. Robert E. Wright, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
44. Dr. Kenneth R. Smith, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
45. Dr. John C. Brown, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
46. Dr. Thomas R. McKinney, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
47. Dr. Kenneth L. Jones, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
48. Dr. Robert S. Heater, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
49. Dr. Paul S. Loeb, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
50. Dr. William A. Hughes, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
51. Dr. Michael J. O'Brien, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
52. Dr. Robert E. Smith, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
53. Dr. John C. Reiner, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
54. Dr. Michael E. Robinson, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
55. Dr. Richard K. Wahl, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
56. Dr. Kenneth L. Johnson, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
57. Dr. Robert D. Noyes, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
58. Dr. Donald B. McPherson, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
59. Dr. John A. Fenton, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
60. Dr. David A. Green, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
61. Dr. David M. Rees, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
62. Dr. Michael E. Brown, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
63. Dr. Stephen L. Sanders, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
64. Dr. Kenneth J. Cope, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
65. Dr. David D. Noyes, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
66. Dr. William B. Thompson, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
67. Dr. James B. Frost, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
68. Dr. Robert N. Epperson, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
69. Dr. Richard P. Scholl, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
70. Dr. Stephen J. Blais, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
71. Dr. David L. Law, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
72. Dr. Robert P. Jenkins, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
73. Dr. Stephen J. Olsen, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
74. Dr. Donald L. Kincaid, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
75. Dr. John W. Brown, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
76. Dr. David L. Thompson, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
77. Dr. Thomas F. Hauser, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
78. Dr. Arthur J. Stuckey, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
79. Dr. William E. Johnson, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
80. Dr. John R. Graham, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
81. Dr. Edward J. Bell, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
82. Dr. Thomas L. Stroud, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
83. Dr. Michael J. Smith, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
84. Dr. Jeffrey C. Moore, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
85. Dr. William R. Moss, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
86. Dr. William J. Griffin, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
87. Dr. John M. O'Brien, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
88. Dr. Michael P. Bennett, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
89. Dr. John A. O'Connell, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
90. Dr. Robert J. King, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
91. Dr. John C. Dunn, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
92. Dr. Stephen P. Schuster, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
93. Dr. Thomas G. Smith, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
94. Dr. Christopher J. Lewis, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
95. Dr. David L. Geller, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
96. Dr. Robert E. McKeon, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
97. Dr. Thomas J. McArthur, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
98. Dr. Thomas M. Pritchard, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 
99. Dr. John C. Hittle, Rheumatologist, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 2211 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 
100. Dr. Michael L. Smith, Rheumatologist, Presbyterian Medical Services, 301 Cedar Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106