Frequently asked questions

Rheumatologists diagnose and treat autoimmune and inflammatory conditions affecting the joints, muscles, bones and connective tissues — including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, spondyloarthritis, gout, vasculitis, myositis, osteoporosis and more than a hundred related disorders.

Consider a consultation if you have joint pain or swelling lasting more than a few weeks, morning stiffness, back pain that improves with movement, unexplained fevers or fatigue, recurring rashes or mouth ulcers, fingers changing colour in the cold, or abnormal autoimmune blood tests.

Bring your previous medical records, any X-rays or scans, recent blood test reports, and a list of the medicines you currently take. A brief note of when your symptoms started and how they have changed is very helpful.

Dr. Baweja will take a detailed history, examine your joints and other relevant systems, and review any existing reports. He may order targeted blood tests or imaging, and will discuss the likely explanations and a clear plan for diagnosis and treatment.

Most rheumatic diseases are managed rather than cured — but with modern treatment the majority of patients achieve remission or low disease activity, meaning minimal symptoms and a normal, active life. Early diagnosis significantly improves outcomes.

Modern rheumatology medicines are supported by decades of evidence and are monitored with regular blood tests. The risks of untreated inflammation are generally far greater than the risks of well-monitored treatment. Every plan is individualised and reviewed regularly.

It is a quick, painless examination of the tiny blood vessels at the base of your fingernails using a special microscope. It helps distinguish harmless cold-sensitive fingers from early connective tissue disease such as systemic sclerosis.

No referral is required. You can book directly with Dr. Baweja at Medanta – The Medicity, Gurugram, through the request form on this website or the hospital's appointment line.

Dr. Ashish Baweja consults at the Institute of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Medanta – The Medicity, Sector 38, Gurugram, Haryana 122001.

A first consultation usually takes longer than a routine visit because the history and examination are detailed. Allow extra time on the day, and bring all previous reports so nothing needs to be repeated unnecessarily.

An orthopaedic surgeon treats structural problems of bones and joints — fractures, torn ligaments, worn joints that need replacing. A rheumatologist treats inflammatory and autoimmune disease of the joints, muscles and connective tissue with medicines rather than surgery. Joint swelling with morning stiffness belongs to a rheumatologist; a knee injury from a fall belongs to an orthopaedic surgeon.

Usually not. A positive ANA is found in a substantial proportion of healthy people, more often in women and with increasing age, and it also appears in thyroid disease and after infections. It is meaningful only alongside symptoms and specific follow-on antibody tests. A positive ANA with no symptoms rarely needs treatment — it needs interpretation.

Some risk is inherited, but it is a predisposition rather than a certainty. Having a parent with rheumatoid arthritis raises your risk several-fold from a low baseline; most children of affected parents never develop it. Ankylosing spondylitis has a stronger genetic link through HLA-B27, though most B27-positive people never develop the disease.

No diet cures inflammatory arthritis, and any source claiming otherwise should be treated with caution. Diet does matter at the margins: weight reduction genuinely reduces load on knees and hips and improves psoriatic arthritis, and in gout, purine and alcohol intake affect attack frequency. Diet supports treatment; it does not replace it.

Most rheumatic diseases are controlled rather than cured, so treatment is usually measured in years. If the disease stays in sustained remission, doses are sometimes reduced carefully under supervision. Stopping suddenly because you feel well is the commonest cause of a flare.

For most women, yes — with planning. Several rheumatology medicines are safe in pregnancy and several are not, and switching needs to happen before conception rather than after. Well-controlled disease at the time of conception gives the best outcome for both mother and baby, so this is a conversation to start early.

No referral is required. You can request an appointment through this website or the Medanta appointment line directly.

Outpatient consultation and investigation cover depends entirely on your policy — many Indian health policies cover inpatient care but limited or no OPD. The hospital billing desk can confirm what applies to your plan before you commit to tests.

That is a common way patients reach rheumatology, and it is worth bringing every previous report — including the normal ones. Multi-system autoimmune disease is easy to miss when each specialist sees only one organ. A normal result at a known date is useful evidence, not wasted paper.

On its own, no. Painless cracking or popping of joints is common and harmless. What matters is swelling, warmth, stiffness lasting more than thirty minutes in the morning, or pain that limits daily activity.