The joint or muscle pain can lead to severe complications if neglected earlier. Rheumatism is not a single disease but a combination of various disorders which may affect your joints, muscles, and tendons and can even lead to limiting your body movements. Rheumatism does not necessarily arise from any injury but is due to aging, inflammation, gout, and fibromyalgia. There are multiple forms in which rheumatism may affect the human body.

Causes of Rheumatism

Although the chances of rheumatism occurring arise with aging, it can affect people of any age group. Rheumatism is an inflammatory disorder that affects joints and muscles and produces long-lasting damage to other organs, such as eyes, lungs, heart, and even skin.

During the condition of rheumatoid arthritis, the body’s immune system erroneously attacks its own body’s tissues which results in affecting the joints lining. The inflammation causes severe pain, leads to joint deformity, and if not taken care of on time, it slowly affects your physical movements.

Rheumatism starts affecting the smaller joints, and as it progresses, it spreads toward the other body organs. Over time, the joints become dislocated due to extreme swelling.

If you feel persistent pain in your joints or muscles, you should make an appointment with a qualified rheumatologist who can detect the cause of this pain and save your body from any further damage.

Best rheumatology doctors in Dubai

Since Dubai is the hub of advanced medical treatments and procedures, you will find a number of qualified and competent Rheumatologists in the city. We have enlisted some of the finest rheumatologists in Dubai to help you find the best rheumatologists to tackle any rheumatism complication. The list contains only those rheumatologists who are experienced, qualified and have more than one subspecialty in rheumatology.

1. Dr. Beena Hameed

In addition to 20 years of experience in rheumatology, Dr. Beena Hameed has more than 28 years of experience in internal medicine. She specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and other widespread joint and body disorders.

Dr. Hameed also offers services in Punjabi, Urdu, Hindi, and English for easy consultation. Dr. Hameed is the only rheumatology specialist in Novomed, so her consultation and treatment charges might be slightly higher. She owns excellent specialties in diagnosing and treating Rheumatoid Arthritis, Autoimmune disorders, Osteoporosis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Musculoskeletal diseases, and complications related to connective tissues.

Address: Novomed – Marina Plaza, Suite 3004, 30th Floor, Dubai Marina, Dubai, UAE

2. Dr.Rafik Abulmagd

Throughout his medical career, Dr. Rafik Abulmagd has worked for various recognized hospitals in the UAE and has extensive experience in dealing with inflammatory joint diseases in adults. Dr. Abulmagd holds a Master’s degree in Rheumatology and rehabilitation from Caira.

He has specialties in Rheumatoid Arthritis, spondylarthritis, Scleroderma, Polymyositis, Sjogren’s syndrome, and crystal-induced Arthritis. Not only does his expertise deal with joint complications in adults, but he also holds well-versed experience in treating children who have any sort of inflammatory joint disorders. He treats osteoporosis and chronic pain syndromes like fibromyalgia using state-of-the-art biologic medicines. Additionally, he administers intra-articular and intra-lesioned injections of every kind.

Address: Prime Hospital, Airport Road, Next to Le Meridian Hotel, Dubai, UAE

3. Dr. Waseem Raja

Dr. Raja is an exceptionally qualified doctor in the field of Rheumatology and has been working as a specialist in the field for more than 10 years now. He has expertise in various conditions such as bone & muscle pain, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, lethargy, spondylitis, ankylosing spondylitis, Osteoporosis, Fibromyalgia, and soft tissue Rheumatism.

Dr. Waseem Raja treats his patients with modern biologic injections and infusions. Along with disc problems, he can provide non-surgical treatment for pain in the neck, shoulder, back, elbow, ankle, and knee. In addition, he offers injectable treatments for small or large joint complications. The Royal College of Physicians also appointed him as the International Regional Advisor for UAE. Not only is he a competent Rheumatologist, but he is also a popular teacher with years of teaching experience.

Address: Fakeeh University Hospital, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai, UAE

4. Dr. Ayman Massri

Dr. Massri is a well-known rheumatologist in Dubai for various reasons, including strong credentials and many years of experience in the area. His reasonably priced consultation fees are also advantageous, particularly if you want to keep costs down. He provides modern clinical and diagnostic services to treat various rheumatic disorders, including Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systematic Lupus Erythematosus, Polymyositis, Gout, Dermatomyositis, Sjogren’s Syndrome, and Spondylarthritis.

The affordable consultation fees and ease of providing patient care in various languages make him an excellent choice to go to for your rheumatology-related issues. He has more than 20 years of experience and is also a member of GRIO-FRENCH for Research on Osteoporosis.

Address: French Medical Center, 1st Floor, The Village, Beach Road, Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE

5. Dr. Humeira Badsha

For 20 years, Dr. Humeira Badsha has served as a consultant rheumatologist in Dubai, Singapore, and the USA. He earned his MBBS degree from Madras Medical College, Chennai, India, and finished her internal medicine residency at the University of Connecticut, USA.

The American Board of Rheumatology has qualified Dr. Humeira Badsha to use ultrasound to assist patients in identifying musculoskeletal issues and disorders. She also has phenomenal teaching experience at UCLA, Harvard, and Tufts. Dr. Badsha holds specialization in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Gout, Scleroderma, Sjogren’s Syndrome, Systematic Lupus Erythematosus, Osteoporosis, Psoriatic Arthritis, and Spondylarthritis.

Address: Dr. Humeira Badshah Medical Center, 27th floor, Al Habtoor Business Tower Near Habtoor Grand Resort- Dubai, UAE

6. Dr. Ahmed Abogamal

Prof. Abogamal is a Consultant Rheumatologist and is renowned for his expertise in musculoskeletal ultrasound and his effective application of it in the diagnosis and follow-up of various joint diseases. He is also widely known for using ultrasound as a guide for all joint treatments and procedures.

Dr. Ahmed Abogamal has renowned expertise in treating and diagnosing Rheumatoid Arthritis, Gout, regional pain syndromes, Psoriatic Arthritis, Systematic Lupus, Scleroderma, and Osteoporosis. Joint injection and Soft Tissue injection are some of the popular procedures in which Dr. Abogamal has expertise.

Address: Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Hospital, Building 55, Umm Hurair 2, Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates,

7. Dr. Said Hamdoun

For more than 20 years, Dr. Said has taught diseases of the articular and locomotor systems at Aleppo University’s faculty of medicine. Not only is he an exceptional professor, but his clinical experience is beyond excellence. He holds expertise in Inflammatory vertebral diseases, Articular degenerative diseases, osteoporosis, low back pain, familial and hereditary rheumatic diseases, and tendon & ligament disorder. He is also recognized for carrying out the latest and biological treatments for autoimmune rheumatic disorders.

Within 25 years of clinical experience, he has assisted an unlimited number of patients in combating rheumatic disorders. He is also a member of the British Society of Rheumatology.

Address: Emirates Hospital Clinic, Al Habtoor Business Tower, Dubai Marina, Dubai, UAE

8. Dr. Alaa Eldin Moustafa Saleh

Dr. Alaa Eldin Moustafa Saleh has graduated and is post-graduated from the reputed university of Egypt – Alexandria Medical University, and today, he owns a strong position among the top Rheumatologists in the UAE. He is known for his extensive research and quick diagnosis based on his vast experience and intellectual sense of diagnosis at the early stage of rheumatic diseases.

He provides exceptional services by using the latest technologies and methods and has a strong approach to treating patients with his comprehensive set of expertise. He specializes in treating Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Gout, Scleroderma, Spondylarthritis., and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Address: Al Zahra Hospital, Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Barsha, Al Barsha 1, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

9. Dr. Maisam Musgrave

With 17 years of research and clinical expertise, Dr. Musgrave assists patients with rheumatoid illnesses. She is a UK Board Certified Rheumatologist and serves as a Specialist and Consultant Rheumatologist in the UAE. Dr. Musgrave earned an MBBS degree from Khartoum University in Sudan and is competent in both English and Arabic.

Due to her extensive experience in dealing with Rheumatoid disorders, and patients with inflammatory arthritis, spondylarthritis, osteoporosis, and lupus, she is renowned as one of the best Rheumatologists in the UAE. She has expertise in soft tissue injections, crystal microscopy, and inflammatory arthritis.

Address: American Hospital, Opposite to Elegenza Building and DIB Bank 15th Street, Oud Metha, Dubai, UAE

10. Dr. Jamal Al Saleh

Jamal Al-Saleh has been a rheumatologist for the past 21 years and received his training in the UK. Dr. Al-Saleh earned his medical and surgical degrees from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in 1995. He presently serves as the Medical Director of Dubai Hospital and Head of the Rheumatology Department. He received his Royal College of London Bachelor of Arts degree in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Dr. Jamal got his membership in the Royal College of Physicians in the UK in 1999 and was given a master’s degree in clinical rheumatology by the University of Manchester in 2003.

Dr. Al-Saleh is an international counselor for the UAE and an examiner for the Royal College of Physicians in the United Kingdom. His expertise includes soft tissue injections, biological therapies for autoimmune diseases, Rheumatoid diseases, and Osteoarthritis.

Address: Dubai Hospital, 222 Al Khaleej Street, Deira, Dubai, UAE

When to see a Rheumatologist?

It is suggested to consult a rheumatologist if you experience severe pain or discomfort in joints, muscles, neck, back, or bone because many rheumatic diseases are difficult to diagnose in their initial stages. One of the signs of more complicated rheumatic disorders is unrelenting joint or muscle discomfort. So be careful to see a rheumatologist right away if you suffer from this, together with a fever, exhaustion, or fatigue.

If you have joint pain, your doctor can determine if it is non-inflammatory and hence more likely to be caused by osteoarthritis or if it is accompanied by other systemic symptoms that could signal an inflammatory, autoimmune disorder, referred to as Rheumatic disease.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• What is rheumatism?

Rheumatism is a combination of various disorders which affect joints, muscles, tendons, bones, and ligaments. In its certain forms, Rheumatism can even affect other body organs such as the heart, lungs, blood vessels, and skin.

• Are arthritis and rheumatism the same?

Arthritis is the acute inflammation of joints that further leads to structural damage, while rheumatism is a collection of various disorders of joints and muscles that result in joint and organ destruction.

• Who treats and diagnoses rheumatic disorders?

Rheumatologists detect and treat rheumatic diseases as they are qualified in the field and can treat various types of rheumatoid diseases such as gout, rheumatoid inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis, and many more.

• In how many forms does Rheumatism exist?

Rheumatism exists in two forms, i.e., articular rheumatism, which affects joints, and non-articular rheumatism, which affects muscles and soft tissues.

• Is Rheumatism deadly?

A person cannot die from affecting with Rheumatism. However, the condition may affect the body’s other organs, leading to disturbing the person’s overall health.

• What is the proportion of occurring Rheumatism?

Research suggests that 1 out of 1000 children is born with some sort of rheumatic disorder, while 5 to 6% of males and 8 to 9% of females develop some signs of rheumatism during their lifetime.

• What is the difference between rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is the disorder of joints that starts with affecting the lining of joints, while Osteoarthritis is the wearing of the cartilage within a joint that deforms the underlying bone.

• What are the common signs of rheumatoid arthritis?

Some of the common causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis include joint stiffness in the morning, tender or swollen joints, fatigue, and loss of appetite.

• What are the most common drugs prescribed to treat rheumatoid arthritis?

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, disease-modifying anti-rheumatoid drugs, and corticosteroids are the most commonly suggested classes of drugs prescribed during the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

• How much does Rheumatoid Arthritis cost in Dubai?

It costs around AED 6000 to AED 9000 per month to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis in Dubai.

• What are the most common disorders which rheumatologists treat?

The most common disorders treated by Rheumatologists are Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Gout, and Lupus.