If you’ve ever heard the word rheumatologist and thought, “Wait…is that the doctor for my knees?” you are definitely not alone. The name sounds a little mysterious. Maybe even like someone who studies rain clouds. (Spoiler: they do not.) A rheumatologist is a medical specialist who focuses on diseases involving the joints, muscles, bones, and—perhaps most importantly for people dealing with autoimmune issues—the immune system. They’re especially skilled at figuring out what happens when the immune system gets a little confused and starts attacking the body it is supposed to protect. And autoimmune diseases can be confusing. Symptoms may come…


