Rheumatology in Johannesburg

Rheumatology is a branch of medicine that focuses on the diagnosis and therapy of conditions that affect joints, bones, tendons, ligaments, and muscles, including those known as rheumatic diseases, or autoimmune conditions. Physicians who have had special training in rheumatology are called rheumatologists. Some of the conditions that rheumatologists diagnose and treat include:

Chronic back pain, Lupus, Inflammatory arthritis of the hips, knee, or shoulders, Rheumatoid arthritis, Tendinitis, Osteoporosis, Psoriatic arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Giant cell arteritis, Bursitis, Scleroderma, Behcet’s disease, Polymyalgia rheumatic, Paget’s disease, Polymyositis, Dermatomyositis, Ankylosing spondylitis, Gout, Reiter’s syndrome, Sjogren’s syndrome, Reactive arthropathies, Sarcoidosis, Idiopathic juvenile arthritis.

While rheumatologists diagnose and treat rheumatic diseases, they do not perform surgery. They perform examinations and procedures that help them diagnose, manage, and treat rheumatic conditions. These include:

• Complete physical exams.
• Lab tests, which usually involve taking samples of joint fluid, urine, or blood to check for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides (anti-CCP) antibodies, synovial fluid, rheumatoid factor, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein.
• Imaging tests, such as X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, bone density scans (DXA), or ultrasounds.
• Lumbar punctures.
• Joint aspiration.
• Synovial biopsy.
• Joint injections.
• Bursal injections.
• Hyaluronic acid injections.

How Long Should I Stay in Johannesburg?

Rheumatology procedures are usually performed on an outpatient basis, meaning you should be able to leave the hospital or clinic on the same day. Depending on your condition and the type of procedure you will have, you may also be allowed to travel home immediately after. However, it is generally recommended that you stay for 2 to 7 days as you may need to attend a follow-up appointment to discuss the test results with your rheumatologist (if you undergo a diagnostic test) or to monitor your condition.

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

The recovery time depends on your specific condition. After the rheumatology procedure itself, you may not need any downtime, although you will need to take it easy for at least two days after some procedures, such as a lumbar puncture. If your condition causes painful symptoms, your rheumatologist will also recommend that you rest until the pain and discomfort subsides. Make sure to discuss your recovery timeline, including when you can return to work and perform strenuous activities.

What Aftercare is Required?

Your rheumatologist will likely prescribe you medications. It is important that you take the medications as directed. You may also be suggested to see undergo physical therapy or occupational therapy. Physical therapists will teach you exercises that can help you move your joints and improve their strength, while occupational therapists can teach you how to ease the strains on your joints when performing your day-to-day activities. Lifestyle changes are important as well, such as maintaining a healthy weight and staying active. Since most rheumatic diseases are long-term diseases, you probably will need regular checkups.

What's the Success Rate?

With cutting-edge technology, continuous research, and a better understanding of the joints, bones, tendons, ligaments, and muscles, rheumatology procedures are now more accurate and safer. The procedures are also highly successful, giving patients higher satisfaction rates and improvement in their quality of life. 

Are there Alternatives?

The alternatives depend on your specific condition. It is best that you talk to your general physician first, who will be able to refer you to the relevant specialist. If you require surgery, for instance, you need joint replacement surgery, your rheumatologist will refer you to an orthopedic surgeon.

Rheumatology in and around Johannesburg

About Johannesburg

Johannesburg is the most populous as well as the largest city in South Africa. There is a lot to see and do in Johannesburg. Home to the Apartheid Museum, it is the perfect place for anyone who loves history and wants to learn more about the country’s past. There are also MOAD and MuseuMAfriCA that exhibit the city’s art and history. Other than the museums, the metropolitan city has a number of other things to do, such as enjoying Gold Reef City, shopping in its many markets, and visiting The Cradle of Human Kind.

Today, people have found a new reason to visit Johannesburg: medical tourism. Although it is not as widely known as other medical tourism destinations in other parts of the world, the city has seen a steady rise in medical tourists. The urban city features public and private medical centers with the highest standards, well-trained medical practitioners, and cutting-edge technology. Most of the medical centers have English speaking doctors, nurses, and staff, so there is no language barrier for foreign medical tourists. Plastic surgery, particularly tummy tuck, is one of the more popular procedures since it is much cheaper here than in Western countries.

Popular Areas in Johannesburg

While Johannesburg is not a popular tourist destination, there are a number of things to see and do in the city. The city is mostly known as Nelson Mandela’s home and has an array of astonishing museums. Those who love history and want to learn about the country’s struggle will enjoy the Apartheid Museum. It exhibits the story of apartheid through photographs, film footage, clippings, newspaper, and artifacts. Mandela House in Soweto Street is also worth a visit. It was once Nelson Mandela’s home. The museum showcases photographs, paintings, as well as awards and recognitions earned by Nelson Mandela. 

One of the most popular places is the Lion Park. The safari park offers an amazing chance to watch lions and several other animals up close. There are also other activities such as animal interactions and hand-feeding a few animals, such as ostriches and giraffes. Other than the Lion Park, Pilanesberg National Park is famous among wildlife enthusiast. The national park is filled with opulent ecosystem and wildlife. Tourists can experience a safari and spot lions, rhinos, elephants, leopards, zebras, and over 300 bird species in their natural habitat. 

Johannesburg is popular for its art and you must visit the Maboneng Precinct where you will find art-studios and shops selling art pieces. Wits Art Museum is another great place to admire African art. If you want to know more about the culture, Lesedi Cultural Village is the best place to go. Here, tourists can learn more about traditional South African culture and a chance to encounter people of Zulu, Pedi, Ndebele, Xhosa, and Basotho origin. Other places including SAB World of Beer, Gold Reef City, Holly Hill, Market Theatre, Constitution Hill, and Mary Fitzgerald Square are also a must-visit. 

Weather and Climate in Johannesburg

Johannesburg experiences a subtropical highland climate. The summer, which runs from October to April, is characterized by hot days with thundershowers in the afternoon and cool evenings. The temperature is mostly mild during the summer. January is one of the hottest months, with an average maximum daytime temperature of 25.6 °C. The summer has an extreme UV index, sometimes reaching as high as 14-16. Therefore, tourists must wear sun-protective clothing and apply sunscreen during the day to avoid sunburn.

In the winter, the city enjoys sunny days and cold nights. This season is dry, and the average maximum temperature is around 16 °C. In June and July, the temperature can drop to 4.1 °C and occasionally drops below freezing at night. The freezing temperature causes frost, but snow is rare. It is advisable to bring warm clothing during this season.

Getting Around in Johannesburg

International visitors usually arrive at O. R. Tambo International Airport, also known as Johannesburg International Airport. It is Africa’s busiest airport and the primary airport that serves domestic and international travel. The airport connects South Africa with various cities all over the world, including London, Abu Dhabi, Atlanta, Singapore, and Sydney. It is the hub for South Africa’s largest domestic and international airlines, South African Airways. Budget airlines such as FlySafair, Mango, and Kalula operate flights from this airport for an inexpensive travel option. 

Johannesburg has a vast public transport system. The Gautrain rapid-rail is safe and fairly easy to navigate. The rail also links the city center with O. R. Tambo International Airport. For efficient transport, tourists can opt for the Rea Vaya bus service that has a circular route through the city and is useful to explore the City Center at a reasonable cost. Many locals will use the minibus taxi network, but it can be pretty confusing for foreign tourists. Passengers need to know a route to their destination, hail the minibus taxi from the street, and once they have arrived at their desired destination, they need to make a hand signal to stop the minibus. 

Metered taxis are available but can be quite expensive. The taxis are mostly found outside hotels. Since there are only a few places to hail a taxi in the street, the best way to hail a taxi is by phone. Be careful because many taxis do not use meters so tourists would need to negotiate the price before getting in. The most reliable metered taxis are Orange Cabs, Quick Cab, and Zebra Cabs. Uber is also available for safer, quicker, and more affordable transport.

Tourist Visas in Johannesburg

All visitors who wish to enter South Africa must hold a passport valid for at least 30 days after the expiration of their intended visit and must have at least two unused pages. Passport holders of more than 60 countries can enter and stay for up to 90 days in the country without a visa. Other nationals not listed in the visa exemption agreement must obtain a visa to the nearest South Africa embassy or consulate. The South Africa Immigration Department also offers Medical Treatment Visa for medical tourists.

Additional Information

1. Local Currency: The local currency is the South African Rand (ZAR). 1 USD is equivalent to 14 ZAR.
2. Money & Payments: ATMs are available at every commercial center. Most hotels, restaurants, and shops accept credit cards (especially MasterCard and Visa). However, be sure to always carry some cash since there are several cases of credit card fraud. Tourists must tip car guards, but should not tip minibus taxi drivers. For bars and restaurants, 10% to 20% of the bill is acceptable.
3. Local Language: Most people will speak more than two languages, including Nguni, Sotho, English, Afrikaans, and Tshivenda.
4. Local Culture and Religion: More than 50% of the population follows Christianity and more than 20% are not affiliated with any religion. There are small groups of Muslim, Jewish, and Hindus. 
5. Public Holidays: There are around 12 official public holidays in the city such as Good Friday, Freedom Day, Heritage Day, and Christmas Day.