Would you say it is rheumatology the department that deals with the onset of arthritis and stiff joints?

No , is not : The first to deal with stiff joint and arthritic pains will be the family poracticiones, the generalist , the internal medicine doctor . The rheumatologist appears when the situation becomes complicated or the arthrtis lasts for more than six weeks , with many exceptions of course.

Rheumatologist: Generally, yes, but you usually you'll need to be evaluated by your primary to decide if you need a referral. Sometimes your primary may be able to care for you, but in cases where they can't, they can decide who best to refer you to. Hope this helps.

Yes!: A rheumatologist is a doctor that treats rheumatic diseases. Rheumatic diseases are a set of illnesses that have inflammation as a common characteristic. The most common type of disease that we care for is arthritis (both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis). However, we also treat more rare diseases such as lupus, vasculitis, Sjogren's syndrome, scleroderma, dermatomyositis, and gout.

Yes: See a rheumatologist for further examination and lab tests to get a diagnosis.