The short answer
See a rheumatologist when joints are swollen, when stiffness lasts more than an hour each morning, when joint pain comes with a rash, mouth ulcers or fevers, when back pain began before 45 and eases with movement, or when gout keeps returning. A rheumatologist is a physician who treats arthritis and autoimmune conditions with medicines and monitoring. The first visit is a long history, an examination of every joint, and a plan for the tests that settle the diagnosis.
Book a rheumatologist, from ₦100,000Medically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed . This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
Step by step
- 1
Write down the pattern
Which joints, when they swell, how long the morning stiffness lasts, and what helps.
- 2
Gather what you have
Old blood test results, X-ray reports, and a photo of every medicine and herbal remedy you take.
- 3
Book the consultation
Ask for a rheumatologist on Mezo; the coordinator finds the earliest time and the fee is shown before you pay.
- 4
Do the tests
Do the blood tests and X-rays the rheumatologist asks for, each priced before you pay.
- 5
Come back for the plan
The follow-up goes through the results and starts treatment.
What a rheumatologist treats
Rheumatologists are specialist physicians, not surgeons. They diagnose and treat conditions where the joints, muscles or bones are inflamed or damaged, many of them caused by the immune system.
- Rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis
- Lupus (SLE) and other autoimmune conditions
- Gout
- Ankylosing spondylitis and inflammatory back pain
- Osteoarthritis, with medicines and a plan before any talk of surgery
- Osteoporosis and fragile bones
- Fibromyalgia and widespread pain
Signs you should not wait
NICE advises urgent referral to a rheumatologist for anyone with swelling in the small joints of the hands or feet, or in more than one joint, even when blood tests are normal. Early treatment protects the joints; months of waiting can cost them.
- Swollen joints, especially fingers, wrists or the balls of the feet
- Morning stiffness lasting more than an hour
- Joint pain with a rash, mouth ulcers, hair loss or fevers
- Back pain that began before 45, has lasted three months and wakes you at night
- Gout attacks more than once a year
- A swollen finger or toe in someone with psoriasis
What happens at the first consultation
Expect a long history: when it started, which joints, how long the stiffness lasts, your family history, every medicine and herbal remedy. Then the rheumatologist examines every joint, the skin, nails and eyes where relevant. You leave with the likely diagnosis, the tests that will confirm it, and when to come back.
On Mezo the first consultation is from ₦100,000. Each rheumatologist sets their own fee, shown before you pay. Blood tests can be done at a partner laboratory, or the sample taken at home in Lagos.
What it costs on Mezo
One fixed price, paid online.
Common questions
Rheumatologist or orthopaedic surgeon: which do I need?
A rheumatologist treats arthritis and autoimmune conditions with medicines. An orthopaedic surgeon treats injuries and joints damaged enough to need an operation. If joints swell with no injury, start with a rheumatologist.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can book a rheumatologist directly on Mezo. If another doctor has seen you, bring their letter and results.
Is there a rheumatologist near me?
Rheumatologists are few in Nigeria and most work in Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan and other large cities. Mezo lists those taking bookings, and many reviews and results discussions can be done by video from anywhere in the country.
How long is the first visit?
Longer than a usual clinic visit, because the history and the joint examination take time. Plan for most of an hour, including time to talk through the tests.
The procedures
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Sources and further reading
The guidelines and patient information this page is checked against. Care in Nigeria follows the same evidence; what differs is the price and where it is done.
- Rheumatoid arthritis in adults: management (NG100). National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Clinical guideline.
- Spondyloarthritis in over 16s: diagnosis and management (NG65). National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Clinical guideline.
- Musculoskeletal health. World Health Organization. Fact sheet.
Links last checked 30 October 2026.
Medical disclaimer: This guide is general information and does not replace advice from your own doctor. Where your centre's instructions differ from this guide, follow theirs.