Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that occurs when the body’s immune system starts attacking its own joint tissue. the symptoms are pain, inflammation, and swelling in the joints. orthopedists (doctors who study bones) and immunologists (doctors who study the immune system) both work with patients who have rheumatoid arthritis. what is the difference between the orthopedists and immunologists who treat the disease? only the orthopedists examine the symptoms. only the immunologists examine the symptoms. the orthopedists focus on the joints, and the immunologists focus on the cause. the immunologists focus on the joints, and the orthopedists focus on the cause.