Sang-heon Y. Lee is a rheumatologist based on North Terrace in Adelaide, SA. Rheumatology is about helping people with ongoing pain, swelling, and stiffness that can come from conditions affecting joints, tendons, and other parts of the body.
In clinic, Dr Lee looks after adults and older teens with a wide range of rheumatic problems. This includes arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), gout, and osteoarthritis, plus inflammatory spine and joint conditions like ankylosing spondylitis and axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA). At times, patients also need help with related issues like dry eye and dry mouth seen with Sjogren syndrome, or Raynaud phenomenon, where fingers or toes can change colour in the cold.
Some people come in with pain that affects more than just the joints. For example, dry eyes, dry mouth, and throat or swallowing issues can be part of the picture for Sjogren-related problems. There are also cases where inflammation can show up in the lungs, so Dr Lee also cares for people with interstitial lung disease and rheumatoid lung disease. Other conditions that may be assessed include polymyalgia rheumatica, calcium pyrophosphate arthritis, and tenosynovitis, as well as flare-ups linked to shingles.
Dr Lee’s focus is on getting the cause of the symptoms right, then working out a plan that fits what’s happening for that person. That can mean ongoing management for long-term conditions, support during flare-ups, and helping patients understand what to watch for between appointments. If scans or tests are already done, Dr Lee uses that information to guide the next steps. The aim is simple: better control of symptoms, and more confidence about living day to day with these conditions.
