Conditions We Treat

Our Team

Our board-certified rheumatology specialists care for all types of rheumatic conditions, for all types of patients. Whether that means early prevention, treatment or ongoing management after successfully treating your illness, we’re here with truly personalized care and support.

Conditions we treat include but aren’t limited to:

Rheumatoid Arthritis

RA for short, this is a long-term (chronic) disease that causes inflammation of the joints, often affecting how they and other parts of the body look and function. In the hand, RA may cause deformities of the joints and fingers, limiting motion. Lumps, known as rheumatoid nodules, may form anywhere on the body.

Ankylosing Spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory disease that can cause some of the small bones in your spine to fuse, making the spine less flexible and resulting in a hunched-forward posture. When the ribs are also affected, breathing deeply becomes difficult. Inflammation can also occur in other places, most commonly your eyes.

Signs and symptoms typically begin in early adulthood and might include pain and stiffness in your lower back and hips, especially in the morning after periods of inactivity. Neck pain and fatigue also are common. Over time, symptoms might worsen, improve or stop at irregular intervals.

Gout

Gout is a disease that causes pain and inflammation due to monosodium urate crystal deposits in the joints. It used to be associated with royalty who indulged in rich food and wine, but in reality, gout can affect anyone. However, it does currently affect men more than women and is often linked to obesity, high blood pressure, high levels of lipids in the blood (hyperlipidemia) and diabetes.

These urate crystal deposits are caused by too much uric acid in the blood, which can be caused by several things. Often the kidneys are not processing enough of it, or your diet is overly rich in purines, which convert to uric acid.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become weak, thin or porous, leaving them at greater risk of breaking — most often in the hips, spine and wrists. The exact cause of osteoporosis is unknown, but a number of factors can contribute to the disease, including:

• Age. Bones become less dense and weaker with age.
• Race. White and Asian women are most at risk, but anyone can get osteoporosis.
• Body weight. People who have less muscle are at greater risk of developing osteoporosis.
• Lifestyle factors. Lack of physical activity, caffeine use, excessive alcohol use, smoking, dietary calcium deficiency and vitamin D deficiency may all increase your risk.
• Certain medicines. Some medicines may increase your risk.
• Family history. Having a family history of bone disease may increase your risk.

The symptoms of osteoporosis may look like other bone disorders or medical problems, so you should always talk with your provider to get an accurate diagnosis. They will review your personal and family medical history and do a physical exam. Other tests that can help detect osteoporosis include:

• Bone density test (bone densitometry). The measurement of the mass of a bone in      relation to its volume, to find the risk of getting osteoporosis.
• Blood tests. Done to measure calcium and potassium levels.
• FRAX score. A score given to estimate the risk of a fracture within 10 years. The score uses the results of a bone density test as well as other factors.
• X-rays. Use electromagnetic energy beams to make images of tissues, bones and organs appear on film.

Because of its interdisciplinary nature, osteoporosis care can also begin with your primary care provider but involve a full care team, from women’s health to rheumatology to orthopaedics and more. We have a special program that unites a team of specialists to help guide and support you with an individualized treatment plan.

Psoriatic Arthritis

This is a type of arthritis linked to psoriasis, a chronic skin and nail disease. It causes red, scaly rashes and thick, pitted fingernails. Psoriatic arthritis is similar to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in symptoms and joint inflammation, but affects fewer joints and does not produce the same antibodies. Psoriatic arthritis comes in five forms:

• Arthritis that affects the small joints in the fingers and/or toes
• Asymmetrical arthritis of the joints in the hands and feet
• Symmetrical polyarthritis, which is similar to rheumatoid arthritis
• Arthritis mutilans, which is a rare type of arthritis that destroys and deforms joints
• Psoriatic spondylitis, which is arthritis of the lower back (sacroiliac sac) and the spine

The cause of psoriatic arthritis is unknown. But factors such as immunity, genes and the environment may play a role.

Scleroderma

Most commonly affecting women, this is a chronic disease that causes abnormal connective tissue growth, affecting the joints, skin and/or internal organs. It is thought to be an autoimmune disease, which means that symptoms are caused by the body attacking its own healthy tissues. Patients can develop scleroderma due to environmental factors, genetic factors or a combination of both. Environmental factors include exposure to silica, certain solvents and certain medications.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus — often shortened to just “lupus” — is a disease that causes periods of inflammation in joints, tendons and skin; blood vessels; and organs such as the kidneys, heart, lungs and brain. Lupus may cause rashes, fatigue, pain and fever — and severe cases can cause organ damage and other complications.

Lupus is a chronic disease that affects each patient differently, with effects ranging from mild to severe. Flare-ups are common, which are periods of remission and relapse. There’s no cure for lupus, but we can help manage symptoms with medication and healthy lifestyle choices. In children, lupus often attacks the kidneys and can lead to kidney damage or failure. In some cases, lupus can be fatal.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes pain in muscles and soft tissue all over the body, including your neck, shoulders, back, chest, hips, buttocks, arms and legs. It may be worse in the morning and evening, or may last all day long. It can also worsen due to activity, cold or damp weather, anxiety and stress. Fibromyalgia affects about 2% to 4% of people in the U.S., most of them middle-aged women.

The cause is unknown, but researchers believe there may be a link with sleep problems and stress. It may also be associated with immune, endocrine or biochemical problems.

Symptoms may vary, but chronic pain is most common and can feel like burning, soreness, stiffness, aching or gnawing pain that ranges from mild to severe. Though it may feel similar to arthritis, it does not get worse with time and does not damage muscles or bones.

Learn about our autoimmune experts and the team-based approach to treating these and other diseases.