Rheumatic diseases consist of many conditions.

  • All forms of arthritis (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis)
  • Certain autoimmune diseases (e.g., systemic lupus)
  • Musculoskeletal pain disorders
  • Osteoporosis

How We Can Help

Getting a correct and early diagnosis along with proper treatment can result in a better outcome at any age.

Rheumatic diseases can affect virtually any part of the body. They are usually associated with inflammation (swelling and redness), almost always accompanied by pain and have symptoms that can have a profound effect on the ability to perform daily activities.

We provide rheumatology services to diagnose, treat and monitor these chronic conditions, and we work with each patient to develop an individualized treatment program.

Arthritis & Osteoporosis Center - Services - HowWeCanHelp

Injections

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Osteoporosis
Center

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Ultrasound
Technology

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Platelet Rich
Plasma

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Who Has Arthritis?

46%

Women

In some types, such as rheumatoid arthritis, women far outnumber men.

17%

Men

The lifetime risk of developing RA is three percent for men.

36%

Age 18-44

63%

Age 65+

The risk of arthritis does increase with age. Almost half of adults 65 years old or older have arthritis.

36%

Age 44-64

People commonly think of arthritis as an old people’s problem. But two-thirds of people with arthritis are under age 65.

Arthritis & Osteoporosis Center - Services - FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. It is very important that you stay active. You might want to avoid being active because you are in pain but that can make things worse. It will make your muscles weak and your joints stiffer than they already are. A physical therapist can help you figure out which exercises will do the most good. An occupational therapist can help you figure out how to keep doing the everyday tasks you need to do even with arthritis.

Another thing you can do to on your own is to eat a healthy diet. People with rheumatoid arthritis are at risk for heart disease, so avoid fatty foods. Instead, eats lots of fruits and vegetables.

Reducing stress in your daily life is an important part of your arthritis self-care because research suggests that stress can lead to RA symptom flares. Practicing one or two of the following simple techniques can help lower your stress:

  • Even light physical activity like taking a walk can help relieve stress by reducing pain and improving your sleep. Gentle yoga and tai chi are also great ways to lower stress by connecting slow, flowing movement with deep breathing.
  • Find a good listener and tell that person about the things that cause you stress or worry. You may find it helpful to join a support group for people living with arthritis. Some people find a creative outlet helps relieve their stress, such as writing in a journal, painting, making pottery or doing needlework.
  • Take a moment each morning or at night before you fall asleep to think through your “to do” list. What really has to get done? Do you have to do it yourself or can you ask someone else to handle it?
  • Talk to your doctor if you are feeling overwhelmed by stress and anxiety or if you’d like more ideas on ways to manage stress in your daily life.
Osteoporosis means “porous bone.” Viewed under a microscope, healthy bone looks like a honeycomb. When osteoporosis occurs, the holes and spaces in the honeycomb are much larger than in healthy bone. Osteoporotic bones have lost density or mass and contain abnormal tissue structure. As bones become less dense, they weaken and are more likely to break.
Each year about one-third of all people over age 65 will fall. Many of these falls result in broken bones. It’s never too early or too late to take steps to protect your bones from osteoporosis fracture risk, especially the bones in your spine. Broken bones of the spine are common in people with osteoporosis and often go unnoticed until more serious problems occur. Try the following tips to help prevent falls:

  • Wear low-heeled shoes with rubber soles for more solid footing (traction), and wear warm boots in winter.
  • Use hand rails as you go up and down steps and on escalators.
  • Remove all loose wires, cords and throw rugs.
  • Keep floors free of clutter.
  • Be sure all carpets and area rugs have skid-proof backing or are tacked to the floor.
  • Clean up spills as soon as they happen (in the kitchen and anywhere in the home).
  • Place light switches within reach of your bed and a night light between the bedroom and bathroom.
  • Get up slowly from sitting or lying down since this may cause dizziness.
  • Keep a flashlight with fresh batteries beside your bed.
  • Install grab bars on the bathroom walls beside the tub, shower and toilet.
  • Use a non-skid rubber mat in the shower or tub.
  • If you are unsteady on your feet, you may want to use a plastic chair with a back and non-skid legs in the shower or tub and use a handheld showerhead to bathe.
Vitamin D plays an important role in protecting your bones and your body requires it to absorb calcium. Children need vitamin D to build strong bones, and adults need it to keep their bones strong and healthy. If you don’t get enough vitamin D, you may lose bone, have lower bone density, and you’re more likely to break bones as you age. The recommended daily dose for people after 50 is 800-1000 IU. According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM), the safe upper limit of vitamin D is 4,000 IU per day for most adults.

Food is the best source of calcium. Dairy products, such as low-fat and non-fat milk, yogurt and cheese are high in calcium. Certain green vegetables and other foods contain calcium in smaller amounts. Some juices, breakfast foods, soymilk, cereals, snacks, breads and bottled water have calcium that has been added. If you drink soymilk or another liquid that is fortified with calcium, be sure to shake the container well as calcium can settle to the bottom. A simple way to add calcium to many foods is to add a single tablespoon of nonfat powdered milk, which contains about 50 mg of calcium. About two-to-four tablespoons can be added to most recipes.

Vitamin D is naturally available in only a few foods, including fatty fish like wild-caught mackerel, salmon and tuna. Vitamin D is also added to milk and to some brands of other dairy products, orange juice, soymilk and cereals. It is very difficult to get all the vitamin D you need from food alone. Most people need to take vitamin D supplements to get enough of the nutrient needed for bone health. If you aren’t getting enough vitamin D from sunlight and food, consider taking a supplement. But, before adding a vitamin D supplement, check to see if any of the other supplements, multivitamins or medications you take contain vitamin D. Many calcium supplements also contain vitamin D.

Taking more calcium than what you need is not beneficial and may even be harmful. When you take too much calcium from supplements, the excess calcium is excreted through your kidneys into your urine. In some people, this increases the risk of kidney stones. Some studies have also suggested a link between calcium supplements and heart disease, however these findings are not conclusive. Try to meet your daily calcium needs by eating calcium-rich foods. Only supplement the estimated amount you do not get through your diet.

A gout diet may help decrease uric acid levels in the blood. While a gout diet is not a cure, it may lower the risk of recurring painful gout attacks and slow the progression of joint damage. Medication also is needed to manage pain and to lower levels of uric acid.

Avoid meats such as liver, kidney and sweetbreads, which have high purine levels and contribute to high blood levels of uric acid. Avoid the following types of seafood, which are higher in purines than others: anchovies, herring, sardines, mussels, scallops, trout, haddock, mackerel and tuna. Beer is associated with an increased risk of gout and recurring attacks, as are distilled liquors to some extent. The effect of wine is not as well-understood. Studies have shown that vegetables high in purines do not increase the risk of gout or recurring gout attacks. A healthy diet based on lots of fruits and vegetables can include high-purine vegetables, such as asparagus, spinach, peas, cauliflower or mushrooms. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking water. An increase in water consumption has been linked to fewer gout attacks. Aim for eight to 12 glasses of fluids a day with at least half of that as water. Eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, which provide complex carbohydrates.

Psoriatic arthritis is a condition that causes joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. It happens in people who have a long-term skin condition called psoriasis. People with psoriasis have patches of thick, red skin that are often covered by white scales. It can also affect the spine in some people. Stiffness in the joints or low back is usually worse in the morning and lasts 30 minutes or longer. It usually gets better with exercise. Psoriatic arthritis can affect joints on one or both sides of the body. It usually affects more than one joint.

Carpal tunnel syndrome happens when a nerve in the wrist called the “median nerve” gets pinched or squeezed. The symptoms include pain and tingling in the thumb and the index, middle, and ring fingers. Often the symptoms affect both hands, but one hand might have worse symptoms than the other. In some cases, pain and tingling can extend to the whole hand or even up to the wrist and forearm. Symptoms are usually worst at night and can even wake you up from sleep. The symptoms can also flare up when you do things that involve bending and unbending your wrist or raising your arms. Some activities can trigger symptoms in people with carpal tunnel syndrome. But they do not actually cause the condition. Examples include: sleeping, driving, reading, typing, holding a phone.

In many people, the symptoms come and go. But some people eventually have symptoms all the time. They can end up having trouble moving their fingers or controlling their grip.

Sjögren’s syndrome is a chronic disease in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks glands that produce moisture in the eyes, the mouth, and elsewhere in the body. The most common symptoms of Sjögren’s syndrome are dry eyes and dry mouth. Sjögren’s syndrome can affect one or more organ systems including the skin, lung, heart, kidney, and nerves. Patients may have anemia, low white blood cell or platelet count, as well as increased risk of developing of lymphoma.

When it is working normally, the body’s immune system kills germs and “bad” cells that could turn into cancer. Sometimes, instead of killing only bad cells, something goes wrong and the immune system starts to attack healthy cells. That is called an autoimmune response. It is what happens in lupus. In other words, if you have lupus, your body is attacking itself. People with lupus can:

  • Feel tired or weak
  • Get fevers
  • Get headaches
  • Get a rash on their nose and cheeks shaped like a butterfly, especially if they spend time in the sun
  • Lose some hair
  • Get chest pain
  • Have trouble breathing
  • Bruise easily
  • Have joint pain and stiffness
  • Have swelling in the hands, feet, belly, or around the eyes
  • Have urine that looks brown (tea-colored) or foamy
  • Get sores in the mouth

Infusion Center

Our office has a state-of-the art infusion area where patients receive the newest, most effective treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoporosis and other Autoimmune diseases.

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