Dr. Tamar F. Brionez, M.D., CCD, as The Woodlands TX Best Rheumatoid Arthritis Doctor Near Me, carries over 10 years of experience with her. She is a true expert in her field. Involved with research and helping people, Dr. Brionez makes sure to stay up to date on what is going on in rheumatology.

The Woodlands TX Best Rheumatoid Arthritis Doctor Near Me

Dr. Brionez first went to school at Texas A&M University and earned her Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences. Afterward, in 2004, she continued to Baylor College of Medicine and received her Doctor of Medicine. In 2007, Dr. Brionez finished her board certification in internal medicine and, in 2009, in rheumatology.

From then on, she dedicates herself to helping and learning more about those suffering from rheumatological diseases. Many of these diseases can be chronic and serious. We have to treat them as soon as possible to keep them from exacerbating.

On top of caring for patients, she also participates in the global research effort for rheumatoid arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. Advanced Rheumatology of Houston wants to do everything they can for those afflicted with these complicated conditions. So we are doing our part to uncover solutions to those with untraditional problems. It is one of the things that makes us The Woodlands TX best rheumatoid arthritis doctor near me.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

There are 1.3 million Americans afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis. With the disease, the immune system, designed to target bacteria and viruses, attacks healthy connective tissues instead. RA is the most common autoimmune arthritis.

RA is most common in 30 to 50-year-old women. Research estimates that 75% of those with rheumatoid arthritis are women over men.

The condition can be disabling for many. But, if you take the steps to become diagnosed and treat the symptoms, then one can live a healthy life with rheumatoid arthritis.

Symptoms

When RA impacts one’s joints, inflammation occurs. It causes chronic and severe pain, swelling, and irreversible damage. However, together we can make life comfortable anyway.

Joints in extremities like fingers and toes, hands, wrists, and feet are the most affected. RA’s primary symptoms include joint pain and swelling but also stiffness. It causes decreased movements of the joints. These types of symptoms are more severe in the morning. They will also be accompanied by a loss of appetite, lack of energy, and minor fevers.

Firm lumps form underneath the skin, commonly around the elbows and hands. These lumps are called rheumatoid nodules. They are very indicative of RA.

Rheumatoid arthritis can also result in inflammations around the heart and lungs and a low red blood cell count. For these reasons, RA can get quite dangerous. As an autoimmune disease, non-melanoma skin cancer and lymphoma cancer are more common in RA patients. Periodontitis and tooth loss can appear more often as well.

Rheumatoid arthritis’ symptoms can vary widely from person to person. You may not necessarily have every single one of these. So, it is important to get checked up on to get diagnosed and not miss out on treatment. For instance, even though rheumatoid nodules indicate RA, only about a quarter of rheumatoid arthritis patients ever see them.

Diagnosing and Treating Arthritis

To diagnose RA, we typically need to go through blood tests. We start with just examining your joints, but we need to do more, such as X-Rays and ultrasounds. Ruling out other sources of your symptoms or conditions and understanding yours more thoroughly is crucial when it comes time to treat it.

There is still no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, but the medical community has developed many treatments. Physical therapy significantly improves the stiffness in one’s joints and can help prevent some of the pain. When we pair the PT with medication, you can live a normal life. While symptoms vary across patients, the same goes for treatments.

Other Rheumatological Conditions We Treat

We treat far more than rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatisms are any autoimmune disorders that attack parts of the body: joints, muscles, and ligaments. They cause inflammation and chronic pain, potentially disabling the body. If undiagnosed and untreated, they can affect vital organs. We treat:

• Gout
• Myositis
• Osteoarthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Polymyalgia Rheumatica
• Psoriatic Arthritis
• Scleroderma
• Sjogren’s Syndrome
• Spondyloarthritis
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus)
• Vasculitis

For example, scleroderma targets the skin. Scarring and inflammation occurs.

With gout, urate crystals build up and lodge themselves in joints. Gout can flare up and go in and out of remission. While anyone can get gout, a healthy diet and exercise can reduce the risk. It is a chronic condition that will require medication for the pain.

Myositis affects the muscles. It causes weak movements and makes daily tasks such as getting out of a chair difficult. There may be no pain, but a weak cough and shortness of breath will accompany it and a rash, if it is dermatomyositis.

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis in general. Over 250 million are affected worldwide with osteoarthritis of the knee alone, or 3.6% of the world’s population. 0.85% of the population has hip osteoarthritis. The cartilage between bones breaks down, causing chronic pain when the bones slide together.

Bone atrophy, or osteoporosis is also incredibly common. Estimates claim that 200 million people suffer from osteoporosis. After our 20’s our bone density starts to decay, but with bone atrophy, our body cannot replace the bone tissue in time. With osteoporosis, there is a high risk of fractures, especially in the hips and vertebrae.

Our Current and Ongoing Research

Advanced Rheumatology of Houston is proud to participate in the global research effort for rheumatological disorders. We are involved in three studies: SLE-BRAVE, The contRAst Program, and KEEPsAKE. SLE-BRAVE looks for a new medicine to work for those with lupus, and KEEPsAKE works with those with psoriatic arthritis.

If you have rheumatoid arthritis, then you should sign up for our contRAst Program. Through these research programs, you can get help through free medication, clinic visits, and travel stipends.

Get in Touch With Your Rheumatologist in the Woodlands

Advanced Rheumatology of Houston’s medical center is on Kuykendahl in The Woodlands TX. However, we serve all the Greater Houston area, including Spring, Tomball, and Conroe. Dr. Brionez and her staff are also bilingual. Hablamos español. Call us through (281) 766-7886 or send your The Woodlands TX best rheumatoid arthritis doctor near me an email at info@advancedrheum.com.

The Woodlands Fun Facts

• Woodlands High School is the largest high school in the state and the top in the country.
• There are almost 150 parks in the Woodlands area.
• We are home to Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion.
• Our nickname is “The Invisible City.”
• For more info on The Woodlands, check out https://www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/