Houston TX Arthritis Specialist Near Me

Contact Advanced Rheumatology of Houston today if you are searching “Houston TX arthritis specialist near me.” We have a highly experienced team lead by Dr. Tamar F. Brionez. She has more than ten years of experience in the field of rheumatology. Dr. Brionze has great experience diagnosing and treating arthritis, and a number of other rheumatologic diseases.

Rheumatologic disease, also known as rheumatic diseases, are conditions that affect the connective tissues in the body. Rheumatologists diagnose and treat these conditions in order to assist patients with pain, stiffness, swelling, and other health impacts. These conditions can affect the joints, muscles, ligaments, organs, or bones.

In the case of arthritis, the joints are the most affected. Dr. Brionez can diagnose and treat your arthritis condition. She first obtained her bachelor of science in Nutritional Science. Afterward, she attended the Baylor College of Medicine for her Doctor of Medicine. Then, she completed her Fellowship in Rheumatology at the University of Texas Health Science Center.

Houston TX find a rheumatologist near me

Dr. Tamar Brionez

In 2007, Dr. Brionez became board certified in internal medicine. Two years later, in 2009, she achieved what she originally sought out to complete. Dr. Brionez became a board-certified rheumatologist and has been in practice since then. She proudly serves the Greater Houston area with a Woodlands office.

You can see the types of rheumatologic conditions she can diagnose and treat below.

Gout
Myositis
Osteoarthritis
Osteoporosis
Polymyalgia Rheumatica
Psoriatic Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Scleroderma
Sjögren’s syndrome
Spondyloarthritis
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus)
Vasculitis

What is arthritis?

Arthritis is the condition of swelling, stiffness, and pain in the joints. Typically, arthritis gets worse as you age, but it varies on the type of arthritis and the patient. There is a variety of arthritis types that affect various types of joints. In some cases, certain arthritis types are capable of affecting other parts of the body, such as organs.

The types of arthritis Dr. Brionez treats include osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and spondyloarthropathies. These types of arthritis vary in severity, symptoms, and more. If you have any of these conditions, then Advanced Rheumatology of Houston can help.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. In fact, 27 million Americans are affected by osteoarthritis. Moreover, this condition is the most common chronic condition for joints. Chronic conditions last for long periods of time or people’s lifetimes. As scary as that may sound, advancements in treatment have offered patients great comfort and normal lives.

Dr. Brionez can diagnose and treat your condition.

This disease affects the important connective tissues known as cartilage. Cartilage is a spongy material that helps bones move smoothly against each other. Osteoarthritis targets the cartilage to where bone eventually rubs against each other. Subsequently, pain, swelling, and stiffness can appear. Advanced forms of osteoarthritis see bone chipped, which develops into spurs.

Psoriatic Arthritis

This condition is linked to the skin disease known as psoriasis. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that causes red or white patches of scaly skin across the body. Typically, these appear around the knees and elbows. Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system attacks healthy tissue in the body. A normal immune system should target foreign pathogens and bacteria in the body.

In the case of psoriatic arthritis, it affects 15 percent of psoriasis patients. Psoriatic arthritis is also an autoimmune disease, but the cause is unknown. The condition can affect any joint in the body. There are several treatment options for this type of arthritis, but 40 percent of patients do not respond to treatment.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis or RA is the most common type of autoimmune disease. In the case of RA, inflammation targets joints, which cause irreversible damage. Women between the ages of 30 and 50 are the most affected. This condition is chronic, and there are a variety of symptoms patients can look for.

Pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints
Stiffness is more common in the mornings
Minor fevers
Dry eyes or mouth
Appetite loss
Fatigued

RA greatly varies from case to case. Some patients have minor cases, while others are affected severely. Patients should consult Dr. Brionez for treatment options that work best for them.

Gout

Gout is a type of arthritis that usually appears in the large toe more than any other joint. It occurs when there is an excess amount of uric acid in the body. It will develop urate crystals that can deposit into joints. These crystals initiate attacks from the immune system, which leads to inflammation.

The kidneys should filter out uric acid, but there are two reasons why the acid may still be present in the body. First, the kidneys could have an issue where they are unable to filter the levels of uric acid. Secondly, there could be an abundant amount of uric acid in the body due to the foods consumed by the patient. Types of foods rich in uric acid include soups, organ meats, alcohol, seafood, sugary drinks, processed foods, and more.

Gout typically affects the big toe but can appear in any joint.

Spondyloarthropathies

Spondyloarthropathies are a family of diseases that cause arthritis in the spine. There several types of spondyloarthritis, but the most common is ankylosing spondylitis. This condition causes bone destruction in the vertebrae. Common symptoms include pain and stiffness in the lower back, hips, and shoulders.

Ankylosing spondylitis is known to be a hereditary condition that is passed on primarily through the HLA-B27 gene. Almost all caucasian patients with this gene develop ankylosing spondylitis. In addition, this condition is found in men three times more than women. More specifically, men around the age of twenty are the most affected.