If you are searching “Conroe TX psoriatic arthritis rheumatologist near me,” then consider Advanced Rheumatology of Houston. Dr. Brionez, the sole rheumatologist, has more than ten years of experience in the field of study. She has helped patients with numerous types of rheumatologic diseases. Psoriatic arthritis is just one of the diseases she can diagnose and treat.
In general, rheumatologist diagnoses and treat arthritis, gout, lupus, osteoporosis, and so much more. These illnesses require the right kind of doctor in order to be treated correctly. Dr. Brionez has more than enough experience with these conditions in order to diagnose and treat patients. Even her extensive education gives her the edge over other rheumatologists.
Dr. Broionez started her medical career by studying at Texas A&M University. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences. From there, she obtained her Doctor of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. She also completed her fellowship in rheumatology at the University of Texas Health Science Center.
Then, in 2007, she was board-certified in internal medicine. Later, in 2009, she became a board-certified rheumatologist and has been in practice ever since. Dr. Brionez education and experience make her an excellent rheumatologist. Patients will notice her professionalism and kindness toward their condition. She is capable of helping so many with various illnesses. You can see the full list of 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
Psoriatic Arthritis and Psoriasis
Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune disease that stems from psoriasis, a skin disease appearing as scaly, red skin. There is no known cause of either condition, but they are related to each other. Psoriasis patients are capable of developing psoriatic arthritis, but only about 15 percent of patients do. Those with family members with psoriasis are at a higher risk of psoriatic arthritis even though they do not have the skin disease. In some cases, arthritis appears before psoriasis does.
Psoriasis is caused by the immune systems sending T-cells to the skin. Usually, immune systems attack foreign pathogens in the body like an infection or virus. However, autoimmune diseases misfire and attack healthy tissues in the body. T-cells will attack the skin and could potentially generate skin cell growth.
Skin cells will begin production from the T-cells and produce much faster than they typically would. New cells should appear on the surface of the skin in a few weeks, but in the case of psoriasis, it appears in just days. The accumulation of so many skin cells is what causes the scaly and hardened look of the skin. Researchers do not know why the T-cells attack the skin, so there is still a lot to be learned.
Psoriasis can appear anywhere on the body, but the scalp, elbows, knees, and nails are common areas. Treatment aims to reduce the overproductive skin cells, so the scaly patches fade. However, there are certain factors that can cause flares such as smoking, alcohol consumption, vitamin D deficiency, strep throat, and injury to the skin.
Psoriatic Arthritis Details
Psoriatic arthritis targets the joints of patients. It is important for a diagnosis to occur early in order to prevent further damage to the joints. Later cases will have worse conditions, and pain will increase. Any joint in the body may be targeted by this arthritis, but larger joints are frequent targets.
The hands, feet, and lower back are also common targets. Symptoms include swelling, stiffness, and pain of the joints. Furthermore, patients may only have on joint affected or several. The severity of arthritis also varies from person to person. The finger and toenails may also see a change.
Diagnosing and Treating Psoriatic Arthritis
Dr. Brionez will examine the symptoms patients are reporting. She will carefully check the areas in which patients feel pain and their nails. These areas may indicate what the condition may be. However, she will run various scans to see if the joint is damaged in any way. X-rays are a good way to do this, but more detailed scans may be needed. CT scans, MRIs, and ultrasounds are just a few examples.
If Dr. Brionez believes there is another illness at play, then she will run blood tests. This helps her rule out other conditions patients may be experiencing. The next step will be to treat the condition. Mild cases of psoriatic arthritis respond well to therapy and over the counter painkillers. Once the pain and stiffness dissipate, patients can stop therapy.
More severe cases may require a combination of different medications in order to reduce pain. Therapy or exercise is still recommended. Keep the joint or joints moving in order to prevent stiffness and pain. Some find it easier to exercise in water, so that may be something patients should try.
KEEPsAKE
KEEPsAKE is a research study that is testing a new investigational drug. Currently, about 40 percent of psoriatic arthritis patients do not respond to treatment options. So, KEEPsAKE is helping in finding a new treatment to reduce that number. Advanced Rheumatology of Houston is happy to participate in this research study.
If you are interested in participating in this study, then you can see if you qualify on our psoriatic arthritis research page. Patients will also find additional details about KEEPsAKE, such as the length of the study, the process, and what to expect. This is truly a great way to help those suffering from psoriatic arthritis.
Conroe TX Psoriatic Arthritis Rheumatologist Near Me
Advanced Rheumatology of Houston wants to help patients with this difficult disease. There is no need to live in pain. Let us help you diagnose and treat the condition in order for you to live a better life. Schedule an appointment or ask us about the KEEPsAKE research study by calling (281) 766-7886. Patients may also contact us online by filling out the form. Regardless, Dr. Brionez will offer the same great care. So, stop searching “Conroe TX psoriatic arthritis rheumatologist near me” and start calling!
Fun Facts about Conroe
- Lake Conroe is 22,000 acres!
- Conroe was first settled in the early 1800s.
- The downtown business district of the city was developed in the 1890s.
- Find more facts about Conroe here.