Tomball TX Doctor That Treats Rheumatoid Arthritis

If you’re currently looking for a Tomball TX Doctor That Treats Rheumatoid Arthritis, contact Advanced Rheumatology of Houston today. We work with patients to find the best treatment plans for their rheumatologic condition. Additionally, we work on treating autoimmune diseases that affect body systems, muscles, and joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is commonly referred to as disabling, but with recent developments in treatment methods and medications, there are significant improvements in how patients can deal with this condition. Diagnosing and treating arthritis is best left to physicians who study these complex diseases.

Advanced Rheumatology can provide medical advice and overall guidance to make sure you deal with this condition in the best way possible. This type of autoimmune arthritis is very common and affects approximately 1.3 million Americans. The condition is caused when the immune system attacks its own tissues.

Often times, the immune system targets bacteria and viruses inside the body. Even more, the condition causes the immune system to target tissues with severe inflammation, causing irreversible damage. As joints are targeted, they begin to swell and cause pain for the patients. One thing to note is that women between the ages of 30 and 50 are the most susceptible to the disease.

Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease that patients simply have to learn to live with. There are various symptoms that may become present, most of them affecting smaller joints, such as hands and feet. Furthermore, RA can even target organs, eyes, or skin. Here are some of the symptoms RA patients could possibly experience:

Joint pain, swelling, and stiffness
Decreased movement in joints
Joint stiffness especially present in joint stiffness
Lack of energy
Minor fevers
Appetite loss
Firm lumps around the elbows and hands
Dry eyes and mouth

Symptoms like these will vary with each different person. There are also very many different levels of severity when it comes to these cases. For example, rheumatoid nodules are the lumps that patients develop in some cases. These lumps grow beneath the skin but only appear in about a quarter of the people with RA. Our Tomball TX Doctor That Treats Rheumatoid Arthritis can help find these problems and address them as soon as possible.

Diagnosing and Treating

Blood testing is a common way of testing for rheumatoid arthritis. Doctors will examine joints, organs, and sometimes use x-rays or ultrasounds. Many of these test options can be used to identify the condition. Moreover, blood tests can result in various types of outcomes due to the many different kinds of symptoms possible.

Some viral infections may appear to have traits similar to RA, but our physician is experienced in identifying what is truly causing the present symptoms. Although there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, there are available methods for treating RA’s symptoms.

Therapy is an excellent option, and it significantly improves the state of the joints. Moreover, therapy, in addition to medication, can greatly improve the comfortability of patient’s lives. Of course, the treatment options do vary from person to person. The one thing you have to know is that living comfortably with RA is definitely possible. Get in touch with Advanced Rheumatology of Houston today.

Fast Facts

Rheumatologist in TX Dr. Tamar F. Brionez

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a type of autoimmune arthritis. This disease can be caused when the immune system fails to work properly. RA causes pain and swelling in small joints such as the hands and feet, along with wrist.
Current treatments for RA primarily focus on stopping swelling and joint pain. They are also great for preventing joint damage. Early treatment is better because it provides better long-term results.
Regular low-impact exercises like walking can go a long way in increasing the body’s muscle strength. This, in turn, improves overall health and lower pressure on your joints.
Recent studies indicate that people who treat RA earlier end up feeling better faster and more often, oftentimes resulting in a normal, active lifestyle. These people also have fewer chances of having to resort to joint replacement due to joint damage.
It’s extremely important that you choose to see a rheumatologist. These doctors specialize in diagnosing and treating arthritis and other autoimmune diseases. These types of conditions are diseases that can be mistaken for RA. It is very important that patients get the right type of diagnosis while avoiding unnecessary testing. A rheumatology expert will help find a treatment plan that’s best suited for your circumstances.

Causes

As an autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis messes with your immune system’s functionality. Normally, a body’s immune system protects your health from foreigners like bacteria and viruses. The system does this by creating inflammation. Here is where an autoimmune system can start to cause problems.

During this type of condition, the immune system will actually mistakenly send inflammation to the body’s very own healthy tissue. The immune system creates lots of inflammation that’s sent to the joints, leading to serious pain and swelling.

When the inflammation remains present for a very long period of time, it begins to cause damage to the joint. The damage caused by this inflammation can oftentimes be irreversible. Moreover, the cause of RA is still unknown. There is evidence, though, that autoimmune conditions can run in bloodlines. So if you were born with certain genes, you might be more susceptible to rheumatoid arthritis.

Research Studies

Advanced Rheumatology of Houston has the honor to participate in worldwide research that works towards more effective treatment options for rheumatologic conditions. These research studies serve as a way to test new investigational drugs that have the potential to improve the lives of patients. Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis are examples of conditions that are manageable through medication.

Visit our medical center today

Some patients, unfortunately, do not respond well to the medication used for these types of illnesses. Research studies aim to test new treatments, and subsequently help patients have a higher likelihood for a more comfortable life. If you or someone you know is suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, contact Advanced Rheumatology of Houston and ask about how to participate in our research studies.

The contRAst Program is a way that patients with rheumatoid arthritis contribute to improving treatment options. Call us to see if you can participate.