If you are searching “Tomball TX rheumatoid arthritis MD,” then contact Advanced Rheumatology of Houston today. Dr. Brionez has more than ten years of experience in the field of rheumatology. She has cared for numerous patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other rheumatologic conditions. Patients are able to see how professional, experienced, and friendly she is.
Dr. Brionez started her medical career by graduating from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences. From there, she obtained her Doctor of Medicine from Baylor College of Medicine. Soon afterward, she completed her Fellowship in Rheumatology.
Dr. Brionez will diagnose and treat your rheumatologic condition.
Then, in 2007, she became board-certified in internal medicine. Just a couple of years later, Dr. Brionez achieved her goal. She became a board-certified rheumatologist. Since 2009, Dr. Brionez has been in practice and has helped numerous patients with rheumatologic conditions.
For those that do not know, rheumatologists diagnose, and treat rheumatologic disorders or diseases. These diseases affect the connective tissues of the body, such as joints, ligaments, muscles, organs, and bones. Dr. Brionezi is more than capable of diagnosing and treating arthritis, lupus, gout, ankylosing spondylitis, osteoporosis, and more. Below, patients can see the full list of diseases she can diagnose and treat.
- Gout
- Myositis
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Polymyalgia Rheumatica
- Psoriatic Arthritis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Scleroderma
- Sjögren’s Syndrome
- Spondyloarthritis
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus)
- Vasculitis
What is rheumatoid arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis or RA is known as an autoimmune disease that affects the joints of the body. A normal immune system attacks foreign pathogens in the body. Infections and viruses are a few examples. In autoimmune diseases, the system attacks healthy tissues in the body. Ther is no known cause for RA, but researchers still know a lot about the disease.
Firstly, RA is found in 1.3 million Americans. Women between the ages of 30 and 50 are the most at risk of developing the disease. In fact, 75 percent of rheumatoid arthritis patients are women. However, anyone is capable of developing RA at any age.
Secondly, rheumatoid arthritis appears in smaller joints of the body, such as the hands and feet more often. Any joint in the body is capable of being affected, however. It is also important to note that if you are experiencing symptoms, then you should see a doctor as soon as possible. RA damages the joints permanently, so early diagnosis is beneficial.
Finally, patients often experience swelling, pain, and stiffness in the joints. These symptoms may be more present in the morning. The pain may dissipate in a few hours, but it may also linger throughout the day. Other symptoms include loss of appetite, a lack of energy, minor fevers, dry mouth and eyes, or firm lumps below the skin. These lumps are known as rheumatoid nodules and appear in only about a quarter of RA patients.
Joints in the hands and feet are more affected by RA than other joints.
Diagnosing and Treating RA
RA is diagnosed using a few different techniques. Blood tests are the most effective way of identifying the disease. Scans such as ultrasounds and x-rays are capable of looking at the condition of joints. Since RA can cause significant damage to the joints, the scans should show their condition.
When it comes to a blood test, Dr. Brionez will look for particular antibodies associated with the disease. An estimated 60 to 70 percent of RA patients have specific antibodies. If patients have the antibodies present, but RA is not the cause, then it is considered a false positive. Other aspects of a blood test can look for are particular proteins, a lack of red blood cells, and levels of inflammation.
Fortunately, there are many treatment options when it comes to rheumatoid arthritis. Medication helps relieve symptoms such as swelling, pain, and stiffness. Overall, RA patients have relatively normal lives. Many are able to live comfortably through medication and exercise.
Exercise is an important aspect of RA treatment. Walking or exercises that boost muscle strength are beneficial. In doing so, patients will take more stress off their joints, which reduces pain. Plus, exercise or therapy helps reduce symptoms naturally.
More serious cases of rheumatoid arthritis require drugs that block the chemical signals of the immune system. These medications are known as biologic response modifiers. Most of the time, patients require a combination of these medications in order to have an effective treatment.
Above all, every case of rheumatoid arthritis is different from the last. So, patients will be treated differently. Dr. Brionez has more than ten years of experience with this condition and many others. She will assess each patient’s case differently and will treat them differently.
The contRAst Program
Patients can see if they qualify for the program by visiting our website.
RA has several treatment options when, but there are a number of patients that do not respond to them. So, there are research studies testing drugs in order to provide more options that will hopefully help more people. Advanced Rheumatology of Houston is happy to participate in the contRAst Program alongside many other clinics in the United States.
The contRAst Program is testing an investigational drug that aims to slow down rheumatoid arthritis in adults. If this drug is effective, then it could be beneficial for current and future RA patients. Participants will be split into three groups with varying amounts of people. One group will have between 1500 and 1700 people, the second will involved between 1500 and 1800 people, and the final group will have roughly 600 people.
If you want to know more about the contRAst Program, then visit our rheumatoid arthritis research page. Patients may also see if they qualify using the link located there. If you have questions about the program, then feel free to call us.
Tomball TX Rheumatoid Arthritis MD
Advanced Rheumatology of Houston offers the highest care possible when it comes to patients. RA patients can find schedule an appointment or ask us questions regarding the contRAst Program by calling (281) 766-7886. Patients may also contact us online via the online form.
Regardless, they will receive the same high-quality care we always provide. Dr. Brionez will treat your rheumatoid arthritis using her numerous years of experience in the field. So, stop searching “Tomball TX rheumatoid arthritis MD” and start calling Advanced Rheumatology of Houston.
Fun Facts about Tomball
- Tomball was awarded the “Superior Public Drinking Water System” from the TCEQ.
- The city has a 97% Excellent rating of the Utilities Gas System.
- Tomball is one of the top three cities in Texas for our gas system.
- Find more fun facts about Tomball here.
