At Central Texas Rheumatology Associates, we’re committed to helping our patients with rheumatic diseases and we’re proud to offer treatments for multiple diseases. Keep reading to learn more about four of the most common joint and autoimmune diseases we see and treat our patients for in our practice.
Most Common Joint and Autoimmune Diseases Treated By Rheumatologists
Rheumatoid Arthritis
RA is a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation in the joints that results in pain, stiffness, swelling, and loss of function. Common symptoms include the previously mentioned issues, especially in the hands and feet. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis can also experience fatigue, low-grade fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, and anemia as well as organ inflammation.
Gout
Gout is a condition that causes uric acid crystals to build up in your joints, causing intense pain and inflammation. What causes this is when the levels of uric acid in your blood are too high. Gout has no cure but can be treated, and preventative measures like lifestyle changes can also help to control the effects of gout.
Sjogren’s Syndrome
Sjogren’s is a disorder in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells that generate saliva and tears. This condition often occurs in conjunction with other rheumatic diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, so our team treats this disease regularly.
Lupus
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can affect multiple areas of the body, including a patient’s joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart, or lungs. Lupus is caused by the body’s immune cells attacking the patient’s tissues in the same manner that it would attack a foreign pathogen or contaminant.
If you or a loved one has one of these diseases, or you have symptoms of a rheumatic disease, contact our team today. Get started with your treatment and symptom management by requesting an appointment online today!