Rheumatology and Osteoporosis Specialists in Middle Township, NJ

Rheumatology and osteoporosis specialists in Middle Township, NJ diagnose and treat arthritis, autoimmune diseases, chronic joint inflammation, osteoporosis, and other conditions that impact your muscles, joints, connective tissues, and bones. SMC Physicians offers rheumatology and osteoporosis care at its Cape May Court House location, located within Middle Township.

If you’ve been dealing with persistent joint pain, stiffness, swelling, fatigue with no known cause, low bone density, or have suffered a fracture after a minor fall, visiting a rheumatology specialist can help you determine what’s going on before it leads to inflammation, further joint damage, or brittle bones.

What Do Rheumatology Specialists Treat?

Rheumatology specialists treat inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, as well as musculoskeletal conditions that affect joints and the soft tissues surrounding them. Rheumatic diseases can impact joints and cause pain, swelling, stiffness, loss of mobility, inflammation, fatigue, and symptoms in organs outside of the joints and muscles.

SMC Physicians’ Rheumatology team helps patients manage rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, lupus, vasculitis, ankylosing spondylitis, fibromyalgia, scleroderma, myositis, and more. Patients can also visit the practice to find out what is causing their joint or musculoskeletal pain.

When Should You See a Rheumatologist?

If joint pain, swelling, or stiffness lasts longer than a few days, keeps returning, or interferes with your ability to complete normal daily activities, you should consider visiting a rheumatologist. If bloodwork or other symptoms indicate you may have an autoimmune disease or inflammatory disorder, you may also need a referral to a specialist.

Common warning signs that you should see a rheumatologist include morning stiffness that lasts more than an hour, swelling in multiple joints for more than a few days, pain that affects both sides of your body (symmetrical pain), unexplained rashes, fever, fatigue, or loss of mobility. Rheumatologists can help you determine if your symptoms are due to inflammatory arthritis, degeneration from wear-and-tear, or another cause.

What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes your immune system to attack healthy joint tissue. RA commonly affects your joints and causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and reduced mobility or function. Rheumatoid arthritis can affect other organs like your lungs, heart, and eyes.

Diagnosis typically includes reviewing your medical history, a joint exam, bloodwork, and possibly imaging. Treatment should begin as soon as possible because rheumatoid arthritis can begin damaging joints during the first few years of disease onset.

Patients can learn more about rheumatoid arthritis by visiting SMC Physicians’ Rheumatoid Arthritis service page.

How Are Rheumatologic Conditions Diagnosed?

Rheumatologists diagnose rheumatic diseases by performing a combination of symptom review, physical exam, laboratory testing, and medical imaging. Because there isn’t always a specific test for these complex disorders, your rheumatologist will look at your complete health picture.

Lab tests may include inflammatory markers and antibodies associated with rheumatic diseases. X-rays, ultrasound, and other types of imaging may also be used to evaluate joints and surrounding tissues. The doctor may also perform a physical exam to check your joints, skin, muscles, gait, range of motion, and signs that organs other than your joints are affected.

What Is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis causes bones to weaken, increasing the risk of fractures. Osteoporosis can progress without any symptoms, which is why many people don’t know they have the disease until one of their bones breaks.

Falls that cause fractures to your hip, spine, or wrist are common with osteoporosis. Spinal fractures may also cause sudden back pain, loss of height, or a hunched-over posture. You may break a bone from osteoporosis after a minor fall or even during regular physical activity.

SMC Physicians’ Osteoporosis Center provides evaluation and treatment through our rheumatology and endocrinology services.

Who Is at Risk for Osteoporosis?

Age, hormonal changes, genetics, body weight, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and inadequate calcium or vitamin D intake can increase your risk of developing osteoporosis. Certain medical conditions and medications can also cause your bones to weaken more rapidly than typical.

Osteoporosis can be associated with rheumatoid arthritis, hyperthyroidism, digestive issues like celiac disease, and long-term steroid use. If you’re concerned about your risk level, let your rheumatology or osteoporosis specialist know about previous fractures, current medications, family history, diet, and any recent reduction in height.

How Is Osteoporosis Diagnosed?

Doctors typically diagnose osteoporosis with a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan. This quick scan is also referred to as a DXA or DEXA scan. This noninvasive test measures bone density, typically at the hip and spine.

Bone-density tests can help diagnose low bone mass or osteoporosis, estimate your risk of breaking a bone within the next several years, and determine if treatment is working to strengthen your bones. Lab tests may also be ordered to look for underlying medical conditions that cause weakening bones.

How Are Rheumatologic Conditions Treated?

Treatment varies based on the diagnosis, severity of symptoms, which joints or organs are affected, and your overall health. Your rheumatologist may work to reduce your inflammation, relieve pain, prevent further damage, and preserve or improve your ability to move around each day.

Available treatments include anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, DMARDs, biologic therapy, joint injections, exercise recommendations, and physical therapy. Patients are typically monitored regularly to evaluate how well treatment is working, identify potential side effects, and make adjustments if their condition or treatment needs change.

How Is Osteoporosis Treated?

Like rheumatic diseases, osteoporosis treatment focuses on limiting symptoms, preventing complications, and slowing or stopping your bone loss. Treatment typically includes medication, calcium and vitamin D recommendations, exercise suggestions, balance training, lifestyle modifications, and fall-prevention techniques.

There are various medications that can slow bone loss and reduce your risk of fractures. Your doctor will determine which medication is best for you based on your bone density, prior breaks, age, medical conditions, and what treatments you’ve tried in the past. Patients should not begin taking high doses of calcium or vitamin D without first consulting their physician.

Are Infusion Treatments Available?

SMC Physicians offers on-site infusion therapy for qualified rheumatology and osteoporosis patients in Cape May Court House. Infusion therapy may be recommended when a prescribed medication is administered intravenously or when other treatment options are not appropriate or well tolerated.

At the SMC Physicians Infusion Center, patients benefit from on-site clinical monitoring while receiving their infusion treatment. Therapies administered at our infusion center include medications used to treat many inflammatory diseases as well as osteoporosis medications. Not every medication is administered through infusion. Your physician will determine whether infusion therapy is appropriate for your treatment needs.

Where Can Middle Township Patients Receive Care?

Patients in Middle Township can receive rheumatology and osteoporosis care at SMC Physicians’ Cape May Court House location, which also offers on-site infusion services.

Visit our Cape May Court House location page for current office information, including hours, directions, and available specialties.

How Can You Schedule an Appointment?

Rheumatology and osteoporosis specialists in Middle Township, NJ can provide evaluation and treatment for arthritis, autoimmune diseases, osteoporosis, and other conditions affecting the joints and bones. SMC Physicians offers this specialized care at our Cape May Court House location within Middle Township.

To request an appointment, call (609) 350-6780 or use our online appointment request form and select Rheumatology or the Osteoporosis Center and Cape May Court House as your preferred location.