Ankylosing Spondylitis Center - Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto Rheumatologist Doctors for Ankylosing SpondylitisType of Physician: Rheumatologist What is a Rheumatologist? A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners treat diseases of the joints, muscles, bones, and tendons. The rheumatologist diagnoses and treats arthritis, back pain, muscle strains, common athletic injuries, etc. The rheumatologist may work closely with other specialists such as orthopaedic surgeons and physical therapists. Specialty: Rheumatology Common Name: Rheumatologist Doctors in Palo Alto * Palo Alto Medical Clinic Medical Specialties  Palo Alto Medical Clinic Medical Specialties  Medical Specialties Clinic  Medical Specialties Clinic  Medical Specialties Clinic  Stanford University Medical Center  Menlo Medical Clinic  SOAR Sports Orthopedic & Rehabilitation  SOAR Sports Orthopedic & Rehabilitation  Umesh Sab MD  Camino Medical Group Mountain View Clinic  Camino Medical Group Mountain View Clinic  G Ang-Fonte MD  Kaiser Santa Clara Rheumatology  Michael P Stevens MD  Peninsula Medical Center San Mateo Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation  Barry E Shibuya MD  Fremont Medical Group  Arthritis Care Center  Lipton Kucera & Associates  Arthritis & Rheumatism Center  Arthritis & Rheumatism Center  Arthritis & Rheumatism Center  Burlingame Pacifica Medical Group  Peninsula Medical Group  East Bay Rheumatology  Feng Lee & Restifo MD  Feng Lee & Restifo MD  Feng Lee & Restifo MD  Bruce J Dreyfuss MD  Hisaka Ohmoto & Charlene Hu MDs  Washington Arthritis Center  Richard R Fong MD  Arthritis and Rheumatology Center  Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center  UC Davis Rheumatology  KPMC Santa Teresa Medical Center Rheumatology  Thomas A McDermott MD  Ephraim P Engleman MD  UCSF Rheumatology  Pacific Rheumatology Associates  Weitz Medical Management  Nancy Lee Carteron MD FACR  Michael K Chan MD  Pacific Rheumatology Associates  Pacific Heights Medical Group  Mercy Doctors Medical Group  SOAR Medical  Pacific Rheumatology Associates  Pacific Heights Medical Group  Robert J Deitz MD  Internal Medicine  Nishio & Sharma MD  Nishio & Sharma MD  UCSF VA Medical Center  Northern California Arthritis Center  Northern California Arthritis Center  Northern California Arthritis Center  Northern California Arthritis Center  Northern California Arthritis Center  Northern California Arthritis Center  John Muir Medical Center Hospitalist  Ronald G Connolly MD  Joan V Barber MD  Thaila Ramanujam MD  Lester Miller MD  Santa Cruz Medical Foundation Soquel Ave  Kaiser Permanente Medical Group Rheumatology  Ernest I Katler MD  Peter H Stein MD  Joan T Campagna MD  Gerlie L Papillion MD  Monterey Joint Replacement & Sports Medicine  Heart Institute  Arthritis Center  Arthritis Center  Albert A Ferrari MD  Kaiser Stockton Rheumatology  Kaiser Stockton Rheumatology  Kaiser Stockton Rheumatology  Lisa B Kremer MD  Kaiser Permanente  Kanwal Khanna MD  Northern California Medical Associates  UC Davis Specialty Clinic  Sutter Gould Medical Foundation  Raul J Romea MD  Woodland Healthcare Clinic  UC Davis Medical Group Internal & Family Practice Clinic  UC Davis Medical Group Internal & Family Practice Clinic  Mercy Medical Group Medical Specialties  Sutter Medical Foundation Subspecialty  Sutter Medical Foundation Subspecialty  Midtown Internal Medicine Group  Douglas E Roberts MD  Sacramento Rheumatology Consultants  Sacramento Rheumatology Consultants Palo Alto, CaliforniaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-16
2012-06-16
2012-06-23
2012-06-24
2012-07-01
2012-07-14
2012-07-28
2012-08-05
2012-08-25
2012-10-21
Ankylosing SpondylitisRead the Ankylosing Spondylitis article » What is ankylosing spondylitis?Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of chronic inflammation of the spine and the sacroiliac joints. The sacroiliac joints are located in the low back where the sacrum (the bone directly above the tailbone) meets the iliac bones (bones on either side of the upper buttocks). Chronic inflammation in these areas causes pain and stiffness in and around the spine. Over time, chronic inflammation of the spine (spondylitis) can lead to a complete cementing together (fusion) of the vertebrae, a process referred to as ankylosis. Ankylosis leads to loss of mobility of the spine. Ankylosing spondylitis is also a systemic disease, meaning it can affect other tissues throughout the body. Accordingly, it can cause inflammation in or injury to other joints away from the spine, as well as to other organs, such as the eyes, heart, lungs, and kidneys. Ankylosing spondylitis shares many features with several other arthritis conditions, such as psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, and arthritis associated with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Each of these arthritic conditions can cause disease and inflammation in the spine, other joints, eyes, skin, mouth, and various organs. In view of their similarities and tendency to cause inflammation of the spine, these conditions are collectively referred to as "spondyloarthropathies." Ankylosing spondylitis is considered one of the many rheumatic diseases because it can cause symptoms involving muscles and joints. Ankylosing spondylitis is two to three times more common in males than in females. In women, joints away from the spine are more frequently affected than in men. Ankylosing spondylitis affects all age groups, including children. The most common age of onset of symptoms is in the second and third decades of life.
What causes ankylosing spondylitis?The tendency to develop ankylosing spondylitis is bel... Recommended Reading Related to Ankylosing SpondylitisWhat is reactive arthritis?Reactive arthritis is a chronic form of arthritis featuring the following three conditions: (1) inflamed joints, (2) inflammation of the eyes (conjunctivitis), and (3) inflammation of the genital, urinary, or gastrointestinal systems. This form of joint inflammation is called "reactive arthritis" because it is felt to involve an immune system that is "reacting" to the presence of bacterial infections in the genital, urinary, or gastrointestinal systems. Accordingly, certain people's immune systems are genetically primed to react aberrantly when these areas are exposed to certain bacteria. The aberrant reaction of the immune system leads to spontaneous inflammation in the joints and eyes. This can be confounding to the patient and the doctor when the infection has long passed at the time of presentation with arthritis or eye inflammation. Reactive arthritis has, in the past, been referred to as Reiter syndr... Other Related Ankylosing Spondylitis ArticlesEmergency Contact for Palo Alto
Nearby Palo Alto Hospitals *Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Menlo Park Surgical Hospital Stanford Hospital & Clinics VA Palo Alto Health Care System Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Medical Center Sequoia Hospital El Camino Hospital San Mateo Medical Center Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center Fremont Hospital Mills Hospital Washington Hospital Kaiser Permanente Hayward Medical Center St Rose Hospital Mills-Peninsula Health Services O'Connor Hospital Santa Clara Valley Medical Center El Camino Hospital of Los Gatos Good Samaritan Hospital San Jose Eden Medical Center Regional Medical Center of San Jose Good Samaritan Hospital Mission Oaks Alameda County Medical Center Fairmont Campus John George Psychiatric Pavilion San Leandro Hospital Kindred Hospital San Francisco Bay Area Seton Medical Center Coastside Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco Medical Center Alameda Hospital ValleyCare Health System Pleasanton Seton Medical Center Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center Alameda County Medical Center Highland Campus St Luke's Hospital Livermore Division of the VA Palo Alto Healthcare System San Francisco General Hospital San Ramon Regional Medical Center Valley Memorial Hospital Laguna Honda Hospital & Rehabilitation Center Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Summit Campus Kaiser Permanente Medical Center at Oakland California Pacific Medical Center Davies Campus UCSF Medical Center at Parnassus Saint Francis Memorial Hospital Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland Chinese Hospital St Mary's Medical Center Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion California Pacific Medical Center Pacific Campus California Pacific Medical Center East Campus California Pacific Medical Center California Campus Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Alta Bates Campus Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Herrick Campus San Francisco VA Medical Center Kaiser Permanente Walnut Creek Medical Center Dominican Hospital John Muir Medical Center Walnut Creek Campus Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
Suggested Reading on Ankylosing Spondylitis by Our Doctors
-
Related Diseases & Conditions
15 articles-
Lower Back Pain
- There are many causes of back pain. Pain in the low back can relate to the bony lumbar spine, discs between the vertebrae, ligaments around the spine and discs, spinal cord and nerves, muscles of the low back, internal organs of the pelvis and abdomen, and the skin covering the lumbar area.
-
Crohn's Disease
- Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease, primarily involving the small and large intestine, but which can affect other parts of the digestive system as well. Abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and weight loss are common symptoms.
-
Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction (SI Joint Pain)
- Sacroiliac joint (SI) dysfunction is a general term to reflect pain in the SI joints. Causes of SI joint pain include osteoarthritis, abnormal walking pattern, and disorders that can cause SI joint inflammation including gout, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and ankylosing spondylitis. Treatment includes oral medications, cortisone injections, and surgery.
-
Ulcerative Colitis
- Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammation of the colon. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding. Ulcerative colitis is closely related to Crohn's disease, and together they are referred to as inflammatory bowel disease. Treatment depends upon the type of ulcerative colitis diagnosed.
-
Arthritis
- Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints. When joints are inflamed they can develop stiffness, warmth, swelling, redness and pain. There are over 100 types of arthritis including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, lupus, gout, and pseudogout.
-
Ankle Pain
- Ankle pain is commonly due to a sprain or tendinitis. The severity of ankle sprains ranges from mild (which can resolve within 24 hours) to severe (which can require surgical repair). Tendinitis of the ankle can be caused by trauma or inflammation.
-
Neck Pain
- Neck pain (cervical pain) may be caused by any number of disorders and diseases. Tenderness is another symptom of neck pain. Though treatment for neck pain really depends upon the cause, treatment typically may involve heat/ice application, traction, physical therapy, cortisone injection, topical anesthetic creams, and muscle relaxants.
-
Bone Spurs
- Bone spurs are pointy outgrowths of bone that develop in areas of inflammation or injury. They commonly occur on the heel and spine and may be the result of reactive arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, or diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis. Symptoms include pain, numbness, and tenderness. Treatment focuses on decreasing inflammation and avoiding re-injury.
-
Psoriatic Arthritis
- Psoriatic arthritis is a disease that causes skin and joint inflammation. Symptoms include painful, stiff, and swollen joints, tendinitis, and organ inflammation. Treatment involves antiinflammatory medications and exercise.
-
Costochondritis and Tietze Syndrome
- Costochondritis is inflammation of the cartilage where the ribs attach to the sternum. Tietze syndrome affects the same region of the chest and causes inflammation, tenderness, and swelling. Anti-inflammatory medications, rest, physical therapy, and cortisone injections are suitable methods of treatment for both costochondritis and Tietze syndrome.
-
Juvenile Arthritis (Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis)
- Juvenile arthritis (juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or JRA) annually affects one child in every thousand. There are three types of JRA: pauciarticular (less than four joints affected), polyarticular (more than four joints affected), and systemic-onset (inflamed joints with high fevers and rash). Treatment of juvenile arthritis depends upon the type the child has and should focus on treating the symptoms that manifest.
-
Kyphosis
- Kyphosis is outward curvature of the thoracic spine (upper back). Abnormal kyphosis results in the appearance of a hunchback, which is accompanied by back pain, stiffness, and muscle fatigue in the back. There are three types of abnormal kyphosis: postural, Scheuermann's, and congenital kyphosis. Postural kyphosis is caused by poor posture and a weakening of the back's muscles and ligaments. Scheuermann's kyphosis is caused by a structural deformity of the vertebrae. Congenital kyphosis is caused by an abnormal development of the vertebrae prior to birth. Treatment of kyphosis depends upon the type of kyphosis the patient has.
-
Reactive Arthritis
- Reactive arthritis is a chronic, systemic rheumatic disease characterized by three conditions, including conjunctivitis, joint inflammation, and genital, urinary or gastrointestinal system inflammation. Inflammation leads to pain, swelling, warmth, redness, and stiffness of the affected joints. Non-joint areas may experience irritation and pain. Treatment for reactive arthritis depends on which area of the body is affected. Joint inflammation is treated with antiinflammatory medications.
-
Iritis
- Iritis is inflammation of the iris, the colored portion of the eye. Symptoms include a red, painful eye, blurry vision, and light sensitivity. Treatment usually involves cortisone eyedrops.
-
Scleritis
- Scleritis is inflammation of the white part of the eye. It may be caused by a serious underlying condition, such as an autoimmune disease. Symptoms include redness, pain, tearing, sensitivity to light, and decreased visual acuity. Treatment may include eye drops as well as treatment for any underlying disease process. Scleritis cannot be prevented.
-
Lower Back Pain
-
Medications
21 articles -
Procedures & Tests
7 articles -
Pictures, Images & Quizzes
3 articles -
Doctor's & Expert's Views
14 articles -
Health News
2 articles -
Health Features
0 articles
