LUPUS
Your Lupus Specialist Here in New Jersey
For those living with lupus, partnering with a specialist is vital in managing this complex and unpredictable autoimmune disease. At Arthritis, Rheumatic & Bone Disease Associates (ARBDA), our rheumatologists have advanced training in both diagnosing and treating lupus, using the latest medical breakthroughs to effectively manage this long-term condition.
Our team takes an individualized approach to care, ensuring that each lupus patient receives tailored treatment. With expertise in both cutting-edge therapies and ongoing disease management, our specialists strive to improve patients’ quality of life by closely monitoring their health and adjusting treatment as needed.
As one of the largest rheumatology practices in the country, ARBDA also offers comprehensive care for a wide range of conditions, including gout and ankylosing spondylitis, all right here in New Jersey.
As one of the largest rheumatology practices in the Country, the ARBDA physicians also specialize in every aspect of rheumatologic disease from gout treatment to ankylosing spondylitis treatment.
Continue reading below to learn more about lupus and how our lupus specialists can help patients on their journey with this disease.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: ‘The Great Imitator’
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (also called, “SLE”) is a serious autoimmune disease that can strike just about anywhere in the body, including the joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lung, brain, and blood vessels. Some people live more easily with the disease because symptoms are infrequent and mild, while others experience severe symptoms that occur regularly. Women of childbearing age are more likely than others to develop the disease.
Our team specializes in not just SLE, but we also specialize in Discoid Lupus Erythematosus (DLE) and Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus.
What are Common Lupus Symptoms?
Lupus has been called the “great imitator” because its symptoms mimic other diseases. These include extreme fatigue, swollen or painful joints, a butterfly-shaped rash across the face, headaches, chest pain when taking a deep breath, fever, sun-sensitivity, and hair loss. Individuals can develop one or two symptoms over a long period, or many at once. Lupus is difficult to diagnose because it presents differently from person to person. To complicate matters, no one test exists to make a definitive diagnosis.
How Can I Make Sure I Get the Correct Diagnosis From My Doctor?
Getting the right diagnosis starts by choosing the right physician. Our rheumatologists are specialists in diagnosing, treating, and managing every type of lupus along with the everyday problems they cause. Getting an accurate diagnosis may take time, and includes assessing your medical and family history, various lab tests (including blood clotting, antibody tests, urine analyses, and others), and other methods as your physician sees fit.
What is the Typical Treatment & Management for Lupus?
Your ARBDA rheumatologist will tailor a treatment and management plan based on your symptoms and the frequency of your flares. Your lupus specialist may prescribe medications to reduce pain and swelling, fatigue, to change how the immune system works, and to help prevent joint damage.
Since this is a chronic illness, you will work closely with your doctor on a regular schedule. Depending on where your lupus symptoms occur in the body, you may also see a cardiologist for any problems affecting your heart, a nephrologist for kidney issues, or a dermatologist for skin disorders related to lupus.
Your rheumatologist specializing in lupus will be the center point of communication for your clinical team and will help you cope with the day-to-day challenges of living with lupus.
Contact Your Lupus Specialist to Start Feeling Better Today
Arthritis, Rheumatic & Back Disease Associates is here to support you and your family by providing you with the best care and treatment, all from friendly and personable physicians who care about their patients and communities. To schedule your first appointment with one of our lupus specialists, to call our team here at ARBDA today.