Rheumatology

The experience of our patients and their loved ones—not simply their ailments—demands our full attention. Your dedicated care team will be there to discuss your condition, answer questions, assess treatment options and develop a treatment strategy that is best for you.

While common, musculoskeletal injuries and ailments can be the cause of pain and discomfort. At Montefiore Einstein, we recognize that our patients are unique individuals with unique values, concerns and expectations. It is our belief that identifying the best treatment plan requires an understanding of and a sensitivity to each patient’s particular condition. We strive to provide our patients with a comprehensive understanding of their problem and the treatment options available to them. By keeping our patients informed, our physicians allow for effective, shared decision-making.

Our status as an academic health system puts us at the forefront of our field. Together with our Albert Einstein College of Medicine, one of the highest NIH-funded institutions in the country, we are continually conducting research with the goal of discovering better treatment options for our patients. We routinely present our research findings and publish our study results in peer-reviewed publications.

Many rheumatological and musculoskeletal conditions can be successfully managed by making a few simple yet important changes in daily life. These changes, designed to enhance musculoskeletal health, include optimization of body fat stores, increasing muscle strength, improving bone density and augmenting mobility. Treatments are often overseen by physical therapists, occupational therapists and nutritionists. After a detailed assessment of a patient’s medical conditions, prior treatment history, contributing factors, personal preferences, benefits and risks, we provide recommendations that enable the patient to choose the most appropriate treatments.

Although conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are often effective at controlling many musculoskeletal diseases, some rheumatic diseases, such as aggressive rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, merit additional approaches. Fortunately, great advances in medical research are providing a host of new treatment options for these diseases.

Some treatments target inflammatory mediators like tumor necrosis factor and inhibitors of inflammatory cytokines like IL-1, IL-6 and IL-17. Other medications block immune system activation as well as monoclonal antibodies that selectively deplete specific populations of white blood cells involved in the disease process. Some medications act indirectly to limit antibody-forming B lymphocytes. 

Finally, we often administer oral medications that can inhibit certain cell-signaling systems involved in rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. Along with well-established risk profiles, medications in this category are generally very powerful and have the ability to exert control over most rheumatic diseases. Treatments are tailored to achieve an optimal risk-and-benefit profile for each individual patient.

While lifestyle modifications often help individuals achieve better musculoskeletal health, some patients have rheumatological diseases that require additional interventions. Commonly used conventional medical treatments often employ a variety of medications that are collectively referred to as disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). These medications include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), colchicine, corticosteroids, hydroxychloroquine and sulfasalazine. Additionally, some patients benefit from the use of immunosuppressive therapies, such as methotrexate, azathioprine, mycophenolate and cyclophosphamide. We tailor the use of such medications to provide optimal benefits for each individual patient.