Arthritis treatment Brisbane
Our team has experience managing many conditions affecting the joints, muscles and bones.
Following is a summary of the diseases that we can work with you to improve.
Ankylosing Spondylitis mainly affects the spine, inflaming the joints of the neck, back and pelvis, causing pain and stiffness. It can also cause pain in the hips and shoulders, eyes, skin, bowel and lungs.
The symptoms usually begin between the ages of 15 and 45 years and include pain and stiffness that is worse after rest and relieved with exercise.
Fibromyalgia is a group of symptoms that are marked by generalised pain and muscle stiffness. These symptoms can be felt in all areas of the body and also extend to extreme fatigue and sleep issues.
While this condition does not cause major inflammation or physical damage, patients usually experience aching, stiffness and tiredness in the muscles.
The common condition of gout affects the joints with inflammation, pain and swelling. This is caused by uric acid that the body has failed to remove. Anyone can develop gout and it usually appears very quickly, causing a red, swollen and extremely painful joint that is intensely sore to touch.
While often affecting the joint of the big toe, gout can also target the hands, wrists, knees, ankles and elbows.
Haemochromatosis is caused by a build-up of iron which can damage organs, particularly the liver, heart, pancreas, bones and joints.
Symptoms are usually noticed after the age of 40 and can include fatigue; abdominal pain; symptoms of diabetes; and joint pain in the fingers, hands, wrists, elbows, hips, knees, and ankles.
Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)
Also called SLE or lupus, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is an autoimmune condition in which your immune system starts attacking your healthy tissue. It can just affect the skin and joints or can target the lungs, kidneys, blood vessels, and brain.
Symptoms vary from person to person but can include joint pain or swelling in the hands or feet, skin rashes, and sores in the mouth or nose.
Osteoarthritis affects the whole joint and is most often found in the knees, hips, finger joints and big toe.
While it can develop at any age, it is most common in people over 40 years of age or those who have had joint injuries.
Polymyalgia Rheumatica is caused by inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissue making muscles feel painful and stiff. Most common in the shoulder, neck and hip, the main symptoms are muscle pain and stiffness in the upper arms, neck, buttocks and thighs. Along with difficulty sleeping and completing daily activities.
Symptoms usually appear quickly, over several days or sometimes even overnight.
Psoriatic Arthritis leads to inflammation of the joints making them painful, stiff and swollen.
Around one in ten people with the skin disease called psoriasis are affected by this condition. Leading to pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints, buttocks, lower back or neck, or tendons; along with other symptoms.
Ross River Virus
Ross River Virus is an infection that spreads via mosquito bites causing joint inflammation and pain.
Three out of ten people will develop symptoms such as a rash of small red spots on the limbs, fever, chills, headaches and tiredness, along with joint pain, stiffness and swelling in the fingers, wrists, ankles and knees.
Scleroderma affects the connective tissues of the body due to the overproduction of a protein called collagen. Many different areas can be affected causing thickening and hardening of the skin on the fingers, arms and face.
Fingers or toes may turn white, then blue in the cold, with small white chalky lumps appearing under the skin. Stiffness and pain in muscles or joints, and other symptoms may also occur.
Sjogren’s Syndrome results in dryness of the mouth, eyes and other tissues along with some form of arthritis.
It can affect different parts of the body, most commonly involving the glands that produce tears and saliva.
Spondyloarthritis is a type of arthritis that affects the spine causing inflammation of the joints that connect the base of the spine to the pelvis. Resulting in pain and stiffness in the buttocks, back or neck.
This condition can also cause pain and swelling in the leg and arm joints.