Are you looking for a rheumatologist Southfield MI?
Southfield is a city with a long and rich history that dates back to the early 1600’s when the area was inhabited by a number of Indian tribes including the Hurons, Miamis, Ottagomies, Miscountins, Ottawas, and Pottawatomies. In the late 1600’s the Iroquois invaded and either killed or chased away the other tribes in the area. A couple hundred years later the first road, Shiawassee passed through Southfield. Some of the earliest settlers moved to the area from New York and Vermont and were of Irish, English and German decent. An Early settler, David Stewart, owned several acres of land that years later his great granddaughter, Mary E. Thompson, sold to the city. That land eventually became the home of the Southfield Civic Center. The public library in Southfield, which is located on the Civic Center property, was named in her honor and today is a first-class public library with three floors and 250,000 books and media publications and welcomes over two thousand visitors daily.
Today, Southfield is a vibrant and diverse city with abundant recreational opportunities, great restaurants, a state-of-the-art movie complex, beautiful, tree-lined suburbs and plenty of nearby retail shopping centers. Southfield’s Parks and Recreation Department offers a number of opportunities for residents including youth sports teams, swimming lessons, hiking and biking trails, ice rinks, two golf courses, sand volleyball courts, the popular music under the stars events, and a 4th of July fireworks demonstration that is quite impressive. The 700 acres of park land in Southfield includes the new Carpenter Lake Nature Preserve off of 10 Mile near Beech Daly is busy year round with hikers and people out walking their dogs on the well-marked trails. Park West Gallery on Northwestern Highway is home to some exceptional exhibits by famous artists such as Picasso, Dali, Rembrandt and Miro.
Rheumatologist Southfield MI
Rheumatoid arthritis and the 100+ related conditions affect millions of Americans. These chronic and painful conditions can adversely affect a person’s quality of life. If you are feeling any of the symptoms of one of these conditions, getting diagnosed and treated early can make a big difference in the outcome by preventing permanent damage as well as slowing the progression of the disease. In order to obtain a specific diagnosis, your rheumatologist may evaluate your medical history, complete a current exam, order diagnostic testing such as blood work and imaging and follow the progression of your condition. Your rheumatologist understands the differences between the many types of arthritis conditions and can recommend and administer the proper treatments best suited to your individual case. Those who already suffer from inflammatory, rheumatic conditions such as RA, OA or even lupus understand that treating these conditions can take time and commitment. From finding the treatment which is most effective for you and your condition, to adjusting certain aspects of your life to better deal with your symptoms, treating these conditions requires more than just a little patience and knowledge.
Rheumatic diseases can occur in people of any age, race or sex but there are forms of the disease that make some people more susceptible than others. Genetics, environment, age and gender can play a role in developing rheumatic disease.
Some of the more common forms of rheumatic disease include:
- Ankylosing Spondylitis is a chronic condition that affects the spine and back and cause stiffness due to inflamed joints and ligaments which can cause the bones and joints to fuse.
- Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. Almost 30 million people in the U.S. suffer from this disease which breaks down the cartilage between the joints. When cartilage breaks down and bones start rubbing against each other, it can become very painful.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic condition that affects 1.3 million people in the United States. Inflammation of the lining of the joints can lead to joint damage which results in pain, loss of mobility and often disability. The joints of the hands and feet are most affected by this condition and occur equally on both sides of the body which differs from other forms of the disease and helps in diagnosis.
- Tendinitis is a common condition that most people don’t realize is considered one of the rheumatic diseases. It occurs often in athletes by overuse or injury of a tendon but can also occur due to a preexisting condition.
Other common conditions include bursitis, crohn’s disease which causes inflammation of the small bowel or intestine, gout which affects over 2 million people and often manifests in the large toe causing significant pain, and lupus. Lupus is another of the chronic conditions which affect the joints and causes the immune system to be unable to fight and kill bacteria and viruses. Because it affects the autoimmune system, any part of a person’s body can be affected including skin and internal organs. Cases of lupus worldwide affect approximately 5 million people and because it can be life-threatening. People with lupus should remain under a doctor’s care. Most people under the proper care of a rheumatologist can live full and active lives. The most common type of rheumatic disease found in children is juvenile idiopathic arthritis. The condition can present with pain and stiffness as well as rash and fever.
Unlike some diseases or conditions, many rheumatic conditions are incurable but often treatable; however, treatments don’t generally stop at just medicine. From what you eat to your overall lifestyle and even the vitamins you do or do not take, treating your condition requires knowledge of what your body lacks, what you need and what you should be avoiding. The Arthritis Institute of Michigan understands this and strives to do our best to treat the patient as a whole, not just the disease. By improving diet, increasing exercise and boosting levels of vitamin D, Dr. Dowd’s patients have been able to life fuller, healthier lives with less pain and less medication. Increasing levels of vitamin D also lead to stronger bones and reduce our risk of becoming overweight or developing certain conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, arthritis and more. We stay current on information regarding treatments and understanding the conditions and how they affect you. Our state of the art facility in Brighton assists us in helping you not only feel better but be better and enjoy a more fulfilling life.
About Dr. James Dowd, a Dearborn MI Rheumatologist
The Arthritis Institute of Michigan is located in Brighton MI, less than 30 minutes from Southfield, the Arthritis Institute of Michigan is currently accepting new clients. If you are struggling with a rheumatic condition and would like to know more about the treatments available to you, a skilled rheumatologist can help. Dr. Dowd will answer all of your questions and discus your diagnosis and treatment options available to you.
The Arthritis Institute of Michigan is located in the city of Brighton, less than 30 minutes from Southfield. Many of our clients come from the Southfield area. If you are tired of missing out and looking for a rheumatologist Southfield MI, call us today at 1.810.225.7553 or fill out the form below: