Arthritis & Rheumatology
At Indiana University Health Arthritis & Rheumatology, we want to help you manage your joint, muscle and connective tissue conditions not just through the use of appropriate medical treatment, but by making you informed and knowledgeable about your condition. It is our goal to do everything we can to help you stay as active and pain-free as possible.
We take pride in getting to know and understand our patients. You aren’t seen only in terms of your illness or disease. We see the mother who wants to remain active in her children’s lives, the man who wants to travel in retirement and the grandmother who wants to keep up with her grandchildren.
Arthritis & Rheumatology Treatment
IU Health physicians treat diseases of the joints, muscles and connective tissues. Our physicians and staff create comprehensive treatment plans to ensure all needs of every patient are met. Whether you suffer from arthritis pain or a connective tissue disorder, we strive to help you manage your disease through both appropriate medical treatment and education about your condition.
Medications
For some patients, over-the-counter pain relievers can help relieve the discomfort caused by arthritis or other joint conditions. For other patients, a prescription NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory) medication is needed to relieve pain and swelling. Medications for arthritis and rheumatic disease can also come in other forms, such as topical creams or injections. Other patients may need to take medications classified as glucocorticoids, DMARD’s (disease modifying and remitting drugs) or biologic response modifiers (biologic agents) that are used to control inflammation. An IU Health physician works to ensure each patient’s medications create the most desired effects, reducing pain, inflammation and improving function.
Available Services:
IU Health Arnett Hospital
IU Health Methodist Hospital
Call 800.265.3220 for the location nearest you.
Diet
A balanced diet that is comprised of all food groups is helpful in the treatment of joint, muscle or connective tissue conditions. A diet full of vitamin and mineral rich fruits and vegetables and omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce swelling and inflammation in joints. IU Health Rheumatology physicians strive to educate their patients on how diet can help treat joint, muscle or connective tissue conditions and work with patients to help them achieve a well-balanced diet and maintain an optimal weight.
Available Services:
IU Health Arnett Hospital
IU Health Methodist Hospital
Call 800.265.3220 for the location nearest you.
Exercise and Therapy
There are many types of exercises and therapies available to help treat arthritis and rheumatic disease. Patients can use exercise as a way to increase range-of-motion, strength and endurance and reduce arthritis symptoms. Regular exercise is an effective way to manage pain as well as improve overall health and fitness. Based on the type and severity of a patient’s joint, muscle or connective tissue condition, an IU physician, in conjunction with physical and occupational therapists, will design an exercise therapy regimen that complements his or her comprehensive treatment plan.
Available Services:
IU Health Arnett Hospital
IU Health Methodist Hospital
Call 800.265.3220 for the location nearest you.
Arthritis & Rheumatology Team
The IU Health Rheumatology physicians are board certified and have had years of training and experience in the specialty field of rheumatology. This enables our highly skilled physicians to treat a wide range of conditions and pain disorders affecting joints, muscles and connective tissue at a high level of expertise.
