Rheumatology

Rheumatology focuses on the medical diagnosis and treatment of arthritis, autoimmune diseases, and inflammatory diseases. These diseases can affect the joints, tendons, ligaments, bones, muscles, and skin.

The Valley Approach to Rheumatology

Valley’s team of rheumatology specialists collaborates closely with other clinicians to diagnose and treat rheumatic diseases, which can affect multiple areas of the body. This can include a patient’s pulmonology, dermatology, renal, nephrology, or gastroenterology care teams.

Together, we work to address the concerns of each patient and develop a comprehensive treatment plan. 

Valley offers multidisciplinary, comprehensive care where patients can receive multiple services – including lab procedures, X-rays, musculoskeletal ultrasounds, and infusions – all in one location. This includes a state-of-the-art infusion center that provides healing infusion experiences. 

Virtual and in-person appointments are available.

Conditions Treated

Valley treats a range of rheumatology diseases, including:

• General musculoskeletal disease and conditions
• Osteoarthritis of the hips and knees
• Overuse and injury-related syndromes like tendonitis and bursitis
• Hand syndromes like trigger finger and carpal tunnel
• Autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), and inflammatory bowel disease
• Connective tissue diseases, including lupus, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, Sjogren’s syndrome, scleroderma, Raynaud's phenomenon, and interstitial lung disease
• Autoimmune skin diseases, such as psoriasis, hidradenitis, and bullous pemphigoid
• Vasculitis, including temporal arthritis or Wegener's vasculitis
• Systemic inflammatory diseases like IgG4, sarcoidosis, VEXAS, and Still’s disease
• Autoimmune muscle disease, such as polymyositis or dermatomyositis
• Bone disease like osteoporosis
• Crystal disease, including gout and pseudogout
• Chronic pain like fibromyalgia
• Inflammatory eye diseases, including uveitis, scleritis, and optic neuritis
• Rare heart conditions like pericarditis, pulmonary hypertension, and amyloidosis 

Diagnosis of Rheumatic Diseases

Options to diagnose certain rheumatic diseases may include:

• Bloodwork, including autoantibodies and special immune blood tests like Vectra and AVISE
• Ultrasound for diagnosis and treatments (injections)
• X-rays
• In-depth consultations, which include reviewing records, discussing details, and consulting doctors who have seen you in the past

Rheumatology Treatment at Valley

Valley is proud to offer a range of services and treatment options for different rheumatic diseases, including: 

• Biologic therapy
• Infusion
  • State-of-the-art infusion center: We are proud to offer an on-site infusion center led by our team of nurses at our Ridgewood office, which allows the team to offer injectable and infusion medication for a wide range of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, encompassing conditions in rheumatology, dermatology, gastroenterology, neurology, and endocrinology.
• Steroid injections
• Gel injections for knee arthritis
• Ultrasound-guided injections (carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, tennis elbow)
• Oral medications 

Why Choose Valley for Rheumatology Care?

• One-stop shop: Patient can receive blood work, lab procedures, X-rays, and infusions all in the same office. Our rheumatologists have in-depth experience in complex rheumatic diseases.
• Multilingual team: The diverse team offers patients a multilingual opportunity for communication.
• Two convenient locations: Valley offers rheumatology care at both the Ridgewood Campus and Montvale Campus, where ultrasound diagnosis and treatment are available.
• A focus on education: The team is committed to being up to date with the latest literature and evidence-based care in rheumatology. It prides itself on being a part of Valley’s greater academic center, as internal medicine medical residents rotate through the department to provide care and continue to learn.
• Clinical trials: Our team is committed to evidence-based research and treatment and conducts clinical trials in the office.