Rheumatology
Rheumatology at LMH Health We all have muscle and joint pain from time to time. When you have severe pain or it lasts for more than a few days, it may be time to contact your primary care provider. Pain may be caused by an injury, but if it’s a result of inflammation, your provider […]
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Rheumatology at LMH Health
We all have muscle and joint pain from time to time. When you have severe pain or it lasts for more than a few days, it may be time to contact your primary care provider. Pain may be caused by an injury, but if it’s a result of inflammation, your provider may refer you to a rheumatologist.
Rheumatologists are doctors who diagnose, treat and manage musculoskeletal disorders, inflammatory and systemic autoimmune diseases.
What is autoimmune disease?
Autoimmune diseases occur when your body’s immune system attacks its own tissues. These diseases can affect joints, muscles and bones, and cause pain, stiffness, inflammation and other damage.
What diseases do rheumatologists treat?
Common diseases requiring care from a rheumatologist include:
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Gout
- Inflammatory myopathy
- Lupus (Systemic lupus erythematosus)
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Polymyalgia rheumatica
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Scleroderma (Systemic sclerosis)
- Sjogren’s syndrome
- Vasculitis
How do you make a diagnosis?
There isn’t a single test used to diagnose autoimmune disease. You’ll undergo a comprehensive evaluation by a rheumatologist. We use your complete medical history, a physical examination and information from other tests, including lab work, X-rays, CT and MRI scans, to provide you with a definitive diagnosis.
What treatments do you use?
Our team provides personalized care to diagnose your condition and provide options to regulate your body’s immune response and treat inflammation. Your treatment may include joint injections and referrals for occupational or physical therapy.
Meet Our Care Team
Joy-Ann Tabanor-Gayle, MD
Rheumatology
Dr. Joy-Ann Tabanor-Gayle earned her medical degree from the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica, where she was honored as valedictorian of her graduating class. She completed her internal medicine residency at the Englewood Hospital and Medical Center in New Jersey and served as Chief Resident for the program. She then completed her rheumatology fellowship at the University of Connecticut. She is board-certified in internal medicine and rheumatology.
She is a member of the American College of Rheumatology, American College of Physicians and American Medical Association.
“I chose to become a physician out of a lifelong interest in the complexity of the human body and the desire to be in a career field that requires lifelong learning, as well as playing an active role in community health.”
She knew she wanted to work in rheumatology after interacting with her first patient in medical school who had lupus.
“What I love most about being a rheumatologist is being able to witness the impact that a correct diagnosis and instituting a treatment plan can have on a patient’s life.”
