Most people live with a collection of symptoms they know nothing about because of misdiagnosis. Such eventualities might be unlikely with Dr. Jeffrey Miller. The specialist has helped enhance joint function among patients thanks to his expertise in diagnosing and treating autoimmune diseases. Your immune system comprises complex cells and antibodies that lookout for foreign bodies in your body system for destruction purposes. However, a malfunction of your immune system might force it to attack your healthy tissues. As the attack happens, inflammation in the target organ or tissue occurs, making you weak.
Some of the various autoimmune diseases Dr. Miller and his team of experts deal with include:
Rheumatoid arthritis
This systemic inflammatory illness starts by affecting your feet and hands before advancing to your other body parts. Rheumatoid arthritis happens when your immune system attacks your healthy tissues, mistaking them for foreign bodies. The condition is progressive and disabling and may result in pain in or around the affected joint.
You will know you are developing rheumatoid arthritis when you have trouble waking up in the morning or after sitting for long. You might also experience fatigue or constantly feel unwell. Other symptoms include weakness, joint stiffness, weight loss, and symmetrical joint involvement.
Though rheumatoid arthritis may affect anyone, you are most likely to develop the condition if you are above 60 years old, obese, smoke tobacco, or have genetic traits predisposing you to the condition.
The treatment options your doctor might recommend to lessen your symptoms include:
- Physical therapy
- Medication
- Occupational therapy
- Surgery. Usually the last resort, your doctor might recommend a surgical procedure when you have severe pain, deformities, or damaged joints. The possible treatments include arthroscopic surgery, carpal tunnel release, or arthroplasty.
RA treatment helps:
- Minimize joint inflammation
- Relieve you from pain
- Lower or hinder joint damage
- Minimize function loss resulting from pain, deformity, or joint damage
- Minimize flares and control their severity when they occur
Lupus
Like rheumatoid arthritis, your immune system will turn again your healthy tissues and attack them when you have lupus. You will become prone to illnesses when you have active lupus. You will also have a specific problem when your immune system attacks a particular body organ or body part. Body parts that lupus can target include kidneys, skin, and joints.
Blood issues might be among your most significant complications with lupus. You are likely to have dangerously minimal counts of platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells. The fluctuating blood count may result in fatigue and severe infections. Blood clots will also be a usual problem. You might have clots in your legs (deep venous thrombosis), lungs (pulmonary embolism), or in severe cases, your brain (stroke).
Though different lupus cases showcase various symptoms, you may suspect you have the chronic autoimmune condition when you have the following symptoms:
- Fever
- Painful and swollen joints
- Rashes
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Body aches
- Light sensitivity
You will mostly suffer from an autoimmune infection when your immune system mistakenly attacks your tissues. As a result, you might frequently suffer illnesses making you feel weak in general. These diseases can be fatal when you fail to seek treatment. Learn more about autoimmune illnesses’ management options during an appointment with your doctor.
