Tofacitinib: A novel oral treatment for rheumatoid arthritis

Dr. Pravin Patil, Rheumatologist gives a comprehensive overview of Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and how it is different from spondylosis and regular back pain, tips on managing this condition and the role of exercise.   Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a disease of young adults. Regrettably, ankylosing spondylitis has very little identity unto its own. Anything with “spondylitis” is considered to be linked with old age or simple ‘wear and tear’. Adding the prefix “ankylosing”…

Dr Pravin Patil, Rheumatologist from Pune, Maharasthtra shares the top 7 mistakes that people with Rheumatoid Arthritis with respect to their medications. People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are commonly prescribed several medications. It is very important to take medications regularly and follow correct instructions. It is the responsibility of the patients to know their medications well and avoid making mistakes, which can have serious consequences. Mistake No. 1: You take Methotrexate…

What is a Bone Scan? What do the results of the scan indicate? When do you need a Bone Scan? How often should you get a Bone Scan? We give you information that will help you discuss your options with your doctor. What is a Bone Scan  A Bone scan is done to check the bone mineral density (BMD) so as to assess strength of the bones and probability of any fractures. The scan helps identify any mild (osteopenia) or serious bone loss (osteoporosis). The most common bone density test is the DEXA…

Coping with Arthritis? Stiffness in hips and knees? Stiff toes or stiff ankles? Upper body aches and pains? Stiffness in waist, back, hips, shoulders, neck? How can you ease the stiffness in your joints? Yoga is effective in managing arthritis. It reduces pain, increases flexibility, and lowers stress. It brings harmony to body and mind. We have worked with Divyayog to create a set of asanas for you to do in the comfort of your own home.  The asanas are organised in 2 ebooks. Please…

Rheumatic diseases are erroneously believed to be the disease of the elderly, but a large number of young people too are affected by them. Dr. Gurvinder Singh Sawhney – Senior Consultant, Orthopaedics and Joint Replacement at Nanavati Hospital, gives us a perspective and suggests aggressive treatment strategies to manage flare-ups. Rheumatic or musculoskeletal diseases are considered the aches and pains of the ageing, but there are several disorders prevalent even among young people. Which are…

Kavita Behl, 53, who was diagnosed with high levels of uric acid causing excruciating pain and swelling in her feet, got back her health with a strict walking regimen and disciplined diet. Her mantra now - Be positive and Keep walking.  My problems started two years back in May 2016. I had developed swelling and pain in both my ankles and feet. The pain was so acute that I was not able to put my feet down. I had to go to a doctor. After a series of tests, I was detected with high levels of…

Kajal* had been active and careful about her lifestyle. When she experienced weight loss and started having knee pain she went through a series of tests and specialist doctors. Not satisfied with the solutions presented, she pro-actively looked at various complementary therapies to find solutions and made some surprising findings. I’ve always been thin and active. When I hit thirty, alerted by my parents’ health problems, I switched to a healthy lifestyle. I ate wholegrain foods, healthy fats,…

Jacqueline Colaco, a feisty 68, does not permit the senior citizen tag to prevent her from pushing her boundaries, acquiring new skills, participating in a range of community activities. She is active on Facebook and has even shaved her head in empathy with her school classmate who was on chemo for cancer! Be ever young at heart. At sixty I thought I’d retire from life... Wanting to go into oblivion with a bang, I gathered about two hundred of my nearest and dearest and celebrated this diamond…

Even though knee replacement operations have become more commonplace these days, one needs to be aware of the do’s and dont’s after the operation.  When the severity of a condition is such that physiotherapy for knee pain and any other conversant treatment fails, knee replacement becomes binding. Recovering from knee replacement can be highly challenging especially during the initial days. Here is a comprehensive guide on post-operative care for knee replacement so that both you and your…

MHR, as she prefers to be referred to as, has been battling Behcet’s Syndrome, a rare auto-immune disease for the last 17 years. Having been through various stages of pain, depression and hopelessness, body image issues she has tried ayurveda and yoga, to get some relief. She is keen to spread awareness on auto-immune disorders and wishes that doctors not treat her as guinea pig. First diagnosis I was diagnosed with Behcet’s Syndrome in 2001, after an illness of over 6 months. I was 23 then. I…