Rheumatologist in Toms River, NJ

Rheumatology is the branch of medicine for arthritis and autoimmune disease. At our Toms River office on Hooper Avenue, rheumatologist Dr. Shahzad Hussain diagnoses and manages conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, lupus, gout, polymyalgia rheumatica and inflammatory back pain (axial spondyloarthritis).

Many people are referred because a primary care doctor found an abnormal blood test, such as a positive ANA or rheumatoid factor. Others come in because their joints are swollen and stiff in the morning, their fingers change color in the cold, or a gout flare keeps coming back. Your first visit includes a detailed history, a joint exam and a review of your labs and imaging. Additional blood work or imaging is ordered when it would change the plan.

Treatment depends on the diagnosis. It can include disease-modifying medicines, biologic therapies, joint injections and lifestyle changes. Many of these medicines need regular monitoring, which is coordinated through the office.

Having rheumatology and pain management in the same Toms River building helps when joint pain has more than one cause. A knee can be both inflamed by rheumatoid arthritis and worn by osteoarthritis. A shared chart makes it easier for both teams to work on the same plan.

Dr. Hussain also sees patients at our Whiting and Brick offices, which some patients from Manchester or northern Ocean County find closer.