Dr. Larry Greenbaum

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Probably not: Elevated strep titers such as aso usually mean previous exposure rather than current infection.

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5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 49-year-old male asked:

I am 1.5" shorter at 50 than i was at 17. i know some shrinkage is normal, but is the amount normal in a male who was 5' 11.5"?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Normal vs abnormal?!: Normal loss of height is due to shrinkage of the vertebral discs due to loss of water content and doesn't cause pain. Abnormal shrinkage may be due t... Read More

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5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 52-year-old female asked:

I have a 27 value for vitamin d. i take 10, 000units dry d3 daily. dr.will have me do 50, 000 units on 2 mondays. what kind of doctor should i see?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Primary care: You could see an endocrinologist, but your vitamin d level was only slightly low, so i think your primary doctor can handle this.

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5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 47-year-old female asked:

Can pantoprazole be taken with ibuprofen?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Yes: The Pantoprazole can help to decrease upset stomach symptoms due to the ibuprofen.

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5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Alan Ali and another doctor agree2 doctors agree

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A 44-year-old male asked:

44 year old otherwise healthy male , don't drink or smoke . run 4 mikes 3days a week .how do u feel about taking me taking 1000 mg dailey tylenol (acetaminophen)?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Maybe OK, but why?!: The maximum dose of Acetaminophen that is safe for long term use is around 3, 000 to 4, 000 mg a day provided that your liver is healthy. If you are ... Read More

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5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 44-year-old female asked:

What is osteoarthrofibrosis in the knee? what causes grinding and clicking in the knee? can too much fluid be removed from the knee?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Wear and tear : Osteoarthritis is due to wearing out of the knee and it's support structures. Grinding and clicking are symptoms of this process. Sometimes joint ef... Read More

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5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 22-year-old male asked:

The inside of my left ear is hurting. its swollen and has gotten red. it's also caused me to feel dizzy. i think its a spider bite but not sure, help?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Infection?: You most likely have some type of localized infection such as otitis externa, or perhaps an insect bite. Cellulitis is usually more wide spread. Pol... Read More

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4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Maritza Baez agrees1 doctor agrees

A 28-year-old male asked:

What is the definition or description of: systemic lupus erythematosus diagnostic panel?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Labs for a + ANA: The antinuclear antibody test (ANA) is the initial screening test for lupus, but since it produces a lot of false positives, follow up testing for oth... Read More

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5 thanks

A 17-year-old female asked:

Ibs runs in my family and i believe i have it and it gets worse when i eat wheat, can i just avoid wheat or should i be treated and diagnosed?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

? celiac disease: Gluten sensitivity is a symptom of celiac disease rather than irritable bowel syndrome. You can avoid wheat if it makes you sick. Regardless of what... Read More

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4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 29-year-old male asked:

I have frequent knee pain and it catches quite frequently while walking. what should i do and what is causing this?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Internal damage?: You may have some type of damage inside your knee such as a torn cartilage. You should probably see an orthopedic or sports medicine specialist.

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4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 29-year-old female asked:

Right acute knee pain, burning and bruise- like feeling. whole kneecap is worse, along its bottom. stairs are very difficult to use, and it hurts any time i walk. had a negative x- ray.

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Patellofemoral pain?: Based on your description of the problem, your young age, and a negative x-ray, i'm suspicious that your pain may be patellofemoral in nature. If thi... Read More

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4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 32-year-old female asked:

Doc says the mri shows loss of cartilage due to severe arthritis he says i hve osteoporosis the pain is severe to where i can't bare weight on my legs?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Very young for these: At age 32 you are very young for such severe cartilage loss and osteoporosis. Perhaps there are additional factors such as a family history of these ... Read More

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5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

A 37-year-old female asked:

Can you have lupus if your ana come back negative?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Unlikely, but...: The ANA is a very sensitive test, so it tends to have too many false positives, rather than false negatives. Textbooks talk about lupus with negati... Read More

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5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 28-year-old female asked:

I experienced no fatigue after first dose of 10mg methotrexate. is it because i just started and it hasn't built up in my body, or maybe i won't at all?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Maybe u won't at all: The majority of my patients on Methotrexate do not complain about fatigue.

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5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 47-year-old member asked:

What is the best home remedy for terrible leg cramps, at nite or early morning hours?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Try Tonic Water: Try drinking a glass of tonic water in the evening. Tonic water contains a small amount of quinine, and is sometimes helpful for leg cramps. You can... Read More

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6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Luis Villaplana and 3 doctors agree4 doctors agree

A 34-year-old member asked:

Two fridays ago i took vitamin b complex and amino acids shot. i start feeling a joint pain on my left hand. o didn't think about the shot. the pain it was gone after 3 days. after 7 days i took another shot and it was a really painful one. the next da

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Stop taking shots!: Perhaps you are having an allergic or autoimmune response to something in the injections. Each time you do this the response from your body is amplif... Read More

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5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Dan Fisher and 2 doctors agree3 doctors agree

A 39-year-old male asked:

Can you tell me the implications of having emphysema?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Shortness of breath: Emphysema causes shortness of breath that could cause you to need more medications to help you breath, and or oxygen. In the more severe stages hospi... Read More

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5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 26-year-old female asked:

No dx from docs, i'm feeling hopeless. symptoms: joint & widespread pain and stiffness, lung inflammation and pleurisy, fatigue, +ana 1:640, speckled?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Systemic lupus ?: This sounds like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), although other connective tissue diseases could cause similar symptoms and lab results. Hopeless... Read More

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3.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Susan Rhoads and another doctor agree2 doctors agree

A 61-year-old male asked:

I have arthritis in my foot and ankle. i have tried cortisone shots which provide relief for a week. is there an alternative which lasts longer?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Depends what kind...: The most common type is osteoarthritis. The most common treatment is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication (ibuprofen, etc). Cortisone injectio... Read More

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4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Thomas Inwood agrees1 doctor agrees

A 22-year-old male asked:

I asked the pharmacy for 100 mg voltaren (diclofenac) but they gave me 100 mg arthrexin, saying it's the same thing. i just realized it's not. is this arthrexin any as good for severe headache as voltaren (diclofenac)?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Indomethacin: Arthrexin and voltaren (diclofenac) are both non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications. Either one may help a headache, but if you are having sever... Read More

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4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 26-year-old female asked:

What causes excessive fuilds around the heart and what happenes after it is drained out by a tube?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Pericarditis?: There are many possible causes of fluid around the heart. Many infections can cause this. Kidney disease, thyroid disease, and autoimmune diseases s... Read More

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5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

A 29-year-old female asked:

Could i still have lupus even though my ana is negative?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Unlikely: Rarely patients with a negative ANA are diagnosed with lupus. Many of those patients have other abnormal labs, especially for sjogren's syndrome. Sp... Read More

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5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Ed Friedlander agrees1 doctor agrees

4 thanks

A 42-year-old female asked:

I suffer from chronic back pain..travel to my legs and hips..had a fusion and a spinal cord stem put in..what else can i try for pain relief?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Exercise, etc: Everyone with chronic back pain should try strengthening exercises. Other treatments are sometimes helpful. These can include medications such as an... Read More

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5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 35-year-old male asked:

I have a walking proublem with pain in knee joints?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

? arthritis: This could be due to arthritis, but bursitis, or other problems can also cause knee pain. Low impact exercises that strengthen your leg muscles can b... Read More

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5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 56-year-old female asked:

I have been told that i have dry mouth due to shrunken salivary glands. what can i do for either situation?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Medication may help: Pilocarpine or cevimeline may help. These medications stimulate saliva production. Avoiding medications that have dry mouth as a side effect may be ... Read More

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5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Franklin Allen agrees1 doctor agrees

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A 44-year-old female asked:

Is it ok to take diet pills while taking taking meds for rhuematoid arthritis?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Probably OK, but...: It's always a good idea to be concerned about drug interactions. You can ask your doctor or pharmacist, and there are on line drug interaction checke... Read More

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5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A member asked:

What is a midline disk bulge?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

This may be normal..: Mri or ct scans of the spine frequently show discs that protrude beyond the edge of the vertebral bodies. This may be associated with degenerative di... Read More

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5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 32-year-old female asked:

I have soft tissue damage to my foot however i am allergic to nsaids and codeine. paracetamol do not touch the pain what else can i take?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Topical treatment: You might benefit from topical treatments such as capsaicin or arnica montana. There are many over the counter arthritis and pain topical medications... Read More

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5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Luis Villaplana and another doctor agree2 doctors agree

A 58-year-old female asked:

When can i start stretching exercises to help my sciatica? i just started a steroid dose pack.

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Now: Gentle stretching exercises to strengthen your back are almost always appropriate.

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5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Rashid Khan agrees1 doctor agrees

A 44-year-old member asked:

Is this serious? osteophyte formation on the symphysis pubis?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Very unlikely: An osteophyte is a bone spur, and may be associated with arthritis symptoms. Most likely, what you are describing is an 'incidental finding' on an x-... Read More

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5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Pamela Pappas and another doctor agree2 doctors agree

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A 38-year-old female asked:

I am exercising & eating healthy. can ligaments & tendons heal on their own in the sacrum/sacroiliac region after injury? or will i need prolotherapy

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Conservative is best: Rest, heat, supportive medications (muscle relaxants or antiinflammatory if needed) are the best course of action. Physical therapy can also be helpf... Read More

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5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 55-year-old female asked:

Finished euflexxa did therpy exercise now in knee brace due to that, how long after last shot should i wait until i use exercise bike& ecliptal therpy?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Now is fine: You can start low impact exercise now. Exercises that strengthen your leg muscles will help to decrease knee pain.

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5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 23-year-old female asked:

I have a patch of red flakey skin on my left foot what is it caused by?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Eczema ?: It could be lots of things including psoriasis, eczema, or other types of dermatitis. Try over the counter Hydrocortisone creme or ointment.

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5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Yash Khanna agrees1 doctor agrees

A 46-year-old female asked:

Is a main symptom irritable bladder of scleroderma?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

No: Irritable bladder is not a main feature of scleroderma. Skin changes and raynaud's phenomena are the typical presenting features of this illness.

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5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Heidi Fowler and another doctor agree2 doctors agree

A 24-year-old male asked:

What does it mean if your finger is swelled and turned purple for three days now. is it a blood clot?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Circulation problem?: It could be a blood clot, or perhaps arthritis or infection. You should see a doctor before this gets worse.

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5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Heidi Fowler agrees1 doctor agrees

A 51-year-old female asked:

I can`t move properly the middle finger on my right hand?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Many possibilities: But the most common diagnosis in my practice among patients with a complaint like yours is trigger finger. Trigger finger usually responds very well ... Read More

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5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Heidi Fowler agrees1 doctor agrees

A 33-year-old female asked:

My rheumo checks my crp, alt-ast but never bilirubin or albumin. is alt/ast enough to detect liver issues?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Probably: You didn't mention what medication you use, but your question is relevant for methotrexate, leflunomide, and other medications. If patients have heal... Read More

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5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A female asked:

I was on potatoes diet last summer.since then i can't go to toilet. i started to use medicine named guttalax. it helps but only for 2 days. what to do?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Fiber and fluids: Try and get at least 25 - 30 grams of fiber a day and lots of water every day.

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5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 61-year-old female asked:

Treatment for scapulothoracic fibromyocitis?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Physical therapy/med: This is sometimes also called "soft tissue rheumatism" or fibromyalgia if the problem is wide spread. Physical therapy may be helpful. Remember that... Read More

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5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 61-year-old female asked:

61 yr old female suffering from swollen and painful foot. have arthritis and bursitis of hip..what can this be from?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Gout, pseudogout ?: Gout or pseudogout are the most likely possibilities. Gout is caused by too much uric acid. Pseudogout is caused by a type of calcium crystal. This... Read More

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5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 45-year-old female asked:

I fell hitting my knee now my leg is swollen and painful?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Rest, ice, elevate: Rest, ice, and elevation are helpful. If you are having severe pain, severe bruising, can't bear weight, or have a history of breaking bones easily, ... Read More

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5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

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A 37-year-old female asked:

Pain that came on in both knees 3 yrs ago and now comes on every three months. burning throbbing pain that lasts about a month then goes away till nex?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Arthritis maybe?: This is tough to explain without further examination. Joint swelling, x-ray findings, and perhaps blood tests might be very helpful.

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5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 24-year-old female asked:

I have a goose egg/ large bump between my shoulder blades on back. i didn't hit it and it's not sore, sometimes sensitive. should i see dr. what kind?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Lipoma ?: You may have a lipoma, a benign fatty tumor. These rarely require any treatment. Have your family doctor look at this bump before you do anything el... Read More

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5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 41-year-old female asked:

I have a dull pain in my right wrist, just about where the bone of the arm connects on the outside.

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Busy anatomic area !: There are multiple possible causes in this area, but tendonitis and arthritis are both high on the list. You can try a resting wrist splint from the ... Read More

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5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Sireesha Vemuri agrees1 doctor agrees

A member asked:

How can i treat polymyalgia rheumatica?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Prednisone plus....?: Prednisone is the tried and true remedy for this condition. Sometimes other arthritis medications are helpful too. Speak to your rheumatologist.

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3.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Susan Rhoads agrees1 doctor agrees

A 43-year-old member asked:

How can i get rid of amyloid patch on my back?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Amyloid, really?!: I'm not sure what you are calling an amyloid patch. Amyloid in the skin is usually only diagnosed by a biopsy. Consider seeing a dermatologist.

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4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 25-year-old female asked:

My knuckles and fingers started getting red and dry a few years, especially in the winter. is this this just dry hands or something else?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Sounds like my hands: This sounds like dry skin. The best thing to do is to apply good quality hand lotion frequently, and wear gloves when you are outside. Also be sure ... Read More

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4.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 44-year-old male asked:

My husband has very yellow/greenish eyes, skin is yellow, loss of appetite, swollen ankles and feet, and seems to be loosing his hair. ?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Jaundice?: This could be due to liver disease such as hepatitis. He should see a doctor and have lab tests.

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4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Charles Cattano and another doctor agree2 doctors agree

A member asked:

What does wcr/bca stand for on a medical record. it's located after the conclusion. ?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Initials?: I am guessing wcr are the doctor's initials and bca the initials of the typist.

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5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Frank Kuitems and another doctor agree2 doctors agree

A 48-year-old member asked:

What is gout?

Internal Medicine - rheumatology 39 years experience

Arthritis caused ...: by the over accumulation of uric acid. Gout can cause acute attacks with severe pain, redness, and swelling (for men, especially common in the foot).... Read More

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3.4k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged

Dr. Susan Rhoads and another doctor agree2 doctors agree