Dr. Stratos Christianakis
Rheumatology
Los Angeles, CA
19 years experience male
Locations
Keck Medical Center USC - Pasadena
Pasadena, CA
My office hours
Wednesday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Show morePhone
Insurances accepted
Aetna
Blue Cross of California
Blue Shield of California
CHAMPUS
Cigna
Health Net Of California
L.A. Care
Medi-Cal
Medicare
Tricare
United HealthCare Insurance Company
Keck Medical Center USC - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
Keck Medical Center USC - La Canada
La Canada, CA
About
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Rheumatology
Internal Medicine
Languages spoken
Greek
Doctor Q&A
56 Answers
2 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Gloves: Use gloves while applying and avoid applying above the neck.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Lifestyle changes: Eat right, keep an ideal body weight, and exercise to your ability. Sounds easy but takes daily focus.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old female asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Complicated: Such a complicated answer. Patients can have symptoms of lupus early on and then develop another type of autoimmune disease in the same family, or vi... Read More
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Don't think so: I am not familiar with amyloidosis causing interactions with medications, but everyone is unique and side effects from meds are always a concern.
One... Read More
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 23-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Nothing proven: There is a lot of press now concerning "anti-inflammatory diets" in treating underlying inflammatory disorders like crohn's. I do have patients who a... Read More
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Rheumatologist: This is definitely a red flag for active lupus, and the swelling can be due to many things. Most concerning is if the lupus is affecting the kidneys,... Read More
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old female asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Still can be Raynaud: It ca still be raynauds as there is no blood test or imaging or anything that can rule it out ( a good exam and observation of the event is important ... Read More
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
IBS: Eds patient often have sequelae of fibromyalgia and associated irritable bowel syndrome. Would discuss with GI doctor depending on symptoms.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Depends: Would not focus so much on percentages, but instead would present your symptoms to your rheumatologist. Would try to seek out eds centers who underst... Read More
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Medications: There are many different meds like nsaid's, tylenol, (acetaminophen) and Codeine deriative meds. It is very important to incorporate diet, weight los... Read More
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 71-year-old male asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
See Your Doctor: Best to see a primary care doctor or a rheumatologist so that they can hear your full story and so they can ask you pertinent questions and examine yo... Read More
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Connects the spine: Also known as zygoapophyseal joints, these are the joints along the spine that connect the vertebrae together. Vertebrae sit on discs but the spinous... Read More
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
See your doctor: Best to see a primary care doctor or a rheumatologist so that they can hear your full story and so they can ask you pertinent questions and examine yo... Read More
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Most definitely: Best to see a pain management doctor or a rheumatologist so that they can hear your full story and so they can ask you pertinent questions and examine... Read More
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
See your doctor: Best to see a primary care doctor or a rheumatologist so that they can hear your full story and so they can ask you pertinent questions and examine yo... Read More
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Jaw: Basically the lower jaw articulates with the skull, it is a joint like any other with similar tissues.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Nothing in itself: High arched palate in the context of hypermobile joints can be a sign of marfan's syndrome, but that in itself may just be a normal variation. We hum... Read More
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Nope: Hinged joints that flex/extend/rotate have capsules, but there are other joints that do not. For example, sacroiliac joint do not.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Depends: General population 5-10 percent and majority of patients with raynaud's may be just a phenomenon and not related to an autoimmune disease.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
See a doctor: Most important thing is to go see either a primary care or rheumatologist and tell them your full story. They will ask you important questions that w... Read More
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Possibilities: Either related to the cold (reactive airway to a cold) or post nasal drip from sinus inflammation (either related to the cold or to allergies). A pri... Read More
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 68-year-old female asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Possibilities: Can be primary osteoarthritis or possible ligament or tendon injury. May be worth getting an MRI of the affected digits to see.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 43-year-old female asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Pool therapy: Best exercise you can do is in the pool as it has less impact on your joint and spine. Does not necessarily have to be swimming, but even water aerob... Read More
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A male asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
See your doctor: Best to see a primary care doctor or a rheumatologist so that they can hear your full story and so they can ask you pertinent questions and examine yo... Read More
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
See your doctor: Best to see a primary care doctor or a rheumatologist so that they can hear your full story and so they can ask you pertinent questions and examine yo... Read More
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Different class: Hydrocodone is a narcotic medications used for pain syndromes as well as for cough suppression, while Methocarbamol is classified as a muscle relaxer.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Low Purine: Plenty of online gout diet guidelines. Avoid alcohol and red meat, as well as lobster/crab. For pernicious anemia, main thing to monitor is the red ... Read More
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 50-year-old female asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Yes: Any chronic type infection can cause a disruption of your immune system, and can make lab test positive that are not often clinically relevant. For e... Read More
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old male asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Most definitely: Very common symptoms of a flu. If the symptoms of joint pains persist past the cold, then would talk to your doc. May also be good to run labs to ma... Read More
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Autoimmune Disease: Churg strauss syndrome is known as a vasculitis. The answer can be very complicated, but here goes: your body's immune system is attacking the small... Read More
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old female asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Nature of the beast : Pain can manifest different times and locations on body. No clear explanation for this phenomenon yet.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Yes: Short answer is yes, but important to review all meds taken to see if there are interactions.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Yes: Shoulder bursitis can be a chronic problem but can also go away with physical therapy and appropriate medical therapy like nsaid's or cortisone inject... Read More
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Wikipedia: Wikipedia says it well:
an umbrella term covering acute or chronic pain, especially in the muscles of mastication and/or inflammation of the tempo... Read More
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
It depends: Could be that you have TMJ syndrome, would recommend TMJ exercises. If you get other joint pains then would see a rheumatologist to evaluate for othe... Read More
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Poor Understanding: There is a poor understanding of cfs and it's causes. In the future, we may discover a genetic predisposition to people developing cfs. Likely more ... Read More
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Reactive Arthritis: It is common to have achy joints with having gonorrhea, and is called gonococcal arthritis. Treating the gonorrhea generally helps with the arthritis... Read More
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Depends: Depending on meds and clinical situation, there are scenarios that both meds can be given at the same time. This is something your physician has to d... Read More
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Depends: This must be sorted out with a good history and physical with an internist or cardiologist. Care must be made especially if the low blood is accompani... Read More
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Possibly: Fortunately, there are many options for inflammatory arthritis like RA or psoriatic arthritis, and since everyone is unique, one can have a very uniqu... Read More
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Complementary Tx: Though there is no robust studies on green tea and psoriatic arthritis, there are many foods and herbs that have anti-inflammatory properties. Exampl... Read More
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Need more info: Rituxan (rituximab) is generally a well tolerated medication, but like most meds can have side effects. Depending of the side effects and person, tim... Read More
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Many Options: My advice is to see a rheumatologist for a full consultation on options. First thing is to cut out alcohol and red meat, and avoid triggering factors... Read More
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged
A 52-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Futher Investigation: Most definitely. However, immune deficiencies can also be linked to autoimmune diseases so further testing for things like inflammatory arthritis and... Read More
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
See a Rheumatologist: There are many different reasons to have joint pains, and sometimes that pain is actually not from the joints, but can be from tendons, ligaments, bur... Read More
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Depends: It depends on the type of arthritis. For inflammatory arthritis like RA or lupus it is common to do so. Some md's even prescribe Plaquenil (hydroxyc... Read More
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 23-year-old female asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Many Possibilities: Could be many different causes, which include simple reasons like tendon or ligament strain from overuse (i.e. Computer overuse) to systemic causes.Mo... Read More
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Yes: Depending on severity, there are several options that should be discussed in great detail with your rheumatologists.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old female asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Complicated: Could be either, and to complicate matters dysautonomia can be cause by a paraneoplastic phenomenon. Either way the primary focus is to first treat t... Read More
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old female asked:
Dr. Stratos Christianakisanswered
Rheumatology 19 years experience
Neurologist: There are many options for headache treatment and each person is unique in how they respond to therapy. I would recommend seeing a neurologist, speci... Read More
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions, provide medical advice, write prescriptions, and more.
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
6
Recommendations
170
Thank you notes
Jul 20, 2014
I personally know Dr. Christianakis, he's one the great Rheumatologist at the University of Southern California. He's caring, knowledgeable and well experienced. He's highly recommended.
Mar 26, 2015
Great doctor. Consistently gives thoughtful, insightful and expert advice.
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Christianakis is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Thank you for your time. I've been seeing an Ortho; I'll try getting in to see a Rheumatologist now.
HealthTap member
TY.Ironically my rheum normal labs after bad reac 2 flu shot ~4 wk ago
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer or tip was very helpful!
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, CA
Graduated 2003MD
Awards
Top Rheumatologist , Second Place, California - Winter
2013
Affiliations
Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
Huntington Memorial Hospital
Los angeles county usc medical center
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