Locations
Integrative Medicine Santa Cruz
About
Bio
I am originally born and raised in Kenya and where my extended family still live. My medical training was in Glasgow, Scotland and thereafter, I trained in internal medicine in London, UK. I am a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of the UK. My career has also taken me to Stanford University for Rheumatology training and then to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. I am deeply interested in complementary and integrative medicine as many therapeutics which are not considered conventional can assist people with chronic conditions such as arthritis.
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
Languages spoken
English, Gujarati, Swahili
Doctor Q&A
63 Answers
98 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 17-year-old female asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
SLE: Dear Gabrielle, a cough and painful chest (you mention ribs), makes me concerned. Pleurisy (inflammation of the lining of the lung) can be a feature ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old female asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
EMG Test: Renee: Your doctor has ordered electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) testing to evaluate the electrical activity of muscles and n... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old female asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Playing the piano: Hi Maria: Piano can look effortless but improper hand, and arm position can be associated with hand and arm pain. The common injuries include tendon ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Blue Sclera: Hi Amber: Inflammation, scleritis, can lead to blue sclera. Diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis are associated with scleritis (and eye disease can v... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Scalp Tingling: Probably nothing to worry about. But do have your scalp checked to make sure no infections (tinea). A dermatologist would be a good physician to see a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old female asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Hypothyroidism: Hello: Hypothyroidism can itself be associated with dry scalp, sores and hair loss. Check with your endocrinologist who can ascertain if your dose for... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old male asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Cervical Radiculopathy: Little is known of the natural history of cervical radiculopathy. In one study, use of a semi-hard cervical collar and rest for 3-6 weeks vs. PT + hom... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 51-year-old male asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Hip Bursitis: Hi: there are 2 types of hip bursitis. 1) Trochanteric bursitis on the outer aspect of the hip, 2) Ischial Bursitis on the sitting bone area (buttocks... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 46-year-old female asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Guttate psoriasis: Janet: guttate psoriasis can come on due to infections like streptococcal infections, or medications like beta blockers (blood pressure med); so be su... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 69-year-old female asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Back pain: Hi Lilly: There are many questions that a physician will have regarding back pain that will guide treatment options. If you have osteoarthritis, the... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old female asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Headache + eye pain: I am concerned with your symptoms of unilateral headache, visual changes, and scalp tenderness. At 33 y of age, not likely to be a vascular disease. D... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old female asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Torn meniscus: Michelle: Meniscal injuries symptoms are often located in the knee joint itself - locking/ giving way, pain when walking, warmth of the joint and so o... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old female asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Simponi (golimumab) and RA: Dear Jennifer, Simponi also known as golimumab, in combination with methotrexate has been shown to improve severe RA; Clinical symptoms of joint pain ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Hyperuricemia: High uric acid (hyperuricemia), can occur from many conditions; chemotherapy for cancer is often assoc. with hyperuricemia. Alcohol intake can lead to... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Arthritis, young man: Hello: Many arthritides can be seen in young males. Immune diseases like Anklylosing Spondylitis (which comes under umbrella of Spondylo-arthritides a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old male asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Ignore: Psoriatic arthritis is best managed by a team: you, your rheumatologist and dermatologist.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Joint Hypermobility: Dear Antri, I think what you are referring to with the term "double joints" is hypermobility, or hyperflexibility. Hypermobility means that you can mo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old male asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Thrombocytopenia: Acute gout, a very inflammatory condition, is usually assoc. with high platelets, also called thrombocytosis. If a patient with Gout is on treatment ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old male asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Ignore: Smoking constricts blood vessels worsening Raynaud's Disease. Best treatment? Stop smoking.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 17-year-old female asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Septic arthritis: Hi Andrew: Septic arthritis, or infection of a joint is a medical emergency. Joint infection comes on rapidly with intense pain, joint swelling, inabi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Erythromelalgia: Difficult to answer the question on HealthTap. Make sure you've been investigated for underlying or assoc. conditions like raynaud's disease, or blood... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old male asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Ignore: Annual vaccinations are recommended for people with RA; get your flu and pneumonia shots.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old male asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Ignore: For lupus, have your heart checked at least yearly. Make sure lipids and bp normal, and exercise!
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old male asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Ignore: Being overweight is a risk factor developing Knee OA and also for progressive Dz. Lose weight (pool).
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old male asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Ignore: Acupuncture provides modest but significant improvement in pain from OA.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 29-year-old male asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Flutter in the neck: Hi Lori, When you have the flutter feeling, check your own pulse - does it feel regular? Is the pulse fast? Flutter could indicate a heart rhythm prob... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old male asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Cervical Myelopathy: Michael: Myelopathy refers to loss of function & weakness in arms and legs, both sides, from compression of the spinal cord within the neck. Radic... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Blurry vision: Dear Noelle: Headaches with blurry vision make me wonder about inflammation in your eyes (like Uveitis). Eye diseases can present with headaches. But... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 16-year-old female asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Gabapentin and SLE: Dear Gabriele: Some of the major side effects of gabapentin include: dizziness, fatigue, nausea,
blurred vision; headache; dry mouth; and
loss of b... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old female asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Strained back: Michael: strained muscles usually heal with time (few days to 2-3 weeks). Initially, get some pain relief with acetaminophen (tylenol), and start phys... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.4k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged
A 37-year-old male asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Ignore: Avoid UV exposure as it can activate lupus activity; wear sunscreen min. SPF 30, and a hat outdooors.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old female asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Humira (adalimumab) Injection: Dear Kirsty: It sounds like some of the liquid medication (humira (adalimumab)) ran down your hand. This is not dangerous. Review your injection tech... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Controlling RA: Do you have RA? Work with your physician. The current paradigm is treating to target, that is, we can achieve remission of joint inflammation and limi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old male asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Ignore: Psoriatic arthritis is assoc. with heart disease. Make sure your bp and lipids are normal.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
RA: No! Not contagious at all.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Unilateral knee pain: If one knee is affected, often osteoarthritis is the problem. Meniscal injuries and tendinitis can co-exist (which can present with "giving way" of th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 56-year-old female asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Controlling RA: Dear Chitra: Fortunately there is much you and your physician can do to control RA. The current paradigm is treating to target, that is, we can achiev... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old female asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
SLE and pregnancy: Hi Brenda: The prognosis for mother + child is best when SLE has been quiescent for 6 months prior to conception. There is a risk that the second preg... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Hepato-splenomegaly: Hi Keith: an enlarged liver and spleen (also called, hepatosplenomegaly) has many potential causes. Broadly: infections and cancers. For someone in In... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Retroflexed Odontoid: Symptoms are many: Chronic Headaches, neck and facial pain. Since the odontoid points toward the spine instead of straight up, it can lead to brain-st... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old female asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Patellar Tracking: Your description sounds like patellar tracking disorder. The kneecap (patella) shifts out of place as the leg bends or straightens. The kneecap shifts... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 29-year-old female asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Immunology tests: Normal / abnormal ranges of anti-sm and anti-RNP depend on the laboratory used and technique (like ELISA). Analyze results according to guidelines of ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 52-year-old female asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
IgE Levels: Dear Albert: It is difficult to address your question accurately. IgE is checked if allergy is suspected. However, the amount of IgE doesn't necessari... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old female asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Juvenile arthritis: Dear Haylee: joint stiffness, pain can vary daily in kids. Does your daughter has obvious swollen joints? Non-steroidals are the main-stay of pain m... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Sweetsop & arthritis: There are many plant based remedies for joint pain including the popular Turmeric + black pepper. My quick research did not give a distinct mechanism ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 19-year-old male asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Weakness, dizziness: Hi Alec: You've had symptoms for several months. Did you have an infection prior to these symptoms starting? I am assuming the MRI was the spine (or b... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old male asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Acute Gout: Sodium bicarbonate, (sodium bicarbonate) once it enters the stomach, turns into water and a carbon dioxide gas. The pH of blood is unaffected. Therefo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old male asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Ignore: A person does not need to have psoriatic skin disease to have psoriatic arthritis.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 53-year-old female asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Psoriatic arthritis: Hi Sharon, Psoriatic arthritis is under the umbrella of spondylo-arthritis. This group of arthritis has a genetic test for Human Leukocyte Antigen B27... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old male asked:
Dr. Nisha Manekanswered
Specializes in Rheumatology
Ignore: The Am College of Rheumatology guidelines recommend exercise + using joints as first line Rx for OA.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
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.
63
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! Thank you for clarifying that!! I appear to have psoriatic arthritis but have tested negative for HLA B27
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! Fam doc thought I had a virus in Jan. My neuro had me get mri of brain
HealthTap member
Your answer was very helpful! Thanks :) thank you. I will go and get out checked out.
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
University of Glasgow Faculty of Medicine, Scotland
Graduated 1992MD
Residency
LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
Affiliations
ACP
FRCP
American College Of Rheumatology
Publications
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