| ARTHRITIS INJECTION SERVICES: Dr Shibuya and Dr Elias are both board certified general internist and rheumatologist, specializing in the care of persons with arthritis, osteoporosis and auto-immune diseases. This certification means that they have qualified, after extensive training and testing, to specialize in the care of patients with arthritis and auto-immune conditions. Dr Shibuya and Dr Elias works with your primary care physician to understand your other medical problems and provide the best rheumatologic care for you. There are many arthritis pills that are useful to help you decrease your pain and improve your physical functioning. As with all medications, there are certain risks and benefits to each type of arthritis medication and the doctors will help you find the right medicine for your specific arthritis. You will find more information on these types of medications on our useful links page. In addition to oral medications, sometimes Dr Shibuya recommends injection therapy for your arthritis. There are two types of injections: cortisone and visco-supplementation. Cortisone injections tend to work more quickly, but may not last as long as the visco-supplementation injections. Although there are risks with performing a joint injection, Dr Shibuya has extensive training and experience performing these procedures and uses sterile equipment and local anesthesia each time to greatly reduce any complications and or pain you may experience. |
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| Peripheral DEXA service (no longer available since 2013): Dr Shibuya is a clinical densitometrist (osteoporosis specialist) who is ISCD (International Society of Clinical Densitometry) certified. His office is equipped with a peripheral DEXA (bone density) machine to screen for osteoporosis which generally has no symptoms until a fracture occurs. It is a quick and painless procedure that tells you the strength of your bones and subsequent risk for fracture. Your bone density test is also performed in conjunction with an osteoporosis risk factor assessment and patient education on calcium and vitamin D supplementation. Dr Shibuya will also help you to determine if you need any additional medications to further lower your risk for fractures. Nerve Conduction Testing (no longer available since 2013): Arthritis can sometimes compromise the normal functioning of your nerves, leading to symptoms of numbness, tingling, heaviness and or weakness. If you have degenerative arthritis of your neck or low back, the nerves of your arms and or legs may be affected. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, the swelling of the wrists can compromise the median nerve at the wrist, resulting in symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. A simple and painless "nerve test" allows Dr Shibuya to know about the functioning of your nerves. |
Fremont Rheumatology is dedicated to state-of-the-art treatment of the >100 types of arthritis, osteoporosis, and auto-immune
diseases. Here are some of the extra services that we provide.
diseases. Here are some of the extra services that we provide.
| Fremont Rheumatology Infusion Suite also serves as an infusion facility for local dermatologists and gastroenterologists, who are diseases that can sometimes be associated with arthritis. The FDA-approved biologics infused at Dr Shibuya’s infusion center include Remicade, Orencia, Rituxan, Actemra, Simponi ARIA. Dr Shibuya’s infusion center was established in 2006, and has successfully treated hundreds of patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Psoriatic Psoriatic (PsA), Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Crohns's Disease (Tysabri, Entyvio) and Ulcerative Colitis related arthritis, and more recently, also for Lupus (Benlysta) and Gout (Krystexxa). The intravenous infusion of the biologics is given in a comfortable and friendly atmosphere. Our infusion nurses are highly skilled in IV catheter placement and management of the entire infusion process. Depending upon the biologic prescribed, infusions are given monthly, every 2 months, or every 6 months. Our office staff will assist with insurance benefit verification and prior authorization for treatment, if required by the insurance company, to make sure that the infusion medication and associated services will be covered, or at least affordable to you. |
| Dr Shibuya’s infusion center also provides Boniva quarterly (every three months) injections, Prolia (every 6 months),and yearly Reclast infusions for the treatment of osteoporosis. Dr Shibuya’s office serves as an infusion facility for local primary care physicians, who are commonly faced with osteoporosis patients who are unable to tolerate oral forms of similar medications used to treat osteoporosis like Fosamax (alendronate), Actonel (residronate) or oral Boniva (ibandronate), because of stomach upset, severe GERD (Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease) or hiatal hernias. |
| Self-Injectable Biologics: |
IOVERA (Focused
Cold Therapy)
In the USA, the iovera°
treatment is FDA
cleared to block pain
at peripheral nerve
sites. e.g Knee Pain!
How it works?
Cold Therapy)
In the USA, the iovera°
treatment is FDA
cleared to block pain
at peripheral nerve
sites. e.g Knee Pain!
How it works?
IOVERA (Focused Cold
Therapy) In the USA, the iovera°
treatment is FDA cleared to block
pain at peripheral nerve sites. e.g
Knee Pain! How it works?
Therapy) In the USA, the iovera°
treatment is FDA cleared to block
pain at peripheral nerve sites. e.g
Knee Pain! How it works?
| INJECTION SERVICES |
| Previously, there were only two types of injections: cortisone and visco-supplementation. Cortisone injections tend to work more quickly, but may not last as long as the visco-supplementation injections. Although there are risks with performing a joint injection, Dr Shibuya & Dr Elias has extensive training and experience performing these procedures and uses sterile equipment and local anesthesia each time to greatly reduce any complications and or pain you may experience. More recently, we added IOVERA cold focus therapy (2014) and Traumeel-Zeel injection (2015) services. |
| INFUSION SERVICES |
| Oral "Biologics": |
| Fremont Rheumatology Arthritis, Osteoporosis, and Auto-Immune Diseases Barry Shibuya M.D. and Christine Elias M.D. |
| Theralogix® supplies safe, effective, evidence based nutritional supplements, recommended for use under the supervision of a treating healthcare provider Call (800)449-4447 to order with Provider Referral Code (PRC): 094538 |
