Welcome
We are a medical practice in Nairobi, Kenya, serving patients who are afflicted with arthritic and rheumatic diseases. We are dedicated to the treatment of arthritis and rheumatic diseases. We have created this site to provide you with information about our practice, our staff, the diseases that we treat, and other information that we hope will make your experience as a patient more productive.
Our Partners
Kenya Kidney Foundation
Rheumatology and Internal Medicine Associates
Mission Statement
At the Nairobi Arthritis clinic, our mission is to relieve pain and suffering by providing quality care in a compassionate, evidence based and efficient manner.
Alleviating pain and suffering
Many of the illnesses we encounter are painful and debilitating. It is our aim to treat your symptoms in the most effective manner possible. This will often involve addressing the specific cause of the symptoms, and to do so, we first need to make an accurate diagnosis. Where does the rheumatologist most useful? While non-specific means of pain relief can be used to temporarily reduce symptoms, we have found, and proper symptom evaluation augmented with appropriate diagnostic tests thus providing the correct medication targeting the specific diseases will produce the best long-term result.
Mission Statement
Our health care providers have made attempts to keep up with the latest developments in treating rheumatic diseases in order to provide you with the best outcome possible. Despite our attempts to stay current, there is simply no substitute for time. Quality care takes time, and it is our pledge to you as patients to give you enough time to address your concerns and to allow us to understand your problems in detail.
Our goal at Nairobi Arthritis clinic is to demonstrate compassion to those who are in need of our care. We strive to make this evident from the moment you walk in the door, from the receptionist’s desk taking your details and giving you advice, to the office visit with one of our providers. We have partners where lab and radiology investigations can be done.
Because quality care takes time, we must give our best effort to stay efficient and accommodate the large number of patients in need of rheumatic disease care with a limited number of specialty providers. In order to remain efficient and make time for the large number of patients waiting for appointments, we need your help. Keeping scheduled appointments and calling as far in advance as possible to cancel or reschedule office visits will open up space for other patients who would like to have your appointment slot and eliminate any wasted space. Any effort on your part will help all of our patients.
FAQ’s
A rheumatologist is an internist or pediatrician who is qualified by additional training and experience in the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis and other diseases of the joints, muscles and bones. Many rheumatologists conduct research to determine the cause and better treatments for these disabling and sometimes fatal diseases.
After four years of medical school and three years of training in either internal medicine or pediatrics, rheumatologists devote an additional two to three years in specialized rheumatology training. Most rheumatologists who plan to treat patients choose to become board certified. Upon completion of their training, they must be certified by the Kenya Medical and Dentist practitioners Board.
Rheumatologists treat arthritis, certain autoimmune diseases, musculoskeletal pain disorders and osteoporosis. There are more than 100 types of these diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, lupus, back pain, osteoporosis, fibromyalgia and tendonitis. Some of these are very serious diseases that can be difficult to diagnose and treat.
If musculoskeletal pains are not severe or disabling and last just a few days, it makes sense to give the problem a reasonable chance to be resolved. But sometimes, pain in the joints, muscles or bones is severe or persists for more than a few days. At that point, you should see your physician.
Many types of rheumatic diseases are not easily identified in the early stages. Rheumatologists are specially trained to do the detective work necessary to discover the cause of swelling and pain. It’s important to determine a correct diagnosis early so that appropriate treatment can begin early. Some musculoskeletal disorders respond best to treatment in the early stages of the disease.
Because some rheumatic diseases are complex, one visit to a rheumatologist may not be enough to determine a diagnosis and course of treatment. These diseases often change or evolve over time. Rheumatologists work closely with patients to identify the problem and design an individualized treatment program.
The role the rheumatologist plays in health care depends on several factors and needs. Typically the rheumatologist works with other physicians, sometimes acting as a consultant to advise another physician about a specific diagnosis and treatment plan. In other situations, the rheumatologists acts as a manager, relying upon the help of many skilled professionals including nurses, physical and occupational therapists, psychologists and social workers. Teamwork is important, since musculoskeletal disorders are chronic. Health care professionals can help people with musculoskeletal diseases and their families cope with the changes the diseases cause in their lives.
You may be surprised to learn that specialized care may save time and money and reduce the severity of disease. A rheumatologist is specially trained to spot clues in the medical history and physical examination. The proper tests done early may save money in the long run. Prompt diagnosis and specially tailored treatment often save money and buy time in treating the disease. Adapted from the American College of Rheumatology
Rheumatological conditions
- All kinds of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis, gout, and inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis.
- ankylosing spondylitis
- spinal pain
- connective tissue diseases (autoimmune diseases) such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), polymyositis, Sjögren’s syndrome and systemic sclerosis
- polymyalgia rheumatica, giant cell arteritis and other forms of vasculitis
- metabolic bone disorders such as osteoporosis and Paget’s disease
- soft tissue rheumatism, such as tendon and ligament problems, “frozen shoulder”, carpal tunnel syndrome
- complex regional pain syndromes and fibromyalgia
- sports and exercise medicine
Nairobi Arthritis clinics regional centers
Patients with arthritis and all other rheumatic diseases are seen at several different clinics spread throughout Kenya. Nairobi Arthritis clinic has 4 clinics outside Nairobi that serve as centres of excellence where patients outside Nairobi can be receive quality medical attention. They include Eldoret serving the north rift area, Kisumu serving the lake and western region and Mombasa serving the coastal region. At these facilities, over new patients and return patients are seen who have complex rheumatic diseases & common musculoskeletal problems. Our doctors treat these patients at the clinics in communities throughout those regions and beyond so patients can receive our services closer to home.
- Health insurance information including authorizations or referrals
- Any relevant tests or radiology images done
- List of prescription medications and dosages
- List of medications that you’re allergic to
- List of questions you may have
- Recent test results related to your condition
- Paper and pencil to take notes
