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Conditions & symptoms

What Dr Borukhson treats

From inflammatory arthritis and connective tissue disease to gout, osteoporosis and complex, overlapping symptoms

Rheumatic conditions are far more common than many people realise. More than ten million people in the UK, around one in six, live with a type of arthritis. They can cause significant pain and loss of function, yet they often go unrecognised because they present in so many different ways.

Although joint pain is a feature of most rheumatic diseases, these conditions can appear in many guises and affect people of any age. Symptoms may extend well beyond the joints, affecting the skin, eyes, circulation or general wellbeing, which is why a specialist assessment that draws the whole picture together makes such a difference. With early, accurate diagnosis, most conditions can be managed effectively to protect your long-term health and quality of life.

Are you experiencing any of these?

If any of the following sound familiar, a specialist review can bring clarity and protect your long-term health. Choose a symptom to read more.

Not sure where to start? Is my pain inflammatory? asks a few short questions and points you to the guides that fit.

Pain, swelling or a joint that no longer moves as freely as it should can have many causes, from wear to inflammation. When it persists, an assessment helps establish whether inflammatory arthritis is involved, as identifying this early gives the best chance of protecting the joint.
Stiffness that takes more than half an hour to ease after waking points more towards inflammation than ordinary wear. Recognising this pattern helps distinguish inflammatory arthritis from other causes and allows treatment to start sooner, which gives the best chance of preventing lasting damage.
A joint that has recently become painful or swollen is worth assessing promptly. Early review helps identify the cause, whether inflammatory, crystal-related or otherwise, and ensures the right treatment starts without delay. A joint that is hot and swollen with a fever or feeling unwell needs to be seen at once, at A&E or through NHS 111, since an infected joint has to be ruled out; a joint that has become hot and very swollen suddenly, even without a fever, needs assessment the same day, from your GP, your rheumatology team or NHS 111; a joint that will take no weight at all, or that cannot be moved, is a 999 or A&E emergency.
Back pain that eases with activity rather than rest, wakes you at night, or began before 45 can suggest inflammatory arthritis of the spine. Early investigation helps reach an accurate diagnosis and protect the spine over the long term.
Pain where tendons attach to bone, such as the heel or elbow, or sausage-like swelling of a whole finger or toe, can be features of psoriatic arthritis, particularly if you have psoriasis. Assessing these early helps protect the joints and tendons and guides the most effective treatment.
Fingers or toes that turn white, blue, then red in the cold, sometimes with pain or numbness, may be Raynaud's phenomenon. It often occurs on its own, but can occasionally signal an underlying autoimmune condition, so a check helps separate the harmless from the more significant.
Muscle weakness that makes everyday movements harder, especially climbing stairs or standing from a seated position, can point to an inflammatory muscle condition. Because the causes vary widely, a thorough assessment is the best way to find the explanation and the right course of action.
Persistent tiredness, low-grade fevers, unintended weight loss or simply feeling unwell can accompany autoimmune and rheumatic conditions. As these symptoms have many possible explanations, a careful review helps rule out anything serious and find practical ways to improve how you feel.
Ongoing dryness of the eyes or mouth can be more than a minor irritation and is sometimes linked to autoimmune conditions such as Sjögren's. An assessment helps establish the cause and address the symptoms, which can substantially improve day-to-day comfort.
Repeated episodes of a red, painful or inflamed eye, particularly alongside joint symptoms, can be associated with certain inflammatory conditions. A painful, red, light-sensitive eye needs to be seen at an eye casualty or urgent eye clinic the same day; once the eye is safe, reviewing the two together helps identify any underlying link and ensures both are managed properly.
Mouth or genital ulcers that keep returning, especially with joint symptoms, can occasionally point to an underlying inflammatory condition. An assessment helps make sense of the pattern and determine whether any further investigation is needed.
Results such as a positive rheumatoid factor, anti-CCP antibodies or ANA, raised inflammatory markers (CRP or ESR), elevated ferritin or raised muscle enzymes (CK) don't automatically mean you have a rheumatic disease, but they can be an early clue. A specialist review helps interpret what the results mean for you and whether anything further is needed.
Worries about thinning bones, a previous low-impact fracture or a family history of osteoporosis are all worth reviewing. An assessment can identify and address risks early, often before any fracture occurs, and bone density scanning can be arranged where appropriate.
If you already have a rheumatological diagnosis but feel your treatment could work better, or you would value another perspective, a review can help. This is an opportunity to reassess the diagnosis, refine the treatment plan and make sure your care is on the right track.

Conditions treated

A wide range of rheumatological and musculoskeletal conditions, grouped by type

Each condition links to its in-depth patient guide; the arrow marks the link. You can also browse the full library on the patient guides page.

Inflammatory arthritis

Early inflammatory arthritisRheumatoid arthritisPsoriatic arthritisAxial spondyloarthritis / ankylosing spondylitisReactive arthritisViral arthritisPalindromic rheumatismEnteropathic arthritis (IBD-associated)Immunotherapy-related arthritisSAPHO syndromeJuvenile idiopathic arthritis (in adults)Septic arthritis

Crystal & degenerative

GoutCPPD / pseudogoutOsteoarthritis

Connective tissue & autoimmune

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)Sjögren's syndromeSystemic sclerosis (scleroderma)Connective tissue disease (UCTD & MCTD)Inflammatory myopathies (myositis)Adult-onset Still's diseaseBehçet's diseaseAntiphospholipid syndromeHaemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) and MASRelapsing polychondritisVEXAS syndromeSarcoidosisUveitis (eye inflammation)Interstitial lung disease (ILD)IgG4-related disease

Vasculitis & circulation

VasculitisGiant cell arteritis (GCA)Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR)Raynaud's phenomenonTakayasu arteritis

Bone & metabolic

OsteoporosisPaget's disease of boneMetabolic bone disease

Soft tissue & MSK

BursitisEnthesitisCostochondritisTendinopathyPlantar fasciitisDe Quervain's tenosynovitisFrozen shoulderCarpal tunnel syndromeJoint hypermobility syndromesEhlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS)FibromyalgiaLong CovidBack painNeck painRotator cuff problemsTennis & golfer's elbowTrigger fingerGanglion cystsKnee painBaker's cystHip painJoint pain without swellingJoint swellingHand and wrist pain

This list is not exhaustive. If you are unsure whether your symptoms fall within rheumatology, please get in touch.

Bone health

Osteoporosis & bone-health assessment

Osteoporosis weakens the bones and makes fractures more likely. It is thought to affect 3.5 million people in the UK, and because there are usually no warning signs, it is often only discovered after a bone breaks, frequently at the hip, spine or wrist.

Dr Borukhson offers dedicated osteoporosis and bone-health assessment. This includes evaluating your individual risk, arranging a DEXA scan (a simple, low-dose X-ray that measures bone density) where appropriate, and interpreting the results alongside your wider health to agree the right plan, whether that is lifestyle measures, treatment, or follow-up scanning.

You may be at higher risk if you:

Are post-menopausal or had an early menopause Have a family history of osteoporosis Have taken long-term steroids Have a low body weight or BMI Smoke or drink heavily Have had a previous fragility fracture Exercise very little, or extremely heavily

If any of these apply, it is worth asking for a bone-health assessment before a fracture, not after one.

Not sure where your symptoms fit?

A specialist review can piece together the bigger picture and agree the next steps in your care

Book an appointment