Rheumatology Care for the San Gabriel Valley
Rheumatologist Serving Covina, CA
Four board-certified rheumatologists at Amicus Arthritis & Osteoporosis Center see patients from Covina at our Whittier office, about a 25-minute drive down the I-10. We diagnose rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, gout, and osteoporosis with blood work, imaging, and on-site DEXA scanning, then walk you through a treatment plan in the same visit. Call (562) 758-6600 or request an appointment online to get answers this week, not next quarter.
Joint Pain in Covina Often Goes Undiagnosed for Months
An estimated 58.5 million adults in the United States have doctor-diagnosed arthritis, and California's age-standardized rate runs lower than the national median at 18.4%. That still adds up to thousands of San Gabriel Valley residents living with joint pain, swelling, or fatigue that a general checkup does not fully explain.
Here is what that looks like in practice. A 52-year-old Covina resident wakes up with stiff hands for 45 minutes every morning and assumes it is just age. A 61-year-old breaks a wrist after a minor fall in the driveway and finds out later her bones were already thinning. Both situations call for a rheumatologist who can order the right labs, read a bone density scan, and start treatment before the damage gets worse.
Patients from Covina, West Covina, Glendora, and Charter Oak drive to our Whittier office because they want a doctor who reads their full history, not just their most recent symptom.
Rheumatologic Conditions Our Covina-Area Patients Bring to Us
Joint and muscle pain has more than one cause. Some cases come from mechanical wear, some from autoimmune disease, and some from bone loss that has no symptoms until a fracture happens. Getting the diagnosis right changes which treatment actually works.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
An autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the joint lining, usually starting in the small joints of the hands and feet. We confirm it with an RF and anti-CCP blood panel, an ESR or CRP inflammation marker, and a joint exam, then start DMARD or biologic therapy early to limit joint damage.
Osteoarthritis
The wear-and-tear form of arthritis that thins cartilage over time, most common in the knees, hips, and hands after age 50. We treat it with joint injections, physical therapy referrals, and medication management that keeps you moving without surgery for as long as your joints allow.
Lupus and Autoimmune Disease
Lupus, Sjögren's syndrome, scleroderma, vasculitis, and mixed connective tissue disease all fall under our care. We run ANA and complement blood testing, track organ involvement, and adjust medication so flares stay controlled and daily activities stay uninterrupted.
Gout
A uric acid crystal buildup that classically hits the big toe but can also flare in the ankle, knee, or wrist. We check your uric acid level, treat the acute flare with anti-inflammatory medication, and prescribe a uric-acid-lowering drug like allopurinol to stop repeat attacks.
Osteoporosis and Osteopenia
Bone loss that has no symptoms until a hip, spine, or wrist fracture happens. We run an on-site DEXA scan, calculate your T-score and fracture risk, and prescribe bisphosphonates, Prolia, or bone-building therapy based on your numbers.
Fibromyalgia
Widespread muscle pain, fatigue, and tender points that often overlap with autoimmune disease. We rule out other causes first, then manage fibromyalgia through medication, sleep improvement, and a graded activity plan built around your daily routine.
How We Diagnose and Treat Covina Patients, Step by Step
Rheumatology diagnosis depends on matching lab results, imaging, and your symptom history to the right disease pattern. Here is the process we follow with every new patient from Covina.
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Blood work and inflammation markers
We order RF, anti-CCP, ANA, ESR, CRP, and uric acid panels depending on your symptoms, then compare the results against your joint exam findings.
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Imaging
X-rays show joint damage and bone spurs. Musculoskeletal ultrasound checks for active joint inflammation in real time. We refer for MRI when we need to see soft tissue or early erosive change that X-ray misses.
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On-site DEXA bone density scan
A ten-minute scan measures bone density in your hip and spine and produces a T-score. We read the result the same day and factor in your fracture history and family history before recommending treatment.
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Treatment plan
Depending on your diagnosis, treatment may include DMARDs like methotrexate, biologic injections, short-course corticosteroids, allopurinol for gout, or bisphosphonate and Prolia therapy for bone loss. We explain the mechanism, the dosing schedule, and the side effects to watch before you start.
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Follow-up and monitoring
We repeat labs and imaging on a schedule matched to your condition, track how your medication is working, and adjust the plan as your results come in.
When Should a Covina Patient See a Rheumatologist?
Waiting on joint pain sometimes costs nothing. Other times it costs mobility that does not come back. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends bone density screening for all women 65 and older, and for postmenopausal women younger than 65 who carry risk factors such as low body weight, smoking, or a parent's hip fracture. Book a visit if any of the following applies to you.
- Joint pain or swelling that lasts more than six weeks
- Morning stiffness lasting longer than 30 minutes
- Pain in multiple joints at the same time, especially on both sides of the body
- Unexplained fatigue, low-grade fever, or a rash alongside joint symptoms
- A parent or sibling with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or psoriatic arthritis
- A bone fracture from a minor fall, or a DEXA scan showing osteopenia or osteoporosis
- Sudden, severe big-toe pain that could be gout
- You are a woman age 65 or older and have never had a bone density scan
Next step: call our office and we will tell you what appointment slots are open this week for Covina-area patients.
Why Covina Patients Choose Amicus Arthritis
Real time at every visit. Rheumatology cases involve layered symptoms and lab results, so we sit with your full history instead of rushing you out after eight minutes.
Board certification and academic training. Dr. Gilbert Gelfand is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the USC Keck School of Medicine and has treated patients across Southeast Los Angeles for more than 30 years.
A patient rating built on 260 reviews. Our Google listing carries a 4.9 out of 5 rating from patients across Whittier, Covina, and the surrounding area.
Plain-language treatment explanations. When we prescribe a biologic, a steroid, or methotrexate, you will know why, what to expect, and which side effects to report.
Coordination with your other doctors. Many of our patients also see a primary care physician, orthopedist, or nephrologist in Covina. We share notes so every doctor on your case works from the same information.
Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Farsi spoken on-site. Our physicians and staff communicate directly with patients in their preferred language, without relying on a phone interpreter.
Access to clinical trials. Some patients qualify for newer therapies not yet available at every rheumatology practice in the area.
Meet the Doctors Who See Covina Patients
Every physician on our team holds board certification in rheumatology and treats patients from Covina and across Southeast Los Angeles.
Gilbert F. Gelfand, M.D.
Chief of Rheumatology at Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center, treating patients across Southeast Los Angeles for more than 30 years. Speaks English and Spanish.
Tien-I Karleen Su, M.D., FACR
Founder of the Rheumatology Private Practice Alliance and Chair of the ACR Community Practice Council, in practice for more than 10 years. Speaks English, Spanish, and Mandarin.
Susan Mansourian, M.D., FACR
Builds an individual treatment plan for each patient, with a focus on complex rheumatologic conditions. Speaks English and Farsi.
Branden Ireifej, M.D.
Treats rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriatic arthritis, gout, and vasculitis using an evidence-based, shared decision-making approach with each patient.
Frequently Asked Questions for Covina Patients
Do I need a referral to see a rheumatologist from Covina?
It depends on your insurance. HMO plans usually require a referral from your primary care doctor. PPO plans often let you book directly. Call our office and our staff will check your plan before you schedule.
How far is your office from Covina?
Our office sits at 12456 Washington Blvd in Whittier, about a 25-minute drive from Covina down the I-10 or through West Covina and Hacienda Heights.
How long is the wait for a first appointment?
Wait times shift by season. We prioritize urgent cases such as active inflammatory arthritis or a suspected gout flare. Call (562) 758-6600 and our staff will tell you what is open this week.
What should I bring to my first visit?
Bring your medication list, recent lab results, any imaging on a CD or through your patient portal, and notes on when your symptoms started. The more we see on day one, the faster we can build your plan.
Do you perform bone density scans on-site?
Yes. We run DEXA bone density scans in our Whittier office, so your scan, your T-score reading, and your treatment plan happen in one visit instead of three separate appointments.
Do you treat patients in Spanish?
Yes. We have Spanish-speaking physicians and staff, along with a Spanish-language section on our website.
Sources
- "Arthritis | Chronic Disease Indicators," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, accessed 2026, https://www.cdc.gov/cdi/indicator-definitions/arthritis.html
- Duca LM, et al., "State-Specific Prevalence of Inactivity, Self-Rated Health Status, and Severe Joint Pain Among Adults With Arthritis, United States, 2019," Preventing Chronic Disease, CDC, 2022, https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2022/21_0346.htm
- "Screening for Osteoporosis to Prevent Fractures: Recommendation Statement," U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, January 14, 2025, https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/osteoporosis-screening
Schedule an Appointment with a Covina-Area Rheumatologist
You do not have to wait months for a diagnosis. Our team will read your labs, your imaging, and your bone density scan, then walk you through a plan built for your specific condition.