Rheumatology in Higashicho

Rheumatology is a branch of medicine that focuses on the diagnosis and therapy of conditions that affect joints, bones, tendons, ligaments, and muscles, including those known as rheumatic diseases, or autoimmune conditions. Physicians who have had special training in rheumatology are called rheumatologists. Some of the conditions that rheumatologists diagnose and treat include:

Chronic back pain, Lupus, Inflammatory arthritis of the hips, knee, or shoulders, Rheumatoid arthritis, Tendinitis, Osteoporosis, Psoriatic arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Giant cell arteritis, Bursitis, Scleroderma, Behcet’s disease, Polymyalgia rheumatic, Paget’s disease, Polymyositis, Dermatomyositis, Ankylosing spondylitis, Gout, Reiter’s syndrome, Sjogren’s syndrome, Reactive arthropathies, Sarcoidosis, Idiopathic juvenile arthritis.

While rheumatologists diagnose and treat rheumatic diseases, they do not perform surgery. They perform examinations and procedures that help them diagnose, manage, and treat rheumatic conditions. These include:

• Complete physical exams.
• Lab tests, which usually involve taking samples of joint fluid, urine, or blood to check for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides (anti-CCP) antibodies, synovial fluid, rheumatoid factor, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein.
• Imaging tests, such as X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, bone density scans (DXA), or ultrasounds.
• Lumbar punctures.
• Joint aspiration.
• Synovial biopsy.
• Joint injections.
• Bursal injections.
• Hyaluronic acid injections.

How Long Should I Stay in Higashicho?

Rheumatology procedures are usually performed on an outpatient basis, meaning you should be able to leave the hospital or clinic on the same day. Depending on your condition and the type of procedure you will have, you may also be allowed to travel home immediately after. However, it is generally recommended that you stay for 2 to 7 days as you may need to attend a follow-up appointment to discuss the test results with your rheumatologist (if you undergo a diagnostic test) or to monitor your condition.

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

The recovery time depends on your specific condition. After the rheumatology procedure itself, you may not need any downtime, although you will need to take it easy for at least two days after some procedures, such as a lumbar puncture. If your condition causes painful symptoms, your rheumatologist will also recommend that you rest until the pain and discomfort subsides. Make sure to discuss your recovery timeline, including when you can return to work and perform strenuous activities.

What Aftercare is Required?

Your rheumatologist will likely prescribe you medications. It is important that you take the medications as directed. You may also be suggested to see undergo physical therapy or occupational therapy. Physical therapists will teach you exercises that can help you move your joints and improve their strength, while occupational therapists can teach you how to ease the strains on your joints when performing your day-to-day activities. Lifestyle changes are important as well, such as maintaining a healthy weight and staying active. Since most rheumatic diseases are long-term diseases, you probably will need regular checkups.

What's the Success Rate?

With cutting-edge technology, continuous research, and a better understanding of the joints, bones, tendons, ligaments, and muscles, rheumatology procedures are now more accurate and safer. The procedures are also highly successful, giving patients higher satisfaction rates and improvement in their quality of life. 

Are there Alternatives?

The alternatives depend on your specific condition. It is best that you talk to your general physician first, who will be able to refer you to the relevant specialist. If you require surgery, for instance, you need joint replacement surgery, your rheumatologist will refer you to an orthopedic surgeon.

Rheumatology in and around Higashicho

About Higashicho

Higashicho is an area in Koganei, a city located in the western part of Tokyo, Japan. Due to its ease of access to Tokyo and more affordable prices, Higashicho is frequented by tourists who wish to stay in a quiet and affordable accommodation than the ones in the center of Tokyo. Today, the area is also frequented by medical tourists looking for high-quality treatments in Japan. The clinics and hospitals in this area are known to have top quality services, reasonably priced treatments, state-of-the-art medical technology, as well as well-trained and licensed medical professionals.

Popular Parts of Higashicho

The most popular attraction near Higashicho is Koganei Park, which is a huge park with many different attractions. The park has free outdoor basketball courts, baseball fields, and tennis courts. It also has large open areas, perfect for those who want to go picnic or throw Frisbees. You can also find barbeque pits for rent. The park is also a good spot for plum blossom viewing in February and cherry blossom viewing in March. In fact, it is listed in the top 100 cherry blossom spots in Japan.

The park is also home to Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum, a museum of historic Japanese buildings. This museum is a branch of the Edo-Tokyo Museum in Ryōgoku, Tokyo. The museum includes numerous buildings, from the middle-class ordinary Japanese houses to the homes of the powerful and wealthy, such as the residence of Takahashi Korekiyo, Japan’s former prime minister. In this museum, visitors can enter and explore various traditional Japanese buildings of different periods, styles, and purposes.

Transport in Higashicho

Since there is no international airport in Higashicho and Koganei, most international tourists arrive at the Narita International Airport. This airport serves domestic and international flights to numerous cities around the world.

Visas in Higashicho

Holders of passports issued by 66 countries, including all EU countries, Australia, the US, and the UAE, can visit and stay in Japan without a visa for up to 90 days. Most other countries not listed in the visa-free policy need to obtain a visa prior to arrival. Budget airlines, including Jetstar Japan, operates flights from this airport. Medical tourists can arrive in Koganei by train by taking the JR Chuo Line from Shinjuku west from thirty minutes, then take a taxi or bus to Higashicho.

Weather in Higashicho

Higashicho has four seasons. The summer (June to August) is hot and humid, with a lot of rainfall. Autumn (September to November) has mild weather with less humidity. November is the peak typhoon season. Winter (December to February) is dry, sunny, and cold, but the temperature rarely drops below 0°C. Spring (March to May) has pleasant weather and clear skies.

Additional Info

1. Local Currency: Japanese Yen (JPY) is the local currency. 1 USD is approx. 106 JPY.
2. Money & Payments: ATMs can be found around the area. Credit cards are not always accepted, so always bring cash with you. Tipping is not mandatory.
3. Local Language: Japanese is the official language. English is not widely spoken, except in tourist areas.
4. Local Culture and Religion: The main religion in the area is Shintoism and Buddhism. There is also a small group of Christian.
5. Public Holidays: Emperor’s Birthday, Children’s Day, and Constitution Memorial Day are some of the public holidays celebrated in Higashicho.