Dr Brittany Panico

Summer is my favorite time of year. The days are longer and I love the spontaneity of summer nights. But moving to Phoenix has been challenging because everyone tends to hibernate in the summer, friends leave town, and it’s too hot to make the kids go outside to play. So they tend to fight more and it drives me crazy. Some days though, you just have to bend the rules and make lemonade when life throws you lemons 🍋🍋

So while my kids would not calm down this evening, we decided to get in the pool and burn off the extra energy. They stayed up later than usual, but went to bed happy. The fighting stopped and I calmed down too. And while I wanted to get extra work done tonight, they wanted to play. We were all in better moods after playing together instead of fighting and yelling.

How does this relate to rheumatology? As a rheumatologist, I try to read between the lines. When a patient is feeling frustrated, it’s about seeing what they can’t make sense of alone. People with autoimmune conditions need guidance to see that symptoms are signs. Joint pain, stiffness, swelling, are signs that your body has energy (inflammation) that needs to be redirected. The immune system fighting the internal signals of balance.

So like redirecting kids who have cabin fever because they didn’t get to play outside, rheumatologists use medications to redirect the immune system so bothersome symptoms resolve.

If you are a patient who feels out of balance and like you just need to redirect symptoms like , , joint swelling, or a pesky rash, or , we are here for you at and .

Sometimes you just need to take the plunge to schedule an appointment, bend the rules and start that medication, or see that there may be other ways to take control of your health. And it might be like a spontaneous summer decision that changes your mood 😎

I am so excited to announce that Summit Rheumatology is now open in Oklahoma City! We are located in OKC/Edmond and accepting new patients as early as this week at our brand new office!

If you are looking for a rheumatologist and live in OKC or surrounding areas, please call us, email, or visit Summitrheumatology.com for details to make an appointment.

I am still in AZ also, come visit us in Gilbert or Casa Grande!

One of the aspects I love most about Rheumatology is how I get to use so many incredible medications to help patients on all sides of the and arthritis spectrum.

Sometimes there is a roadmap, sometimes there is not. What AI cannot take away from us is the ability to use our knowledge and apply it to patients who do not have a treatment plan agreed upon by guidelines.

This article talks about the struggles we have in medicine to help our patients when the tools available are selected based on insurance company approval.

Thank you Doximity for being an outlet for physicians to share ideas and collaborate!

What Do We Do Without Evidence in a World of Evidence-Based Medicine? I sit facing Ms. M in my exam room, looking at her while explaining the role of rituximab, a medication I use frequently for vasculitis and rheumat...

I am so proud of Ambrose Panico and the amazing Cardiology practice he is a part of at CVAM! If you or a ❤️‘ed one (friend or family) needs a cardiologist or electrophysiologist, they are accepting new patients in Mesa and multiple other locations in the

As we continue to observe American Heart Month, we highlight our doctor that will take care of your heart health.

Wishing you a happy Thanksgiving today!

This is my first year not hosting in 4 years. I miss the smells and commotion of cooking and having a full house. We decided to go to a friend’s house and I am excited for Friendsgiving and thankful for a family who welcomed the 5 of us over with open arms.

I talk to my kids a lot about traditions and ways we celebrate holidays. As much as I value doing things the “same” for special occasions, I am teaching them flexibility and the value of doing things different ways.

So if you are celebrating the “same” this year, or are doing your Thanksgiving a different way, I wish you a special day filled with laughter and enjoying the people in your life!

When was the last time you felt Brave? Taking control of your health is a brave thing to do.

And you deserve to make that choice today!

If you are struggling with joint pain, stiffness, just a feeling that something might be going on with your muscles or joints, I am ready to see you at

I treat adult diseases, , , and . If you have , there is a chance you may also have even if your skin is clear. Let’s talk about the way your body feels.

Email from Summitrheumatology dot com and we will call you to schedule an appointment within 2-3 weeks! Video visits are available if you live in Arizona.

Are you struggling with too much inflammation? Or do you just want to know how to decrease inflammation in your body?

I am joining some amazing experts all over the US to talk about how to navigate the world (and word) of inflammation.

Between Rheumatology, Allergy, Nutrition, Cardiology, and Weight Loss, even cosmetics, and so many others, we will help break down how you can simplify things in your life to decrease inflammatory chemicals.

Register for your for the DeMystifying Inflammation Summit starting tomorrow Monday Sept 18. You won’t want to miss it! Link in comments.

I am so excited to be a speaker for the Demystifying Inflammation Summit this year! I will be talking with Dr Wada about autoimmune labs and how they fit into your evaluation with a rheumatologist.

Grab your ticket for this amazing virtual event, you will not want to miss it! Check out the program schedule for even more talks that will help transform your life if you are living with an inflammatory condition or want to know more!

The event starts 9/18 💥

https://www.drkarawada.com/demystifying-inflammation-summit-2023

Today is the day we

9/11 is a challenging day for me. I was young when the actual event happened but see the repercussions of this day all around me now as a rheumatologist.

My parents took my brother and I to the as kids. My father was a firefighter who went to to help when the towers collapsed. Aside from photos, this smashed penny is one of the only memories I have of a former landmark and time in our nation’s history.

Now, I am seeing first hand how the devastation from that day has played out. In health conditions.

Over 100 health conditions are recognized and tied to the 9-11 survivors and those who worked at ground zero. Many of these conditions are . Many of them are cancers or other life-long conditions. Many of them have impact on the lives of families who may have lived hundreds or even thousands of miles from the impact. This shows the shockwave that terrorism and bioterrorism have. Lifelong for survivors.

If you or someone you know was directly impacted by 9-11 and may have developed one of the conditions listed, please consider registering your name and information with the 9-11 health registry. This will help medical professionals learn more about the global impact these health conditions have, particularly as they pertain to the immune system. This is important and survivorship is important.

And may those who lost loved ones on this day find peace in the heartache. Our nation will never forget.

Today is Still’s Disease Awareness Day.

There are many people who have never heard of Still’s Disease and I am here to help spread awareness. Rheumatologists treat Still’s Disease and even though this condition is often diagnosed in the hospital, patients will need a rheumatologist when they go home.

Stills Disease is a very inflammatory condition characterized by fever, rash, joint and muscle pain, sore throat, and lab abnormalities. The rash is usually salmon-colored and worse during periods of fever. Joint and muscle pain can be severe and debilitating. Sore throats may be treated with antibiotics and not get better.

Still’s Disease is treatable and you do not need to be on steroids forever.

If you have Stills Disease or know someone who does and is in need of a rheumatologist, I am seeing new patients

You can email us at [email protected] or fill out the “contact us” page at Summitrheumatology.com

Sharing our stories is one of the most powerful ways we can connect with others.

I have a physician “story” about medications I offer and conditions I treat. Then there is the patient “story” about the way their healthcare experience changed their life.

My interview on was such an amazing way to connect these stories and bridge the gap between transplant and rheumatology.

Thank you so much for having me! Alin Gragossian and Colby Salerno, DO

You can find this episode on Both Sides of the Stethoscope podcast wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts!

Will you ever meet two rheumatologists who love talking about (and treating) gout more than us! I talk with Dr Dada of Overlake Arthritis and Osteoporosis about why we believe treating any stage of gout is so important.

If you are a patient who has gout, either one flare or large tophi, this video will help you! Rheumatologists are gout specialists and Dr Dada and I love treating all states of gout because we can help you feel better and live life gout free!

Summit Rheumatology is accepting new gout patients, even if you have only had one flare. summitrheumatology.com for more information about how we can help you navigate gout.

https://youtu.be/XjSTO7ryuSA?si=1r6zDKMGwEW84T8P

How To Recover From Gout |Interview with Dr. Brittany Panico Don't miss this enlightening episode of the Healthy Joints Healthy Lifestyle Show, featuring Dr. Brittany Panico, a respe...

The little things add up to big things.

And sometimes that seed that you thought would grow a dwarf becomes a giant.

It’s the small things we do every day that blossom into who we become and how we change the future.

When I see a patient for the first time, it may seem insurmountable that they could feel better.
I had a patient who recently told me that she didn’t think she had much joint pain because that’s how she has been feeling for years. But she was in pain. Her face and eyes were asking for something that could change the way her body felt. Maybe she felt that her age meant more pain. Or maybe she thought, I was hard on my body, so this is what happens. Either way, she was in front of me asking for answers.

So I asked her what if there was a time that you weren’t trying to minimize your discomfort? What if you had no idea how GOOD your body could feel? Will you give me 3 months to try? Then we can decide together.

She said yes and we began talking about the tools in my toolbox and which one fit her lifestyle the best.

I believe she walked out of our visit with hope. Or maybe confirmation that she wasn’t imaging the feeling of stiffness, pain, and decreased movement. Or possibly relief and less anxiety. I want to give all those things, but most of all, I want my patients to know that life CAN be they way they imagine it being someday. It’s part mindset and part medicine and healing too. And I can help with all three.

When I help heal my patients, something inside me changes too. More roots spread. More leaves sprout, and hopefully fruit grows for my community. Fruit that feeds the soul. And the body.

Rheumatology is all these things.

Come meet me at Summit Rheumatology! I am accepting new patients. Send and email or refer a patient to [email protected]

It’s time to turn up the HEAT! 🔥☀️🕶️

When you have a condition that can make you more sensitive to sun and heat, this past week can seem unbearable. So how can you stay cool while still keeping your autoimmune symptoms under control?

☀️Drink plenty of fluids. 🚰Drinking fluids usually means water! Excessive caffeine or electrolyte drinks can act as a diuretic and actually dehydrate you. Flavoring water is an easy way to make it taste more interesting. You can add fresh or frozen fruit to a pitcher and keep it cool in your fridge or water bottle.

☀️Avoid prolonged time outside in the middle of the day. Try to get your activity or chores completed in the morning or evening when it is cooler and there is more shade. 🌴

☀️If you are needing to be outside, wear protective clothing and use a portable fan or mister. We loose moisture by sweating, but in dry climates, sweat evaporates before we feel it. Portable fans and misters can be helpful to keep you cool and provide more moisture to the air you breathe. Protective clothing will cover sensitive skin and prevent sunburn. 🕶️

Pools are great ways to cool down, and the water can be very soothing to sore muscles and joints. 🏊🏊‍♀️ Make sure to wear a hat and sunglasses if you are relaxing in the water, as the reflection off the water increases risk of sunburn as well.

is everything.

I’m late posting about and inclusion and how June is an influential month in our culture as humans. But showing up is important and this message is important to express.

In medicine, all humans have medical issues and gender is not as significant as it was made out to be during my training years. And as time goes on, we find that the human story is what helps us determine risk or likelihood.

I see conditions in rheumatology that are as fluid and dynamic as the individuals that present to my clinic. And that’s just it: every individual is an INDIVIDUAL 🌈

If you identify in the LGBTQIA+ community and are looking for a to see you for YOU, I have space for you in my clinic. I have experience with all populations of people and will hold space for whatever you come in for. Because all stories matter and all people matter. And rheumatologic conditions can be treated and YOU deserve treatment.

Visit Summitrheumatology.com or call 480-494-2770 for an appointment 🏳️‍🌈

Eat Well Feel Well will be back next week and in the spirit of summer, I am excited to talk about my new book!

by Angèle Ferreux Maeght has so many fresh infusions to make water taste like 🌈and are family friendly and look like fun to make!

In the meantime, subscribe to my YouTube channel to catch previous episodes featuring recipes and seasonal ingredients. You can find these videos and more on FB also Brittany Panico

If you know, you know!

I recently changed my route when walking around my neighborhood. There is a street that reminds me so much of IL and I can just get lost daydreaming of my memories in Naperville.

But this magnificent beauty has really swept me away. When the wind blows just right, the mixture of fig and jasmine smells heavenly. I want to bottle it up.

So last evening, I took my youngest guy and headed out to my new favorite spot. We walked back and forth smelling the figs and listening to birds. A perfect summer moment.

We didn’t grow figs in IL, or any fruit really for that matter. Phoenix is full of fruit, citrus, and all kinds of beautiful blooming aromatic trees. I love it and the visualization of growth and fruit emerging from its blossoms. I have never seen a fig tree this huge. Right out in the open. So beautiful yet so easy to miss if you don’t know what you’re seeing.

Often, there are things right in front of us that are magnificent and amazing, and we may just walk right on by. Or we can take it all in and enjoy the sights and smells for as long as they last. And if you can imaging fig and jasmine together is, well… 🤩

You know where to find me on my evening walks this summer!

Hoping that Fathers had a wonderful day yesterday. In whatever way you are a father figure- the world needs you!

If you are looking for a rheumatologist to help you feel better with less , , , or to be evaluated for an autoimmune condition, Summit Rheumatology is here for you!

If you are hesitant to seek care because you are not sure what causes your pain, we can evaluate you to determine if you would benefit from further treatment by a rheumatologist. Visit Summitrheumatoligy.com for more information or call us at (480) 494-2770.

Your kids and family will thank you for taking care of your health!

If you have joints that look like this, or have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and are not feeling better with the medication you are taking, you might have gout.
These photos show how gout can affect the hands, feet, and elbows. This stage of gout is not always painful. Sometimes the pain is dull and aching, but your joints may be hard to bend or move.

If you are struggling with , or have joints that look like this, please call us at Summit Rheumatology to make an appointment. Summit is a Gout and we know EXACTLY how to help you. This is treatable and not your fault! Peter Hennis and myself have helped many patients just like this and we are on a mission to help more!

We are seeing new patients as early as next week, so call us to end your suffering with gout for good! (480) 494-2770 and please leave a message or email at [email protected]

We hope to see you soon. Anyone in the state of can be treated.

Today we honor those who have fought to protect our freedom.
I credit much of my growth as a physician to the patients I have treated though the VA Health System. I thank those who allowed me to be a part of their lives.

I thank those who did not come home from overseas. My brother, uncle, and 2 grandfathers are veterans and saw parts of the world that only those there will tell the tale. To them, I am thankful today and every day, for the freedom I have and the freedom that my 3 boys have.

I’d like to introduce you to Unabridgedmd and Dr Isabelle Amigues! She recently opened a Direct Care Rheumatology practice in Denver, CO and is spreading the word about remission intertwined with hope and western-meets-holistic medicine in rheumatology.

She is also my friend! She is featured on the Summit Rheumatology blog this week as she explains some differences between inflammatory and mechanical arthritis for

I hope this is helpful information that can separate the kinds of arthritis that respond to rheumatologic medications and the type of joint pain that does not.

If you are looking for a new rheumatologist in Denver, she is amazing! Follow her above!

If you are in Arizona, Summit Rheumatology is accepting new patients and we can be reached at [email protected]

https://summitrheumatology.com/patient-lifestyle/arthritis-awareness-month/?fbclid=IwAR1e8SdmS8TEqXRRo2RbYg1xtdK1Bcq64XfQ3QgdRossLiQAQhGL_7QXPjg_aem_th_AZyKgNF745M5-7gBnn3x8ySgv2Vr35dtlmM56RgUBZS5r47vVuTOvKi4HDqCxqt5m38&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

What Type of Arthritis Do You Have? Arthritis Awareness Month There are different types of arthritis that can affect people of all ages. Understanding your condition will help you receive the right treatments.

May is an awesome month.
In Rheumatology, May is the month we highlight , , , and . is also celebrated in May.

So you can imagine that I am excited to tell everyone I know that I was featured in Reader's Digest in an article talking about gout, and gout treatment in women!
This article means that more people will see the impact that treating gout can have, and that gout is TREATABLE in all people!

If you have more than 1 gout flare a year, you may need adjustments in your treatment plan. If you live in , I strive to have my patients achieve 0 flares once we know the right dose of medication to be on. So it is possible for you to live a life without thinking of when your next gout attack will be.

If you are someone who would like to end gout flares for good, I am waiting for you at Summit Rheumatology. appointments are available in the state of . Call us at 480-494-2770 or send an email to [email protected] or through our website summitrheumatology.com

https://www.rd.com/article/the-painful-truth-about-gout/

Special thank you to the team at Horizon Therapeutics for spreading this message!

The Painful Truth About Gout Learn about the hidden dangers of this serious disease and why early action is key.