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Dr. Rebecca Pietro, DO is a rheumatologist in New York, NY specializing in adult rheumatology. She graduated from Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2019 and has 7 years of experience. Dr. Rebecca Pietro, DO is affiliated with NYU Langone Health.
NYU Langone Health
Joint Injections
A joint is any area of the body where two bones connect. Due to injury or disease, the space between the two bones can sometimes become swollen and inflamed, which leads to pain and a loss of mobility. Injection and aspiration are two tools that physicians use to treat joint pain locally without needing to perform surgery.
Both injection and aspiration are techniques that involve inserting a needle connected to a syringe directly into the joint. Aspiration involves the removal of excess fluid, and injection is the placement of medication directly into the joint space via the needle. Both procedures may be performed at the same time. In both cases a local anesthetic may be used, the skin will be cleaned and disinfected, and then the needle will be inserted. In some cases, especially if the injection or aspiration is in a large and deep joint such as the hip or spine, ultrasound may be used to guide the needle to the exact location desired.
In some cases, irritation to the joint can cause fluid to build up so significantly that the joint hurts and can no longer move well. Aspiration removes some of the excess fluid and relieves the pressure. In addition, aspiration can be used to provide a sample of joint fluid if it needs to be examined microscopically for the presence of white blood cells, bacteria, or crystal formations.
Certain injuries and diseases that affect joints are inflammatory in nature, such as rheumatoid arthritis, tendonitis or gout. These diseases may be helped by the local injection of anti-inflammatory medications directly into the affected joint. In this case, corticosteroids such as methylprednisone are usually used. Relief from the pain may be felt right away and may last for weeks or even months.
In some cases, such as with osteoarthritis, the cartilage buffer between the two bones wears down and pain comes from bones rubbing against each other. In this case, injection of a lubricating agent such as hyaluronic acid may be beneficial. It provides a slippery cushion between the bones to relieve pain that can last for months.
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is a condition caused by bacteria (borrelia burgdorferi) that are transmitted via infected ticks. Most cases of Lyme disease are found in the United States East Coast and parts of the Midwest. The three main vectors of transmission for Lyme disease are:
As background, ticks lay on the tops of grass and brush, clutching onto leaves with their legs and with their arms outstretched. This formation is called "questing" and allows ticks to quickly latch onto passers-by. Within two hours of biting a person's skin, the tick slowly begins to feed from the blood of its host, which can transmit the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. This tick activity generally occurs seasonally and tick bites mostly occur during the springtime.
After being infected, people with Lyme disease may develop symptoms like fever, exhaustion, headache, joint aches, and skin rash, usually three to thirty days after the tick bite. Lyme disease is characterized by a particular skin rash called erythema migrans, which is an enlarged red rash that starts at the site of the tick bite and expands outwards. The rash is a strong indicator that someone has developed or is at risk of developing Lyme disease.
In the following few months, symptoms may worsen and progress to include:
Most cases of Lyme disease dissipate over a few months. Lyme disease may be cured by a course of oral antibiotics, such as amoxicillin or doxycycline. Other treatments may include:
People can take action to prevent Lyme disease by exercising caution when in environments with ticks. Using insect repellant and wearing long socks and protecting clothing can help prevent tick bites. Outdoor enthusiasts should regularly perform "tick checks," evaluating their skin for small ticks, especially in areas where ticks may easily burrow. Showering within two hours of returning indoors also can reduce the likelihood of developing Lyme disease.
Dr. Rebecca Pietro, DO graduated from Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2019. She completed residency at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Morningside /Mount Sinai West, Internal Medicine. She is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine - Internal Medicine and has a state license in New York.
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (2019)
Residency: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Morningside /Mount Sinai West, Internal Medicine (2023)
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine - Internal Medicine (2024)
Licensed In: New York
Dr. Rebecca Pietro, DO is associated with these hospitals and organizations:
Dr. Rebecca Pietro, DO appears to accept the following insurance providers: HIP EPO, HIP Access II, HIP Access I, MagnaCare PPO, Humana Medicare Advantage, Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS), BlueCross BlueShield of Florida, CIGNA Open Access, United Healthcare PPO, United Healthcare POS, United Healthcare Indemnity, United Healthcare HMO, United Healthcare EPO, United Healthcare Choice, Aetna Open Access HMO, Vytra HMO, Healthfirst Medicaid, Anthem, Aetna PPO, Aetna HMO, Healthfirst Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare HMO, Aetna Open Access EPO, AARP, WellCare Medicare, WellCare, United Healthcare Medicare, Medicare Part B, Medicare Advantage, United Healthcare, Medicaid, Humana, Cigna, 1199SEIU, Guardian, Fidelis Care, HIP PPO, HIP POS, HIP HMO, Aetna Medicare, HIP Child Health Plus, MultiPlan PPO, MultiPlan, GHI Medicare Supplement, United Healthcare Navigate, Aetna POS, First Health PPO, Great-West Healthcare HMO, Aetna Indemnity, Great-West Healthcare, Golden Rule, Community Care Network (CCN), Trustmark , Beech Street PPO, Kaiser Permanente, GHI HMO, CIGNA PPO, Group Health Incorporated (GHI), EmblemHealth, CIGNA HMO, CIGNA Indemnity, Healthfirst Child Health Plus, Medicaid Managed Care, Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO, Blue Cross Blue Shield POS, Blue Cross Blue Shield EPO, Local 1199 PPO, Blue Cross Blue Shield Indemnity, UnitedHealthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, Railroad Medicare, GEHA, BCBS PPO (NYU Langone Suffolk Employees), BCBS Healthplus Special Needs, BCBS PPO/EPO Small Group, Teamsters Allied Benefits, Healthfirst Green Leaf Exchange, Apwu Health Plan, Christian Brothers Services, Qualcare Inc, Oscar Platinum Edge Exchange, HIP Prime Silver Exchange, Insurance Design Administrators, Healthfirst Essential Plan 1 & 2, Health Net of California, Oscar Bronze Edge Exchange, Global Excel, Centers Plan For Healthy Living, Healthfirst Silver Leaf Exchange, BCBS Healthplus Essential Plan 4, BCBS Healthplus Essential Plan 3, BCBS Healthplus Essential Plan 2, BCBS Healthplus Essential Plan 1, American Plan Administrators, HIP Prime Platinum Exchange, BCBS Local 32BJ Employees, Healthfirst Platinum Leaf Exchange, HIP Prime Gold Exchange, Healthfirst Gold Total, Pro, Plus EPO, AXA Assistance USA, Nippon Life-Aetna, UMR GEHA, Fiserv Health, Mutual of Omaha, UMR, BCBS Mediblue Medicare PPO, BCBS Healthplus Gatekeeper exchange, Screen Actors Guild, HIP Prime Silver, HIP Prime Bronze Exchange, Partners Health Plan FIDA, Meritain Health, CenterLight Healthcare DIRECT, HIP VIP Medicare Bold, Administrative Concepts, HIP Bridge, Healthfirst Silver Total, Pro, Plus EPO, Oscar Gold Edge Exchange, Connecticare Bridge, BCBS Healthplus NY Child Health Plus NY, BCBS EPO (NYU Langone Suffolk Employees), NY Fire Department - WTC, HIP Prime Bronze, Aetna POS (American Express Employer), Healthfirst Personal Wellness Plan, BCBS Blue Access EPO Small Group, AETNA EPO (NYULH Employees), BCBS Healthplus Mediblue Advantage, Connecticare Commercial, Aetna Signature Administrators PPO, HIP Prime Gold, Healthfirst Platinum Total, Pro, Plus EPO, Health Republic of New Jersey, Nippon Life Ins Co, Healthfirst Essential Plan 3 & 4, HIP VIP Medicare Prime, New York Hotel Trades, HIP Prime Basic Exchange, Global Health, Oscar Secure, Healthfirst Bronze Leaf Exchange, HIP Prime Platinum, Partners Health Plan Medicare, Nippon Life of America-Aetna, World Trade Center - Sedgwick, NYS Health Insurance Plan - The Empire Plan, Excelsior Plan, NY Student Employee Health Plan, US Life Insurance Company, BCBS Blue Access PPO Large Group, Oxford Health Plans Liberty, Wlny-TV Inc., CenterLight Healthcare PACE, Oscar Silver Edge Exchange, Aetna International, Hamaspik Choice Medicare DSNP, Medicare Part A and B, Healthfirst Gold Leaf Exchange, MVP Preferred EPO, MVP Select Care Inc., BCBS PPO (BlackRock Employees), BCBS Out of State or Region, Aetna Meritain Health, Healthfirst Bronze Total, Pro, Plus EPO, BCBS Mediblue Select HMO/Extra HMO, IUOE Local 14-14B, Chesterfield Resources Inc, HIP Medicare Supplement, Diversified Administration Corporation, VNS NY Choice Select Health, WellNet, Aetna Student Plan, Bind Benefits inc, BCBS EPO (BlackRock Employees), Health And Recovery Plan (Harp), Centerlight Pace Medicare HMO, HIP Prime Catastrophic Exchange, Allied, Oxford Metro, Empire Mediblue Healthplus Dual, Aetna Medicare Value Select HMO, Qualcare Direct, Oxford Health Plans Freedom, Professional Benefit Admin, BCBS Blue Access GEPO Small Group, Wellfleet-NYU Student, Starmark, AETNA EPO (Sunset Park Employees), BCBS Blue Access EPO Large Group, WTC Health Program, CenterLight Healthcare Select and BCBS Federal Program.
According to our sources, Dr. Rebecca Pietro, DO accepts the following insurance providers:
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Dr. Rebecca Pietro is a specialist in adult rheumatology. She works in New York, NY and Commack, NY. Her areas of expertise include the following: steroid injections, knee arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis. She is professionally affiliated with NYU Langone Health. Dr. Pietro accepts Trustmark, Anthem, Blue California, and more. She graduated from Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine.
