Arthritis Service
Leaders in Arthritis Care
The Stanford Health Care Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine program offers easy access to innovative arthritis care personalized to your needs.
Our team seamlessly coordinates complete services to diagnose and treat the full spectrum of arthritis-related conditions, from the common to those so complex, they were once thought untreatable.
450 Broadway Street
Redwood City, CA 94063
Phone: 650-723-5643
What We Offer You for Arthritis
- Specialized expertise from one of the world’s leading programs focused on treating all arthritis-related conditions. Go to Conditions Treated
- Complete treatment options, always emphasizing the least invasive approaches possible. Go to Treatments
- Clinical trial opportunities to join research studies of new innovations in the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis. Go to Clinical Trials
- Team approach, with highly experienced specialists who create a comprehensive care plan customized to your needs. Go to Your Care Team
- Full support that includes pain management, physical rehabilitation, occupational therapy, and more. Go to Support Services
- Ease of access with specialists conveniently located close to where you work or live. Go to Accessing Care

Our specialists are experienced with the diagnosis and treatment of all types of arthritis, including:
Ankylosing Spondylitis
This type of arthritis affects the spine and nearby joints, causing inflammation and resulting in stiffness and pain. Sometimes the more general term “spondyloarthritis” is also used when discussing ankylosing spondylitis.
Infectious Arthritis
In cases of infectious arthritis, also called “septic arthritis,” an infection in the joint results from surgery, injury, or an infection elsewhere in the body.
Osteoarthritis
With this form of arthritis, joints and bones degenerate, usually with aging, and cause pain and stiffness.
Psoriatic Arthritis
This form of arthritis is associated with psoriasis, a chronic skin and nail disease characterized by red, scaly rashes and thick, pitted fingernails.
Reactive Arthritis
Also known as Reiter’s Syndrome, this type of arthritis occurs in reaction to an infection in the body.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis can inflame joints and destroy cartilage in the shoulder and elbows. People with rheumatoid arthritis are usually younger than people with osteoarthritis.
Spondyloarthritis
In this condition, inflammation involves both joints and the sites where tendons and ligaments attach to bones (called “entheses”). One form of spondyloarthritis is “ankylosing spondylitis.”
Spondylolisthesis
In this form of arthritis, one vertebral bone slips on top of another, usually in the base of the spine.
Spondylolysis
This form of arthritis results from a fracture or defect in vertebral bones in the back.
Traumatic Arthritis
Traumatic arthritis results after an injury or accident causes damage to bones, tissue, or ligaments.
Your doctor will recommend a treatment plan customized to you and based on:
- Your age, overall health, and medical history
- Extent of the disease, injury, or condition
- Your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
- Expectations for the course of the disease, injury, or condition
- Your opinion or preference
We always emphasize the least invasive approach possible. However, if needed, our specialists also have extensive experience with all surgical procedures.
INNOVATION HIGHLIGHTS
The Stanford Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine team excels at developing innovations to advance the diagnosis and treatment of shoulder and elbow conditions and injuries. Patients in our program may even have opportunities to participate in research studies of breakthrough treatments not yet available at any other center.
Treatments by Condition Severity
Whenever possible, we treat arthritis with non-surgical approaches. Our highly experienced team works together to help determine the most effective treatment for you. The best approach may involve one or more of the following options:
Lifestyle Modification
Your doctor may recommend that you change your daily activities to treat your condition and prevent it from getting worse.
Occupational therapy
We provide occupational therapy services to help you manage your arthritis while continuing to work or do other activities.
Physical Therapy
Our physical therapy team helps people build strength and mobility after a shoulder or elbow injury or other condition. We also help you develop a long-term exercise plan to help you enjoy the best health with the least possible risk of injury.
Medication
Your care team may recommend medication therapy such as:
- Bisphosphonates: drugs that prevent bone loss
- Corticosteroids: medications that reduce inflammation
- Injectable therapy: injections to relieve pain or inflammation
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID): medication to reduce pain, inflammation, and fever.
Surgery
We emphasize noninvasive or minimally invasive treatments whenever possible. But when needed, we also offer extensive experience in all surgical procedures. Our team has helped pioneer some of the most sophisticated surgical techniques that set world standards for quality care. Options include:
- Joint replacement: Removal of an arthritic or damaged joint and replacement with an artificial joint, called a prosthesis.
- Realignment osteotomies: A surgeon cuts a bone to shorten, lengthen, or change its position.
- Revision joint replacement: A procedure to correct a previous hip or knee replacement that is causing a problem.
- Surface replacement: A type of joint replacement where the goal is to preserve original bone.
- Unicondylar knee replacement: Replacement of damaged parts of the knee to relieve arthritis in a targeted area.
Personalized Treatments
Your care team will assess your unique needs and lifestyle to develop the best treatment plan for you. We may use a single approach or a combination to provide you with the most comprehensive and personalized care possible.
Examples include options using your body’s own defense mechanisms to treat your symptoms or the underlying cause of your condition:
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection using your own blood’s platelets and plasma
- Stem cell therapy
- Other therapies using your own cells
Pain management
Your doctor will work with you to help manage any pain and inflammation related to your arthritis. Pan relief measures may include:
- Massage therapy
- Acupuncture
- Medication
Risk management/prevention
Our doctors will help you understand steps you can take to actively prevent further damage. We may focus on actions including:
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may have access to the latest, advanced clinical trials.
Open trials refer to studies that are currently recruiting participants or that may recruit participants in the near future. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but similar studies may open in the future.
Your Arthritis Care Team
In a comfortable, welcoming setting, our team provides complete care customized to your specific condition and needs. We are committed to your comfort, convenience, and recovery.

Your Doctors
Orthopaedist
These doctors have advanced training in diagnosing and treating conditions related to bones and muscles.
View All {0} Orthopaedists »Arthritis And Joint Replacement Surgeon
Subspecialists in arthritis and joint replacement surgery perform knee replacement procedures in cases where less invasive treatments wouldn’t be less effective.
View All {0} Arthritis And Joint Replacement Surgeons »Sports Medicine Surgeon
Our sports medicine doctors excel in the prevention and treatment of sports-related injuries. They treat professional athletes, amateurs, and non-athletes who injure themselves in other activities.
View All {0} Sports Medicine Surgeons »Orthopaedic Surgical Oncologist
For treatment of people who have bone-related cancer, our team includes doctors who are specially trained in the orthopaedic surgical oncology.
View All {0} Orthopaedic Surgical Oncologists »Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeon
Surgical treatment of traumatic injury joints caused by an accident, sports, fall, or other event requires the special care of dedicated orthopaedic trauma surgeons.
View All {0} Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeons »Physiatrist
Doctors called physiatrists are board certified in the specialty of physical medicine and rehabilitation with subspecialties in the medical rehabilitation of bone and muscle conditions and sports injuries.
View All {0} Physiatrists »Rheumatologist
Rheumatologists specialize in providing care for rheumatism, arthritis, and other conditions affecting joints, muscles and ligaments.
View All {0} Rheumatologists »Plastic And Reconstructive Surgeon
Plastic and reconstructive surgeons focus on reconstructing parts of the body damaged by traumatic injury, disease, burns, birth disorders, and other conditions.
View All {0} Plastic And Reconstructive Surgeons »
Extended Care Team
Our team includes additional professionals to make sure you get the complete care and support you need:
Our skilled physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) can give you a thorough exam, write prescriptions, and help to prevent or treat any issues. Our APPs meet weekly to discuss patient needs.
Care coordinators provide you with information and assistance prior to and during your appointment.
- Medical Assistant - Medical assistants work with our team to help provide care. They may prepare you for an examination, assist your doctor, or take vitals before your appointment.
- Patient Care Coordinator - Our patient care coordinators help you with scheduling appointments and accessing your test results.
- Patient Access Representative - Patient access representatives can answer any questions you have about insurance coverage, will assist you with applying for insurance, and can refer you to a Stanford financial counselor.
Our specialists are very involved in research efforts to advance the diagnosis and treatment of orthopaedic conditions. Research coordinators help screen candidates for possible participation in clinical research trials.

Support Services
We offer a vast array of support services to meet your complete needs as you receive your care:
We welcome you and make accessing care from the Stanford Health Care Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine program easy and convenient.
INTERESTED IN AN ONLINE SECOND OPINION?
The Stanford Medicine Online Second Opinion program offers you easy access to our world-class doctors. It’s all done remotely and you don’t have to visit our hospital or one of our clinics for this service. You don’t even need to leave home!
Visit our online second opinion page to learn more.
We participate in a wide range of insurance plans. View the list of insurance plans accepted by Stanford Health Care »
Have insurance or pre-authorization questions? The Patient Financial Clearance team is available Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., to answer your questions. Please call 650-724-4445 or 1-877-291-7335 (toll free).
When choosing a doctor, it’s important to consider the doctor’s clinical training, experience, and expertise in a specialized area that matches your health care needs.
You can find the right Stanford doctor for you by using our doctor directory and filtering the results based on a medical category, specialty, or doctor’s last name. View our list of doctors »
Yes, Stanford Health Care offers financial assistance for patients who are uninsured or underinsured. Meet with one of our financial counselors to find the best approach to paying for your health care. Financial counselors are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Learn more about financial assistance services »
We offer a number of support services, including support groups, interpreter services, nutrition services, a health library, and a variety of classes and events. Learn more about our support services »
You will need to have the following items with you when you check in:
- Insurance card
- A form of payment for any co-pays or deductibles
- One form of photo ID:
- Valid state-issued driver’s license
- Valid state-issued ID card
- Valid passport
- Valid U.S. military ID card
- Valid U.S. Permanent Resident Card
Please print, fill out, and return the Medical Record Release Form to your new patient coordinator. The medical release form is an authorization form for external facilities to release medical records to Stanford Health Care.
Always feel free to bring someone with you to your appointments. A family member or friend can help ask questions, remember the information your care team gives you, and provide support.
Write down your questions before your appointment and rank them in order of importance, beginning with the most important ones. If there isn’t enough time to have all your questions answered during your appointment, ask your doctor who you can speak with to get your other questions answered.
You have multiple options when it comes to paying your bill.
- Online:
- You can pay your bill in MyHealth or the MyHealth mobile app, our secure health information tool for patients.
- You can also pay as a guest without creating a login.
- By mail:
- Stanford Health Care - P.O. Box 740715, Los Angeles, CA 90074-0715
- By calling a Customer Service Representative at 1-800-549-3720, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
For more information about billing, visit our Billing page.
Patient billing services at Stanford Health Care are provided by the billing office. To inquire about a bill that you received, please contact customer service:
Stanford Health Care Billing
Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
1-800-549-3720
We offer a number of support services, including support groups, interpreter services, nutrition services, a health library, and a variety of classes and events. Learn more about our support services »
To determine if a clinical trial is right for you, talk to your doctor. He or she can refer you to a research coordinator for more information on studies that may be right for your specific condition.
You can also find the guidelines for who can participate in a particular clinical trial online. However, it is best to work with your doctor to decide the right care approach for your needs.
Many of our programs are available to international patients.
Our International Medicine Services team can help you find the right doctor, estimate medical costs, book travel, and get you information about Stanford programs and services.
Please call +1 650-723-8561 or email IMS@stanfordhealthcare.org to get started.
For Referring Physicians
PHYSICIAN HELPLINE
Fax: 650-320-9443
Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Stanford Health Care provides comprehensive services to refer and track patients, as well as the latest information and news for physicians and office staff. For help with all referral needs and questions, visit Referring Physicians.
You may also submit a web referral or complete a referral form and fax it to 650-320-9443 or e-mail the Referral Center at ReferralCenter@stanfordhealthcare.org
HOW TO REFER
Email or fax a cancer referral form with supporting documentation to ReferralCenter@stanfordhealthcare.org or 650-320-9443.
New to the clinic? Schedule your first appointment online.
Online AppointmentReturning Patient
To request an appointment, please call 650-723-5643.