Dr. Steven Goodman, MD

Dr. Steven Goodman, MD is a Rheumatology specialist dedicated to empowering patients with proactive, comprehensive care at his clinic in Delray Beach, FL. He is registered with The Florida Board of Medicine and practices under the Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice). General Rheumatologists are your primary partners in preventing joint damage and preserving quality of life, expertly diagnosing and managing arthritis and autoimmune diseases through long-term health plans, coordinated screenings, and comprehensive wellness management to control inflammation and empower you to live your best life. He serves individuals of all ages experiencing joint pain, stiffness, or symptoms suggestive of arthritis or autoimmune conditions. Dr. Goodman is not currently accepting new patients, but you can call (561) 495-0600 to inquire about waitlists or future openings.

With over 35 years of dedicated experience in Rheumatologic care, Dr. Goodman brings a wealth of clinical knowledge and compassionate care to his patients and their families. He earned his medical degree from George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences in 1987 and completed an internship at Si Hospital in 1988. Following medical school, he undertook residency training in Rheumatology at Morristown Memorial Hospital in 1991, specializing in the comprehensive medical care of individuals experiencing joint pain, stiffness, or symptoms suggestive of arthritis or autoimmune conditions. He further specialized with fellowship training in Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in 1995. Dr. Goodman is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Pediatric Rheumatology, Pediatrics, and Rheumatology by the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons. He is affiliated with Delray Medical Center. As a rheumatologist, Dr. Goodman believes that patient care is best delivered as a team, led by the physician and the patient. He facilitates this by educating patients about their diagnosis, recruiting their input into diagnostic and treatment decisions, and ensuring excellent access to care with the support of his personal nurse, Sylvia. He utilizes multiple onsite modalities to maximize diagnosis during visits, and treats each patient with the same care and compassion he would his own family. Dr. Steven Goodman provides consultations primarily in English.

A key part of the WePrevent mission is building your personalized prevention roadmap. Dr. Steven Goodman is a vital partner in this journey, focusing on proactive strategies to protect and enhance your long-term health.

By working together, you and Dr. Steven Goodman can create a clear, actionable plan to address your unique risk factors and health goals.

A proactive approach to health involves understanding and managing potential risks. Dr. Steven Goodman provides expert care for a range of conditions, focusing on early detection and effective management to support your long-term wellness. Common areas of focus include:

• Osteopenia: Osteopenia indicates a decrease in bone mass, increasing the risk of osteoporosis; taking preventive measures can help maintain bone strength and protect against fractures.
• Autoimmune Vasculitis: By actively managing autoimmune vasculitis, you can help control inflammation in your blood vessels and prevent life-threatening complications and preserve your overall health.
• Back Pain: Don't ignore back pain – it might indicate an underlying condition that needs attention to prevent irreversible joint damage and maintain your quality of life.
• Hip Arthritis: Early diagnosis and treatment of hip arthritis is crucial for slowing disease progression, reducing pain and inflammation, and preserving hip joint function for years to come.
• Primary Fibromyalgia: Primary fibromyalgia, while not directly causing joint damage like arthritis, can significantly impact daily life, necessitating early attention to prevent secondary complications and disability.
• Primary Osteoporosis: Managing primary osteoporosis effectively involves early diagnosis and personalized strategies, such as medication and lifestyle adjustments, to prevent fractures and maintain an active lifestyle as you age.
• Arthritis of the Foot: Managing arthritis in your feet is crucial to prevent long-term disability and maintain your ability to walk and enjoy daily activities.
• Lupus: Because lupus can affect many parts of your body, proactive care including regular monitoring and treatment helps prevent serious health problems and preserves your well-being.
• Pyogenic Arthritis: Protecting your joints from the devastating effects of pyogenic arthritis, a bacterial infection, starts with recognizing symptoms like intense joint pain and fever, and seeking immediate medical care.
• Osteoarthritis of Spine: Protecting your spine from the progression of osteoarthritis involves understanding your risk factors and adopting preventive strategies to slow disease advancement and preserve quality of life.
• Arthritis of the Finger: Managing arthritis in your fingers can help reduce pain, improve mobility, and prevent the need for more extensive treatments later on.
• Osteoarthritis of Hand: Don't let hand osteoarthritis take control of your life. Seeking timely medical care and adopting a preventive lifestyle can help manage symptoms and protect your hand joints from irreversible damage.

This list highlights some common health concerns and is for informational purposes only. The best way to understand your personal health and create a prevention plan is to schedule a consultation. Accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment plans are developed based on individual patient evaluations.

Taking proactive steps is central to long-term health. Dr. Steven Goodman offers a range of key preventive screenings and services designed to provide crucial insights into your health and support your well-being:

• Steroid Injection: To ease severe joint pain and stiffness, a steroid injection offers targeted relief, helping prevent further joint damage and improve your quality of life.
• Soft Tissue Injections: Soft tissue injections can help pinpoint the source of your joint pain and inflammation, guiding your rheumatologist toward the most effective treatment plan.
• Bursa Injection: By injecting medication into the inflamed bursa, we can proactively reduce pain, improve joint function, and prevent further complications.
• Arthrocentesis: As part of your comprehensive care plan, arthrocentesis involves withdrawing fluid from your joint to screen for infections and inflammatory conditions, enabling quicker diagnosis and improving your chances of preserving joint function.
• Injection of Tendon: By addressing tendon inflammation early with an injection, you can help prevent long-term joint damage and maintain mobility.
• Bone Density Scan: To prevent future bone problems, a bone density scan helps assess your risk of osteoporosis and other bone-thinning conditions, enabling timely intervention.
• Trigger Point Injection: Trigger point injections are a proactive step to ease muscle pain and stiffness, helping you maintain mobility and prevent further joint problems.
• Injection Therapy: To prevent irreversible joint damage, consider injection therapy; it's a proactive treatment option for managing autoimmune diseases and reducing pain and inflammation.
• Viscosupplementation With Hyaluronate: Take charge of your joint health with viscosupplementation. This treatment uses hyaluronate injections to replace depleted joint fluid, easing pain and increasing joint comfort.
• Biological Therapy: Biological therapy uses targeted medications to help control inflammation and slow the progression of autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, proactively protecting your joints.
• Infusion Therapy: Infusion therapy is a powerful tool in managing arthritis and autoimmune diseases, offering a way to deliver medications effectively and prevent further joint damage and inflammation.
• Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection (PRP): To actively combat joint damage, PRP injections use concentrated platelets from your blood to stimulate tissue repair and potentially delay or prevent the need for more invasive treatments.

Service availability can change, and not all services listed may be appropriate for every patient. For a comprehensive understanding of all available services and to create your personalized screening plan, please schedule a consultation.

All medical services are provided in accordance with the standard scope of practice for Rheumatology in Florida.

Dr. Steven Goodman is dedicated to partnering with Caregivers to achieve their unique health objectives. The following examples illustrate how a proactive approach can make a tangible difference in a Patient's life:

• By proactively addressing bone health concerns with regular screenings and lifestyle changes, a patient significantly reduced their risk of osteopenia-related fractures, enhancing their overall well-being and peace of mind.
• By diligently following a proactive management plan, a patient significantly reduced the risk of autoimmune vasculitis complications, ensuring a healthier future. This proactive approach provided the patient with peace of mind and a greater sense of control over their well-being.

These scenarios are illustrative examples of positive health outcomes. Individual results may vary and depend on many factors specific to each patient. He will work with you to define and achieve your personal health goals.

Here are answers to some common questions about proactive Rheumatologic care with Dr. Steven Goodman:

What is a rheumatologist and how can they help me?

A rheumatologist is a doctor specializing in musculoskeletal and autoimmune diseases. They can help manage chronic conditions, prevent further joint damage, and improve your overall well-being through long-term treatment plans.

What is the difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition where cartilage breaks down over time, often due to wear and tear. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the joints. Dr. Goodman's role is to accurately diagnose the cause to ensure the appropriate treatment is provided.

Are steroid injections into a joint safe?

Yes, corticosteroid injections into a joint are generally safe when performed by a rheumatologist. They are a powerful tool to quickly reduce inflammation and pain, allowing for better participation in physical therapy and daily activities. We use them judiciously to manage flare-ups.

What is infusion therapy?

Infusion therapy involves receiving medication directly through an IV in a comfortable, medically supervised setting. This method is highly effective for delivering advanced biologic medications, ensuring your body receives the full dose needed to control your disease and prevent flares.

Can you help with chronic back pain?

If your back pain is related to inflammatory arthritis, like ankylosing spondylitis, a rheumatologist like Dr. Goodman is the best specialist. We differentiate this from mechanical back pain through a thorough diagnostic process. This accurate diagnosis ensures the right treatment is started, preventing long-term spinal fusion and stiffness.

What is fibromyalgia and how is it treated?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, and sleep problems. Treatment is multi-faceted, focusing on preventing flare-ups through a combination of medication, gentle exercise, stress management, and improved sleep hygiene.

What does it mean if my ANA (Antinuclear Antibody) test is positive?

A positive ANA can be a sign of an autoimmune condition, but it's not a diagnosis on its own. Your rheumatologist, Dr. Goodman, will consider this result along with your symptoms and other tests to determine if you have an autoimmune disease, avoiding unnecessary worry or misdiagnosis.

What does a joint aspiration (arthrocentesis) do?

A joint aspiration, or arthrocentesis, is a procedure where a specialist removes excess fluid from a swollen joint using a needle. This provides immediate pain relief from the pressure and allows the fluid to be analyzed to diagnose the cause of swelling, which is crucial for developing a treatment plan and preventing future problems.

5130 Linton Blvd Ste F1
Delray Beach FL 33484
Phone: (561) 495-0600

Dr. Steven Goodman, MD is regulated by the Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice) in Florida and is licensed by The Florida Board of Medicine.

National Provider Identifier (NPI): 1447351184

Registration can typically be verified through The Florida Board of Medicine website or by direct inquiry.

The information on this profile, provided by weprevent.org, is for general informational purposes and to help you connect with preventive health partners. It does not constitute direct medical advice from the physician named. Rheumatology like Dr. Steven Goodman are skilled in helping patients create proactive health plans. For urgent or life-threatening emergencies, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency department. It is always recommended to maintain open communication with your rheumatology about all aspects of your health and your personalized prevention plan.