Fontana, Donna R, MD

Physicians & Surgeons, Rheumatology (Arthritis), Medical Clinics, Physicians & Surgeons

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17 Years

in Practice

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Wheelchair accessible

(952) 893-1959Call Visit WebsiteVisit Website Map & DirectionsDirections7250 France Ave S Ste 215Minneapolis, MN 55435 Write a ReviewWrite Review

Accepted Insurance

Aetna
Assurant Health
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS)
Bravo Health
Choice Care Network
Cigna

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Specialties

Primary: Rheumatologist (Joints & Arthritis Specialist)

Sub-Specialty: General

Additional Specialties: Rheumatology

More Info

Extra Phones: Fax: (952) 893-1954
Location: Edina Professional Bldg
AKA: Dr. Donna Rae Fontana, MDPHD
Other Link: http://rheummds.com
Categories: Physicians & Surgeons, Rheumatology (Arthritis), Medical Clinics, Physicians & Surgeons, Physicians & Surgeons, Allergy & Immunology, Physicians & Surgeons, Dermatology, Physicians & Surgeons, Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, Physicians & Surgeons, Family Medicine & General Practice, Physicians & Surgeons, Internal Medicine, Physicians & Surgeons, Orthopedics, Physicians & Surgeons, Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment, Physicians & Surgeons, Pain Management, Physicians & Surgeons, Surgery-General
Other Information: Specialties: Rheumatology

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Phone: (952) 893-1959

Address: 7250 France Ave S Ste 215, Minneapolis, MN 55435

Website: http://rheummds.com

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Fontana, Donna R, MD

General Practitioners

Osteoporosis
Arthritis
There are many different rheumatologic diseases. Some of them you may have heard of such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, but there are dozens of others that are less common. Rheumatologic diseases are also often called connective tissue diseases or autoimmune diseases. Many of these diseases can affect different organ systems, not just the joints as in arthritis. Many of the same symptoms can be seen in different diseases. For these reasons, it may take some time to collect enough information about your illness to diagnose a specific disease.
Fibromyalgia
In 2010, the government (FDA) approved the use of duloxetine (Cymbalta) for chronic (long-term) musculoskeletal pain including from OA. This oral drug is not new. It also is in use for other health concerns, such as mood disorders, nerve pain and fibromyalgia.
Medical Weight Loss
In addition to affecting the skin and joints, it can affect other organs in the body such as the kidneys, the tissue lining the lungs (pleura), heart (pericardium), and brain. Many patients experience fatigue, weight loss, and fever.
Rheumatology
Arthritis and Rheumatology Consultants, P.A. is concerned about patient privacy and the confidentiality of your medical records. All requests for information from your medical record must be accompanied by a release signed by you stating specifically what information should be released, who the information should be released to, and where it should be sent.
Primary Care
We encourage you to contact your primary care physician or referring physician as soon as possible to either obtain a copy of your pertinent medical records or have a copy sent to us. It is important that your records are available at the time of your appointment.
Smoking Cessation
Lifestyle modifications include keeping the body warm, specifically, keeping the core of the body warm. Often times patients will use hand warmers and mittens/gloves to help keep the fingers warm. Stress reduction and smoking cessation are also recommended to help decrease Raynaud’s attacks.
High Cholesterol
Constipation
Diarrhea
Immunizations
Due to the unique action mechanism of Rituximab, patients receiving Rituximab should discuss vaccination timing with her/his rheumatologist.

Ophthalmologists

Glaucoma
All medications have possible side effects. For example, prednisone is associated with increased risk of infection, weight gain, stretch marks, high blood pressure, osteoporosis (thin bones), depression, glaucoma (high eye pressure) and cataracts. However, prednisone is one of the fastest acting and most effective drugs to treat active lupus and control inflammation to prevent damage to the body. You should discuss the benefits and risks of recommended medications with your doctor. Based on the response to treatment, your doctor may be able to adjust medications to lower side effects while still controlling the lupus. It is very important that you discuss with your medical team any concerns you have about your medicines, or any changes to your medicines you are considering, to ensure the lupus is treated adequately.
Cataracts
Once the stiffness has gone away, you can resume all normal activities, including exercise. Even low doses of corticosteroids can cause side effects. These include higher blood sugar, weight gain, sleeplessness, osteoporosis (bone loss), cataracts, thinning of the skin and bruising. Checking for these problems, including bone density testing, is an important part of follow-up visits with your doctor. Older patients may need medicine to prevent osteoporosis.
Eye Exam
Diagnosis depends on a combination of symptoms, physical examination, blood tests, and sometimes special studies. Dry eyes and mouth may be early signs of the condition but require further investigation, because these symptoms can be caused by many other conditions or medications. Special tests may assess any decrease in tear or saliva production. An eye examination is helpful in detecting any eye changes seen in Sjögren’s. Blood tests can determine the presence of antibodies (immune system proteins that help destroy foreign invaders) typical of the disease. Typical antibodies include anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-SSA and SSB antibodies or rheumatoid factor, but these are not always present. Biopsies of saliva glands around the face or under the surface of the inner lip also may be used to make a diagnosis.

Pregnancy

Internal Medicine
I also enjoy teaching the younger generation of physicians and am actively involved in training Internal Medicine residents from Abbott Northwestern hospital in Minneapolis.
Kidney Stones
Over time, increased uric acid levels in the blood may lead to deposits of urate crystals in and around the joints. These crystals can attract white blood cells, leading to severe, painful gout attacks and chronic arthritis. Uric acid also can deposit in the urinary tract, causing kidney stones.

Depression
Mental Health
Anxiety

Endocrinologist

Diabetes Care
Thyroid
There are many causes of muscle disease other than inflammation. They include infection, muscle injury due to medicine, inherited diseases that affect muscle function, disorders of electrolyte levels, and thyroid disease. It is unknown what causes inflammatory myopathies. A top theory is that something goes wrong in the immune system, which leads to attack of the “self” and muscle inflammation.

Ultrasound
RA is diagnosed by examining blood test results, examining the joints and organs, and reviewing x-ray or ultrasound images. There is no one test to diagnose RA. Blood tests are run to look for antibodies in the blood that can been seen in RA. Antibodies are small proteins in the bloodstream that help fight against foreign substances called antigens. Sometimes these antibodies are found in people without RA. This is called a false positive result. Blood tests are also run to look for high levels of inflammation. The symptoms of RA can be very mild making the diagnosis more difficult. Some viral infections can cause symptoms that can be mistaken for RA. A rheumatologist is a physician with the skill and knowledge to reach a correct diagnosis of RA and to recommend a treatment plan.
MRI
Correct diagnosis requires a physician to assess the patient’s medical history and do a physical exam. The doctor also may order imaging tests or blood tests. You may need an X-ray of the sacroiliac joints, a pair of joints in the pelvis. X-ray changes of the sacroiliac joints, known as sacroiliitis, are a key sign of spondyloarthritis. If X-rays do not show enough changes, but the symptoms are highly suspicious, your doctor might order magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, which shows these joints better and can pick up early involvement before an X-ray can.
X-Rays
Computed Tomography
X-rays may show joint damage in gout of long duration. Ultrasound and dual energy computed tomography (commonly called dual energy CT) can show early features of gouty joint involvement. These imaging techniques also can help suggest the diagnosis.

Arthroscopy
Surgery: Surgical treatment becomes an option for severe cases. This includes when the joint has serious damage, or when medical treatment fails to relieve pain and you have major loss of function. Surgery may involve arthroscopy, repair of the joint done through small incisions (cuts). If the joint damage cannot be repaired, you may need a joint replacement.
Joint Replacement
Gangrene
Raynaud’s phenomenon: This term refers to color changes (blue, white and red) that occur in fingers (and sometimes toes), often after exposure to cold temperatures. It occurs when blood flow to the hands and fingers is temporarily reduced. This is one of the earliest signs of the disease; more than 90 percent of patients with scleroderma have Raynaud’s. Raynaud’s can lead to finger swelling, color changes, numbness, pain, skin ulcers and gangrene on the fingers and toes. People with other diseases can also have Raynaud’s and some people with Raynaud’s do not have any other disease.
Arthroscopy
Hip Replacement
Surgical treatment is very helpful in some patients. Total hip replacement is very useful for those with hip pain and disability due to joint destruction from cartilage loss. Spinal surgery is rarely necessary, except for those with traumatic fractures (broken bones due to injury) or to correct excess flexion deformities of the neck, where the patient cannot straighten the neck.
Knee Replacement
Joint injections with corticosteroids (sometimes called cortisone shots) or with a form of lubricant called hyaluronic acid can give months of pain relief from OA. This lubricant is given in the knee, and these shots may help delay the need for a knee replacement by a few years in some patients.

Ulcer
Nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs – commonly called NSAIDs – are aspirin‐like medications that can decrease inflammation and pain in joints and other tissues. NSAIDs, such as indomethacin (Indocin) and naproxen (Naprosyn), have become the treatment choice for most acute attacks of gout. There is no proof that any one NSAID is better than others. High doses of short‐acting NSAIDs give the fastest relief of symptoms. These medicines may cause stomach upset, ulcers or diarrhea, but they are well tolerated by most people when used for the short term. Some people cannot take NSAIDs because of health conditions such as ulcer disease or impaired kidney function or the use of blood thinners. The fact sheet on NSAIDs lists the types of patients who cannot take NSAIDs.
Lesions
Sometimes patients can have the rash with no sign of muscle disease. Doctors call this form of the disease amyopathic dermatomyositis. People with dermatomyositis may also have lung inflammation that causes cough and shortness of breath. Children with the disease may have an inflammation of the blood vessels (vasculitis) that can result in skin lesions.
Rashes
Psoriasis
The TNF Inhibitors such as adalimumab (Humira), etanercept (Enbrel), golimumab (Simponi), certolizumab (Cimzia) and infliximab (Remicade) are also available and can help the arthritis as well as the skin psoriasis.

Physical Therapists

Physical Therapy
All patients should get physical therapy and do joint-directed exercises. Most recommended are exercises that promote spinal extension and mobility.
Occupational Therapy
Muscle pain and weakness can be treated with anti-inflammatory drugs such as intravenous immunoglobin (IVIg) and/or immunosuppressive medications. Physical and occupational therapy may be useful to maintain joint and skin flexibility. Early referral to therapy should be considered to help prevent the loss of joint motion and function.
Orthotics and Prosthetic Therapy

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