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Dr. Melanie Rachel Graber, MD is a rheumatologist in New York, NY specializing in rheumatology (arthritis & autoimmune diseases). Dr. Melanie Rachel Graber, MD is affiliated with New York University, NYU Langone and Joan H. Tisch Center for Women's Health.
159 East 53rd street 5th Floor
New York, NY 10022
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.
She completed residency at University of Connecticut Affiliated Hospitals. She is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine - Internal Medicine and has a state license in Connecticut.
Residency: University of Connecticut Affiliated Hospitals (2020)
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine - Internal Medicine (2020)
Licensed In: Connecticut
Dr. Melanie Rachel Graber, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:
Dr. Melanie Rachel Graber, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: Local 1199, Centerlight Healthcare, River Spring Health Plan, Fidelis Care, Centers Plan For Healthy Living, HIP, Healthfirst, Cigna, Multiplan, Aetna, United Healthcare, POMCO Insurance Company, Anthem BCBS Health Plus, Tricare, VNS Choice Advantage, Magnacare, Hamaspik Choice, Oxford, Humana, Medicare, Village Care, NYSHIP - The Empire Plan, Sedgwick WTC, Elderplan, VA Community Care Network, GHI, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Wellcare, Qualcare Inc., Amida Care, Longevity Health Plan, Railroad Medicare, Connecticare, WTC Health Program, 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, TRICARE, Anthem, Aetna PPO, Aetna HMO, Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare HMO, Aetna Open Access EPO, AARP, WellCare Medicare, United Healthcare Medicare, Medicare Part B, Medicare Advantage, United Healthcare, Humana, Cigna, 1199SEIU, Guardian, HIP PPO, HIP POS, HIP HMO, Aetna, Aetna Medicare, HIP Child Health Plus, MultiPlan PPO, MultiPlan, GHI Medicare Supplement, United Healthcare Navigate, Aetna POS, 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, Elderplan, TriWest, Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO, Blue Cross Blue Shield POS, Blue Cross Blue Shield EPO, Local 1199 PPO, Blue Cross Blue Shield Indemnity, US Family Health Plan, UnitedHealthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, Railroad Medicare, GEHA, BCBS PPO - Empire PPO (Sunset Park/Family Health Center Employees), BCBS PPO/EPO Small Group, Teamsters Allied Benefits, Apwu Health Plan, Christian Brothers Services, Qualcare Inc, Healthscope, BCBS EPO - Empire EPO (Sunset Park/Family Health Center Employees), HIP Prime Silver Exchange, Insurance Design Administrators, Health Net of California, Global Excel, NYS Health Insurance Plan - The Empire Plan, American Plan Administrators, HIP Prime Platinum Exchange, BCBS Local 32BJ Employees, HIP Prime Gold Exchange, AXA Assistance USA, Bricklayers Ins and Welfare Fund, Fiserv Health, Mutual of Omaha, UMR, BCBS Mediblue Medicare PPO, BCBS EPO (LICH Employees), Screen Actors Guild, HIP Prime Silver, Unite Healthcare (NY University Care Plan), HIP Prime Bronze Exchange, Meritain Health, HIP VIP Medicare Bold, Administrative Concepts, HIP Bridge, Connecticare Bridge, BCBS PPO (LICH Employees), BCBS EPO - Empire NYU Care (NYU Langone Employees), River Spring Medicare HMP SNP, NY Fire Department - WTC, HIP Prime Bronze, BCBS Blue Access EPO Small Group, Connecticare Commercial, HIP Prime Gold, Health Republic of New Jersey, Nippon Life Ins Co, HIP VIP Medicare Prime, New York Hotel Trades, HIP Prime Basic Exchange, Global Health, HIP Prime Platinum, World Trade Center - Sedgwick, US Life Insurance Company, BCBS Blue Access PPO Large Group, BCBS EPO - Empire EPO (NYU Langone Employees), Oxford Health Plans Liberty, Wlny-TV Inc., BCBS EPO - Empire NYU Care (Sunset Park/Family Health Center Employees), Hamaspik Choice Medicare DSNP, Medicare Part A and B, BCBS PPO (BlackRock Employees), 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, Bind Benefits inc, BCBS EPO (BlackRock Employees), HIP Prime Catastrophic Exchange, Allied, Qualcare Direct, Oxford Health Plans Freedom, Professional Benefit Admin, BCBS Blue Access GEPO Small Group, Wellfleet-NYU Student, Starmark, BCBS Blue Access EPO Large Group, Longevity Health Plan Medicare and BCBS Federal Program.
According to our sources, Dr. Melanie Rachel Graber, MD accepts the following insurance providers:
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Dr. Melanie Graber is a specialist in adult rheumatology. She works in New York, NY. Her areas of expertise include the following: polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), musculoskeletal pain, and lupus. Dr. Graber accepts Trustmark, Anthem, Blue California, and more. She trained at a hospital affiliated with the University of Connecticut for residency. She is affiliated with NYU Langone.