If your child often complains of pain in their joints, muscles, or bones, they could be suffering from a rheumatologic condition. These symptoms can be puzzling, but a pediatric rheumatologist can help. The pediatric rheumatology team at Boston Medical Center provides specialized pediatric care to infants, children, and young adults up to age 26 who are suffering from a variety of rheumatologic and inflammatory conditions such as juvenile arthritis, lupus, and dermatomyositis, as well as related symptoms like arm and leg pain and recurring fevers.
Meet Dr. Ezra Cohen, Pediatric Rheumatologist
Ezra M. Cohen, MD, RhMSUS, is a board-certified pediatric rheumatologist who specializes in juvenile arthritis; lupus; arm and leg pain, fevers; and dermatomyositis. Dr. Cohen received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed his pediatrics residency training at both Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr. Cohen is fluent in both English and Spanish.
Podcast
In this episode of the BMC podcast Boston Med Talks, Dr. Cohen shares how the expert clinical team at Boston Medical Center can help children with rheumatoid conditions. BMC rheumatologists use a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to meet the needs of every patient—including children.
Contact Us
Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Programs and Services
Pediatric Specialty Care
Rheumatology
A program providing rheumatologic medicine for joint and autoimmune diseases, including diagnosis and treatment for gout, lupus, vasculitis, psoriasis, and other inflammatory conditions, with coordinated, multidisciplinary care.
Pain Clinic (Pediatrics)
Conditions We Treat
In addition to providing care for painful or swollen joints, arm or leg pain, and unexplained or periodic fevers, we diagnose and treat the following conditions:
Treatments & Services
We offer numerous complementary and alternative treatments for pain and fatigue related to rheumatologic conditions. Some of the treatments we offer:
- Holistic care and complementary therapies to treat pain and fatigue, improve function, and increase the child’s overall wellbeing. We take a great interest in the overall wellbeing of our patients, and Dr. Cohen has special training in mindfulness meditation. In addition, he emphasizes the importance of diet and nutritional supplements.
- Medications and infusions to treat arthritis, lupus, and other autoimmune conditions
- Trigger-point injections for neck, shoulder, and back pain. Trigger-point injections are a safe and very effective remedy for painful muscles around the neck, shoulders, and back. A small needle is inserted into the muscle and releases the “knot,” an action which usually leads to lasting relief for up to two months. The effect can be compared to a very strong massage.
- Ultrasound-guided steroid injections for painful or swollen joints. For conditions such as arthritis, sometimes steroid injections are required to relieve pain and swelling in a joint. Dr. Cohen is formally certified in musculoskeletal ultrasound, which reduces the pain of joint injections and increases their safety and effectiveness.
Our Team
Ezra M. Cohen, MD, RhMSUS
Additional Team Members
- Mary Gawron, RN
Rheumatology Nurse