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Dr. Nicole Leung, MD is a rheumatologist in New York, NY specializing in rheumatology (arthritis & autoimmune diseases). She graduated from Duke University School of Medicine in 2019 and has 7 years of experience. Dr. Nicole Leung, MD is affiliated with New York University, NYU Langone Health and NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital.
NYU Langone Health
Joint Aspiration
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.
Dr. Nicole Leung, MD graduated from Duke University School of Medicine in 2019. She completed residency at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Internal Medicine. She is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine - Internal Medicine and has a state license in New York.
Medical School: Duke University School of Medicine (2019)
Residency: NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Internal Medicine (2022)
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine - Internal Medicine (2023)
Licensed In: New York
Dr. Nicole Leung, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:
Dr. Nicole Leung, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: Local 1199 PPO, Aetna Indemnity, Aetna HMO, Local 1199 - NYU Hospital Member Choice, Aetna Medicare, 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, Healthfirst Medicaid, Workers' Compensation, TRICARE, Anthem, Aetna PPO, Aetna HMO, Healthfirst Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare HMO, Aetna Open Access EPO, AARP, WellCare Medicare, WellCare, Medicare Part B, United Healthcare Medicare, Medicare Advantage, United Healthcare, Medicaid, Humana, Cigna, 1199SEIU, Guardian, Fidelis Care, HIP PPO, HIP POS, HIP HMO, Aetna Medicare, HIP Child Health Plus, MultiPlan PPO, MultiPlan, GHI Medicare Supplement, United Healthcare Navigate, Aetna POS, First Health PPO, 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), CIGNA HMO, EmblemHealth, CIGNA Indemnity, Healthfirst Child Health Plus, Elderplan, Medicaid Managed Care, 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, HealthSpring, Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, Railroad Medicare, GEHA, BCBS PPO (NYU Langone Suffolk Employees), BCBS Healthplus Special Needs, BCBS PPO/EPO Small Group, Teamsters Allied Benefits, Surest, Healthfirst Green Leaf Exchange, Apwu Health Plan, Christian Brothers Services, MetroPlusHealth Medicare, Qualcare Inc, Hotel Trades Council, Healthfirst Essential Plan 1 & 2, Insurance Design Administrators, Aetna EPO (American Express employer), Health Net of California, Global Excel, NYC Employees PPO Plan, Healthfirst Silver Leaf Exchange, BCBS Healthplus Essential Plan 4, BCBS Healthplus Essential Plan 3, BCBS Healthplus Essential Plan 2, BCBS Healthplus Essential Plan 1, MetroPlusHealth Gold, American Plan Administrators, BCBS Local 32BJ Employees, Healthfirst Platinum Leaf Exchange, Healthfirst Gold Total, Pro, Plus EPO, AXA Assistance USA, Nippon Life-Aetna, UMR GEHA, Fiserv Health, Mutual of Omaha, UMR, VillageCare, BCBS Mediblue Medicare PPO, BCBS Healthplus Gatekeeper exchange, Screen Actors Guild, MetroPlusHealth Medplus Plan Exchange, Meritain Health, Aetna Choice POS II Choice Plus Plan (NY University Employees), CenterLight Healthcare DIRECT, HIP VIP Medicare Bold, Administrative Concepts, Healthfirst Silver Total, Pro, Plus EPO, BCBS Healthplus NY Child Health Plus NY, BCBS EPO (NYU Langone Suffolk Employees), River Spring Medicare HMP SNP, NY Fire Department - WTC, Aetna POS (American Express Employer), Healthfirst Personal Wellness Plan, BCBS Blue Access EPO Small Group, AETNA EPO (NYULH Employees), BCBS Healthplus Mediblue Advantage, MetroPlusHealth Essential Plan 3 and 4, MetroPlusHealth Child Health Plus, Aetna Signature Administrators PPO, Healthfirst Platinum Total, Pro, Plus EPO, Health Republic of New Jersey, Nippon Life Ins Co, MetroPlusHealth Goldcare, MetroPlusHealth Gold Plus Plan Exchange, MetroPlusHealth Essential Plan 1 and 2, Healthfirst Essential Plan 3 & 4, HIP VIP Medicare Prime, New York Hotel Trades, Global Health, Healthfirst Bronze Leaf Exchange, Nippon Life of America-Aetna, World Trade Center - Sedgwick, NYS Health Insurance Plan - The Empire Plan, Excelsior Plan, NY Student Employee Health Plan, US Life Insurance Company, BCBS Blue Access PPO Large Group, Oxford Health Plans Liberty, Wlny-TV Inc., CenterLight Healthcare PACE, Aetna International, Hamaspik Choice Medicare DSNP, Aetna Choice POS II Value Plan (NY University Employees), Medicare Part A and B, MetroPlusHealth Bronze Plus Plan Exchange, Healthfirst Gold Leaf Exchange, MVP Preferred EPO, BCBS PPO (BlackRock Employees), BCBS Out of State or Region, Aetna Meritain Health, Healthfirst Bronze Total, Pro, Plus EPO, 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, Aetna Student Plan, BCBS EPO (BlackRock Employees), Health And Recovery Plan (Harp), Centerlight Pace Medicare HMO, Allied, MetroPlusHealth Platinum Plus Plan Exchange, Empire Mediblue Healthplus Dual, Aetna Medicare Value Select HMO, Qualcare Direct, Oxford Health Plans Freedom, Professional Benefit Admin, MetroPlusHealth Silver Plus Plan Exchange, BCBS Blue Access GEPO Small Group, Wellfleet-NYU Student, Starmark, AETNA EPO (Sunset Park Employees), BCBS Blue Access EPO Large Group, Longevity Health Plan Medicare, WTC Health Program, CenterLight Healthcare Select and BCBS Federal Program.
According to our sources, Dr. Nicole Leung, MD accepts the following insurance providers:
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Dr. Nicole Leung is a rheumatology (arthritis & autoimmune diseases) specialist in New York, NY. Clinical interests for Dr. Leung include polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), osteopenia (low bone density), and lupus. She is professionally affiliated with NYU Langone Health. Trustmark, Anthem, and Blue California seem to be the insurance carriers that Dr. Leung accepts. She attended medical school at Duke University School of Medicine. She is conversant in Mandarin and Cantonese.
