Osteoarthritis

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The Power of Self-Management with Chronic Low Back Pain

EurekAlert!

Almost everyone will deal with back pain at some point in their lives. Most recover quickly — but for about 20% of people, acute pain becomes a chronic condition that interferes with daily life and keeps them out of the workforce

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ICYMI: Glucocorticoid Injections in Knee Osteoarthritis

Jack Cush, MD

A randomized clinical trial of 60 patients found that glucocorticoid injections into the infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP) did not significantly reduce pain scores in patients with inflammatory knee osteoarthritis (compared to placebo).

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Generic Tofacitinib (6.26.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from RheumNow.com. Updates on tofacitinib, CAR-T therapy and AI.

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Self-Directed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain

Jack Cush, MD

Is self-directed cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) when augmented with asynchronous, personalized feedback for chronic pain (CBT-CP) superior to clinician-delivered CBT-CP?

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Retrospective study of 116 BL KOA (Kellgren–Lawrence I–II) pts rx w/ three PRP injx (n 58) or NSAIDs +/- IAhyaluronic acid (n 58). After 5 yrs there was no signif. difference in VAS, WOMAC, and SF-36, with both groups worsening. https://t.co/KDSMTvEl59 https://t.co/lgHOsppIU3

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
JAMA Review on Low Back Pain A comprehensive JAMA review synthesizes current evidence on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical evaluation, and treatment of nonspecific low back pain (nsLBP), drawing on 108 publications identified from a PubMed search (2005–2026) and the https://t.co/liEitQ2ACf
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
back, LBP, spine, AS

JAMA Review on Low Back Pain

Jack Cush, MD

A comprehensive JAMA review synthesizes current evidence on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical evaluation, and treatment of nonspecific low back pain, drawing on 108 publications identified from a PubMed search (2005–2026) and the most recent guidelines from the WHO, ACP, and NICE.

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Do You Zoster Vaccinate? (6.19.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and best ways to review EULAR 2026.

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@RheumNow WIN Nutrition session #EULAR2026 (4) 🌾 Gluten does NOT influence biologic response in RD, BELIEVE cohort, 197 pts. No need to go gluten-free unless celiac disease 🌱 Plants for Joints trial: plant-based diet + exercise → sustained DAS28&WOMAC improvement @ 2Y, RA/OA @RheumNow

Nelly ZIADE 🍀 @Nellziade( View Tweet )

Weight management should be discussed!! Obesity management will help rheumatic diseases. EULAR guidelines below. No ACR ones exist. Best evidence in OA and Gout. #EULAR2026 plenary @RheumNow https://t.co/hBu4YeXZbu

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Bella Mehta @bella_mehta( View Tweet )
NEJM reports a 10 yrs study of Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy (APM) for Degenerative Tear — randomized, sham-surgery–controlled RCT of 147 pts w/o Knee https://t.co/WMGRIOunwZ 10 years, found no signif benefit betw APM and Sham surgery (pain, function) & possible worsening https://t.co/979C7IYuyZ

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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Infectious Rheumatology (5.15.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush discusses his favorite journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com.

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Society of Interventional Radiology position statement supports genicular artery embolization (GAE) symptomatic knee #OA pts who have failed conservative therapy and not candidates for TKA. https://t.co/fFkKqRm0s6 https://t.co/0jDhVsgyha

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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Influential Rheumatoid Factors (5.8.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from this past week on RheumNow.com

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RCT 120 mod-severe hip OA (KL 2-4) pts Rx w/ THA +rehab or exercise. @12 mos. THA had signif. better pain, function & HRQoL vs exercise program alone (WOMAC total -30.9 vs -3.7). (38% of exercise/conservative grp needed THA) https://t.co/6vvRAr6isf https://t.co/VOYgS3PPwr

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Knee pain: JAMA review - 5% PCP visits knee pain - Knee OA ~654 million worldwide - Patellofemoral pain: <40 yrs & physically active; pain on squat - Meniscal tears in 12% adults (McMurray 61% sensitive; 84% specific; Joint line tender 83% sensitive; 83% specific) https://t.co/2fdpl464mb
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
EULAR Recommendations for Physical Activity in Arthritis EULAR has published a 2025 update for physical activity recommendations for patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). https://t.co/RFECflCUgf https://t.co/Da7D6KpN6q

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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EULAR Recommendations for Physical Activity in Arthritis

Jack Cush, MD

EULAR has published a 2025 update for physical activity recommendations for patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). 

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Danish registry study of truncal (2,260) vs superselective (3,810) vagotomy (1977-95) vs general popul. (10:1). Truncal incr. RA risk (aHR 2.62), but selective did not (aHR 1.05. Neither had effect on OA risk https://t.co/dqejtN9TwY https://t.co/R0OJZTxd5T 

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Weight-loss drugs may affect joints directly A new study from Aarhus University shows that the hormone GLP-1, which is mimicked in medication for diabetes and weight loss, is present in joint fluid. In the long term, this may open up new treatments for arthritis. https://t.co/HkcPUQp05H
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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NSAIDs in Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

MedPage Today

At least some patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can safely use common drugs for musculoskeletal aches and pains, a large study of insurance claims data suggested, contradicting a widespread concern that these products can trigger IBD flares.

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Weight-loss drugs may affect joints directly A new study from Aarhus University shows that the hormone GLP-1, which is mimicked in medication for diabetes and weight loss, is present in joint fluid. In the long term, this may open up new treatments for arthritis. https://t.co/xKm8Ng7fXO
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
COMMON - Incidental Rotator Cuff Abnormalities on MRI In this cross-sectional study of 602 Finnish adults undergoing bilateral shoulder magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical assessment, abnormalities were found in nearly everyone over age 40 years, regardless of whether https://t.co/2n58lglVP0
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Rotator.Cuff.shoulder-pain

COMMON - Incidental Rotator Cuff Abnormalities on MRI

Jack Cush, MD

In this cross-sectional study of 602 Finnish adults undergoing bilateral shoulder magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical assessment, found abnormalities in nearly everyone over age 40yrs, regardless if asymptomatic or symptomatic.

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Phase 1b trial shows transdermal Curcumin Gel (VAS-101) in was effective in Knee Osteoarthritis. Enrolled 60 KOA pts 45–75 yrs Rx w/ PBO or gel qd x 28d w/ signif improvement in pain & KOOS scores https://t.co/yNiNocZxa4 https://t.co/3W7j1bIvBc

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Recent Blogs

Best of 2023: PMR: glad or bad tidings?

Sarah Mackie, MRCP, PhD
Smile feedback opinion yes no good back opinion
Please don’t tell your patient that PMR “typically” lasts two years. According to real-world data from the UK, one in four patients with PMR is prescribed steroids by their primary care physician for over four years. But nobody tells them this at the start, and that causes big problems later on.
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PMR: glad or bad tidings?

Sarah Mackie, MRCP, PhD
Smile feedback opinion yes no good back opinion
Please don’t tell your patient that PMR “typically” lasts two years. According to real-world data from the UK, one in four patients with PMR is prescribed steroids by their primary care physician for over four years. But nobody tells them this at the start, and that causes big problems later on.
Read Post
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