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Pain,FM,fibromlyalgia,Trigger

Which Fibromyalgia Drugs are Cost-Effective?

Jack Cush, MD

A cost-effectiveness analysis compared FDA approved fibromyalgia drugs (pregabalin, duloxetine, milnacipran) with amitriptyline and found duloxetine was the preferred strategy across perspectives.

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Are JAK Inhibitors Better at Pain Relief in RA?

MedPage Today

Among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients responding to upadacitinib (Rinvoq) or adalimumab, those receiving the former had significantly less residual pain with treatment, according to a post-hoc analysis of phase III trial data.

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Review of Restless Legs Syndrome

Jack Cush, MD

JAMA has published a full read review of RLS - restless leg syndrome - a frequent, but often unrecognized, cause of poor sleep and the resultant hazards of insomnia.

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Emergency Department Visits by Rheumatoid Patients

Jack Cush, MD

A Canadian population study shows that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have 30% higher emergency department (ED) visit rates for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions (ACSCs) compared to age- and sex-matched population controls.

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2025

The 2025 Rheumatology Year in Review

Jack Cush, MD

The year 2025 presented numerous advances in rheumatology and related inflammatory and autoimmune disorders ranging from several new groundbreaking FDA approvals/indications, drug developments, game-changing guidelines and practices that will impact patient care for rheumatic diseases.

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Obesity and Low Back Pain

EurekAlert!

A large patient population study finds weight gain,  increases risk for low back pain - the risk increased 7% for every BMI unit or 10 pounds over ideal weight. 

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Which Fibromyalgia Drugs are Cost-Effective? A cost-effectiveness analysis compared FDA approved fibromyalgia (FM) drugs (pregabalin, duloxetine, milnacipran) with amitriptyline and found duloxetine was the preferred strategy across perspectives. https://t.co/5NZeYquGxs https://t.co/rhcwH2yLEm

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Longitudinal study of 1761 US military service pre- & post-deployment. The prevalence of fibromyalgia in Males/Females was 2.%/2% (sames as civilians) but post-deploy incr to 8%/11% (P < 0.001). PTSD incr from 21% /18% to 23%/26%. PTSD predeployment lead to a 3 fold risk of FM. https://t.co/XTjuhjx0zd
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
DARWIN study ADHD med use among children and adults in Europe (Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, UK) more than doubled betw 2010 to 2023. IN UK use went up 20X in females, 15X males. (Ed. note: ADHD meds-->poor sleep-->fibromyalgia-->MSK pains) https://t.co/KlvUF1vhhj https://t.co/yEWXwM0WBL

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
What Is Restless Legs Syndrome? JAMA Patient Education handout. https://t.co/fCqArVxrSu https://t.co/WjFNWyr9Q2

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Are JAK Inhibitors Better at Pain Relief in RA? Among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who responded to upadacitinib (Rinvoq) or adalimumab, those receiving upadacitinib had significantly less residual pain with treatment, according to a post hoc analysis of phase III trial https://t.co/QrbwlxIm3d
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Acupuncture in SpA metanalysis of 35 RCTs (2,591 AS pts) showed statistically significant improvements BASDAI score, BASFI score, ASDAS, VAS score, CRP level, and ESR level. Findings imited by high heterogeneity & the lack of large-scale, high-quality RCTs. https://t.co/gznAiNo0k4
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Metanalysis of 21 clinical trials, 2,100 adults, shows cannabis-based medicines (vs placebo) over 2-26 weeks are not effective in treating chronic neuropathy nerve pain, regardless if given as THC of CBD. https://t.co/ZOJrcMGZkr https://t.co/nqCWoFmaWp

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Metanalysis of Tramadol included 19 PBO-RCTs, 6506 pts, showing a very modest benefit on chronic pain (low certainty of evidence), but a doubling of risk for serious adverse events (OR 2.13); including nausea (NNH 7), dizziness (NNH 8), constipation (NNH 9), somnolence (NNH 13) https://t.co/0ZEIoy1gqC
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Data from NHIS surveys show in the USA 24.8 million adults with arthritis reported having an activity limitation AND that the arthritis attributable work limitations in US adults 18-64 yrs affects 38.8%. https://t.co/Ul2GjrFqfp https://t.co/Ul2GjrFqfp https://t.co/qzJQwBYDWT

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Obesity and Low Back Pain A large patient population study finds weight gain, increases risk for low back pain - the risk increased 7% for every BMI unit or 10 pounds over ideal weight. https://t.co/EZQwhLpNjg https://t.co/tIlEQmedp7

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Best of 2025: Targeting Obesity in Rheumatic Disease Patients Sattar et al. has published an informative overview of the effect of obesity on rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). They estimate that nearly 70% of RMD patients are overweight or obese. https://t.co/aPGuYFCWLo
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Comprehensive review of the management of knee osteoarthritis - topicals, analgesics, narcotics, intraarticular, metabolic, nutraceuticals, TENS, acupuncture and biologics. https://t.co/3UjPQeZut9 https://t.co/z0dzENSbtX

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Inflammatory vs. Noninflammatory Pain https://t.co/ZZLMnT8IVO https://t.co/W0tVK75raN

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Inflammatory vs. Noninflammatory Pain https://t.co/ZZLMnT8IVO https://t.co/dnZHqV1jcK

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
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