Nonadherence is Costly for Patients in Pain

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A comparative cohort study of patients with osteoarthritis (OA), gout, diabetic peripheral neuropathy (pDPN), post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), and fibromyalgia (FM) shows that nonadherence to pain medications is high and leads to greater overall health care resource utilization and costs. 

FDA Adds Boxed Warning to Sleep Drugs

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) added a Boxed Warning to several sleep medications (e.g., eszopiclone, zaleplon, and zolpidem), warning rare but serious injuries may occur as a result of abnormal sleep behaviors (sleepwalking, sleep driving, and engaging in other activities while not

Sleep Myths Debunked

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A panel of 10 sleep experts studied 20 common sleep myths and found little or no evidence in support of these beliefs.

Sleep issues are highly prevalent among US adults, but few admit to it or do anything to manage it. 

Timing of Shoulder Injections Impacts Surgical Infection Risk

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A study of patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair shows that corticosteroid injections in the month prior to surgery are associated with a significantly increased risk of surgical site infection.

Intraarticular Trans-Capsaicin Effective in Knee OA

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A novel study has shown that intraarticular therapy with high‐purity synthetic trans‐capsaicin (CNTX‐4975) for chronic knee osteoarthritis (KOA) was associated with significant relief of knee pain.

RheumNow Podcast – A Tofa Two-fer (4.12.19)

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

RheumNowLive On Demand: The History of Fibromyalgia - Dr. Fred Wolfe

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A clip from RheumNow Live On Demand. You can access the full library of content from the meeting.

Risky Painkillers Commonly Prescribed for Osteoarthritis

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Published guidelines warn that treating osteoarthritis (OA) with opioids and benzodiazepines can boost patients' risk of falling.

CRA Position Statement on Medical Cannabis Use

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Courtesy of the Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA) website, here are consensus guidelines on medical cannabis use.

Rheumatology patients experience prevalent pain that is only modestly controlled with current treatment strategies.

Tramadol May be Associated with Increased Mortality in Osteoarthritis

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JAMA reports that tramadol use in adults with osteoarthritis (OA) may be associated with increased all-cause mortality (compared with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).

New Sleep Medicine Guidelines for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

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The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) has established new guidelines for the evaluation and treatment of sleep-disordered breathing in adults, specifically guiding the use of positive airway pressure (PAP) in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults. 

RheumNow Podcast – Scleroderma and the Lung (3.1.19)

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

RheumNow Podcast – Downside of Lupus (2.9.19)

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews this past week's news and reports from RheumNow.com:

Pain Drives the Use of Medical Marijuana

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A report from the University of Michigan examined state-wide medical marijuana showing most of it is used for chronic pain.

Compounded Pain Creams - Expensive Placebos?

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The Annals of Internal Medicine reports that the growth and use of compounded pain creams is unwarranted as they were no better than placebo in a randomized controlled trial, suggesting their higher costs are unjustifiable compared to other topical commercially available agents (lidocain

Opioid Use in Osteoarthritis Varies by State

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A study in Arthritis & Rheumatology shows that there is substantial statewide variation in rates of treatment with long‐term opioid therapy in osteoarthritis - not fully explained by differences in access to healthcare providers, varying case‐mix, or state‐level policies.

NEJM Review - Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis

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Lenore Buckley and Mary Humphrey have published a nice review of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) in the NEJM.

Opioids Double Rates of Suicides and Overdoses

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An article in the New England Journal of Medicine reports that the rates of suicide and drug overdoses has doubled in the last 17 years, and that opioids are largely to blame.

RheumNow Podcast – A Grand New Year (1.4.19)

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journals for the beginning of 2019. All from RheumNow.com.

Best wishes for a charmed 2019! My advice: 1. Just show up. 2. If you can, then you must do. 3. Live each day as if it twas your 1st day/last day/make or break day. 4. Teach.

2018 Rheumatology Year In Review

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This annual appraisal of hallmark moments, news and research articles from 2018 are gleaned from that published in RheumNow during the last year and filtered by other news sources and literature review.  The top 10 list herein is rooted in what rheumatologists should know and what will likel