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TENS Efficacy in Fibromyalgia

Jack Cush, MD

A randomized clinical trial of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in fibromyalgia showed meaningful improvement in pain for 6 months when combined with physical therapy (PT). 

Article

Moral Distress (3.27.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the journal reports and news from RheumNow.com.  This week we discuss moral distress, FM in PsA, Lyme Vax is back & hidden but tangible benefits of the MDHAQ.

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What's it like to have RA? MARY: "I can manage the pain, the exhaustion, and side effects of the meds. The hard part is grief. I grieve for me, the adventurer that decided what she wanted and boldly went after it, no matter what. I trusted myself to handle whatever came. Now https://t.co/GakWIy2XCt
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What's it like to have RA? LISA: "It only took me three short years to go from rock climbing to a power wheel chair and that stage of the disease was frightening and painful and you feel hopeless and as if your life plan is being stolen from you. Once I was able to start https://t.co/d49htc8k4m
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What's it like to have #RA? PATTY "To find patients or doctors who can talk intelligently about RA is a welcomed relief. However, I prefer that those around me not know about me and my RA. I hope they don’t notice the changes in my hands or shoes or that I cannot wear my usual https://t.co/OQbXJrcyPp
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Rush University MDHAQ surveys done on 1,337 pts (excluding primary FM), identified 30% w/ anxiety, 24% depression, 25% fibromyalgia, & 44% w any 3 of these. In this 44%, HIGHER pain (7 vs 4) and RAPID3 (17 vs 8.2) vs those without FM, anxiety, or depression (p< 0.001). https://t.co/xbOKeZj5cm
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Prevalence of fibromyalgia in PsA = 18%. FM-PsA pts have higher scores Dz activity scores from FM, rather than inflammation. Fibromyalgia is assoc w/ worse disease outcomes, including failure to achieve low disease activity state and poorer response to therapy. https://t.co/utQRXPmpDs
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RheumNow
Rush University MDHAQ surveys done on 1,337 pts (excluding primary FM), identified 30% w/ anxiety, 24% depression, 25% fibromyalgia, & 44% w any 3 of these. In this 44%, HIGHER pain (7 vs 4) and RAPID3 (17 vs 8.2) vs those without FM, anxiety, or depression (p< 0.001). https://t.co/GzZ0LZKPPR
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Annual fibromyalgia survey (FIRST) in axSpA pts in the DESIR cohort. FM was found in 22% (& assoc w/ less HLA-B27+ & XRay sacroiliitis, equal MRI SI a& ^ CRP. FM/AxSpA had less self-reported Dz activity, QOL, more disability & more likely to Rx w/ TNFi (64% vs 41%), but resp https://t.co/9rkZFUSB2M
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Prebiotic fibre improves knee OA. Study of 117 older adults w/ KOA Rx w/ 6wks of inulin (fibre) or Physiotherapy exercise (PSE) or both vs PBO. Both Inulin & PSE signif improved pain & PSE vs PBO ( −1.11 to -2.5; p <0.045); inulin also improved pain sensitivity & grip strength https://t.co/Efic4mru1i
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Cross-sectional study of Joint hypermobility (JH) in 256 young adults (75% female) found JH in 42%, females w/ signif. higher Beighton scores. 88% had chronic MSK pain; 38% had acute MSK pain. MSK pain was signif higher in students with mild JH (BS 4–6/9 pts; P < 0.009) https://t.co/QZwJ9zHfEj
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GLP-1s are known to improved knee OA. Using a mouse OA model w/ obesity, semaglutide yielded less pain, osteophytes & had strong chondroprotective effects, fia a wt loss-independent way. Changing from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation resulted in cartilage restoration. https://t.co/YySGDHX9KO
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