Fibromyalgia/Pain

#EULAR2025 Abstr#OP0281 Not just shredding the weight but now also the pain! Another potential benefit of GLP-1 agonists - reducing symptoms of patients with Fibromyalgia. Propensity matched analysis using TrinetX database showed reduction on opiates, fatigue and pain @RheumNow https://t.co/oh6ecJmM5e

Links:

Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof @Yuz6Yusof( View Tweet )
We can control inflammation in RA, but some pts still struggle with disease impact, despite improving with bDMARDs: - lower inflamm - higher comorbidities Doesn’t necessarily map to fibromyalgia dx Beyond Rx, this is the critical question CareRA/2000 #EULAR2025 OP0330 @RheumNow https://t.co/Th3smMgtVb

Links:

David Liew @drdavidliew( View Tweet )
#neuromodulation in #rheumatoid #arthritis What is it? 👇 Autonomic & immune system interaction Who seeks this Rx? desperate pts w pain No Rx left Interested in technology #EULAR2025 @RheumNow @eular_org #D2T #RA https://t.co/XWWFiUK6Em

Links:

Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
The great debate: are cannabis and cannabinoids a valid treatment option in patients with rheumatic diseases? A thread 🧵👇🏼 @RheumNow #EULAR2025 https://t.co/KLZN9MvcFy

Links:

Aurelie Najm @AurelieRheumo( View Tweet )
Interesting debate today #EULAR2025 about medical cannabis - where relative harms have come up. Would you rather be addicted to prescription opioids or recreational cannabis? (not going to argue about cannabis addiction - let’s say social impact is equal) @RheumNow

David Liew @drdavidliew( View Tweet )

#polyrefractory #RA = failed all classes in #rheumatoid #arthritis +inflammatory #arthritis Longer disease duration Late RA Rx +power Doppler in POCUS ⬆️no refractory BMI Fibromyalgia - pain ⬇️SJC, less DAS , rapid X-ray progression #EULAR2025 @RheumNow #D2T #RA https://t.co/1sPwf3Qa3m

Links:

Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
Transcranial Stimulation is Effective in Fibromyalgia A randomized, controlled clinical trial in fibromyalgia (FM) has shown the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (A-tDCS) (along with exercise and pain neuroscience education [PNE]), in alleviating the pain. https://t.co/P8SKs3JNEx
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
#D2T #RA ~20% #Polyrefractory 3% Many reasons for d/c ing #Rx - D2T AEs Intolerance Chronic pain Etc My approach is different depending on reasons why drugs were d/c Ie ?obj inflammation vs pain or intolerance @RheumNow @eular_org #EULAR2025 #whatmakes D2T RA difficult https://t.co/AL6TMVJIk9

Links:

Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
Pain & age predict outcomes in #osteoarthritis In a #cohort of 92 pts with #knee #OA Factors were studied for response Better ✅#NSAIDs or #acetaminophen v #opiates ✅Older ✅Lower #WOMAC PAIN & no sensitization 🤔help RCT inclusion #EULAR2025 @RheumNow POS0612 @eular_org https://t.co/9I2JN9sgUe

Links:

Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
knee.injx_.lat_.jpg

Intraarticular IL-1Ra Gene Therapy in Knee Osteoarthritis

Jack Cush, MD

De la Vega et al. have published in Science Translational Medicine the efficacy of an IL-1Ra gene therapy in adults with knee osteoarthritis (OA).

In a dose-escalation trial in nine participants, they observed that a single intra-articular injection of the gene

Read Article
brain headache neuro

Transcranial Stimulation is Effective in Fibromyalgia

Jack Cush, MD

A randomized, controlled clinical trial in fibromyalgia (FM) has shown the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (A-tDCS) (along with exercise and pain neuroscience education [PNE]), in alleviating the pain. 

Read Article
Systematic review of fibromyalgia & sleep quality - 47 RCTs, 11094 pts showed CBT for insomnia had a significant improvement in sleep quality; but CBT for pain had no impact. Only moderate improvement w/ pregabalin, sodium oxybate; but no effect w/ amitriptyline, milnacipran, https://t.co/bArizMLGR8
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Systematic review of fibromyalgia & sleep quality - 47 RCTs, 11094 pts showed CBT for insomnia had a significant improvement in sleep quality; but CBT for pain had no impact. Only moderate improvement w/ pregabalin, sodium oxybate; but no effect w/ amitriptyline, milnacipran, https://t.co/AEqbShRh6e
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Psychological Bulletin has published that invalidating (gaslighting) pts Sxs can have harmful consequences. Includes pts dx w/ Ehlers-Danlos, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, POTS, Gulf War, IBS, long Covid, multiple chemical sensitivity, SLE, and vulvodynia.

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Psychological Bulletin has published that invalidating (gaslighting) pts Sxs can have harmful consequences. Includes pts dx w/ Ehlers-Danlos, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, POTS, Gulf War, IBS, long Covid, multiple chemical sensitivity, SLE, and vulvodynia.

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

National Inpatient Sample retrospective study of #RA pts using cannabis (n 42,415). Cannabis assoc w/ lower mortality (0.98% vs 2.71%; OR 0.50), depression (OR 0.47), chronic pain (OR 0.45), anxiety (OR 0.55); but more use of opioids (OR: 1.10), nicotine (OR: 1.35), & alcohol https://t.co/87SnCHVxkN
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RheumNow Podcast square

Vitamin D Headlines (5.9.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and lupus highlights from the past week on RheumNow.com. Triple positivity, the gut and CRPS, and hope for better outcomes with Vitamin D therapy. 

Read Article
knee.oa_.jpg (keep)

Risk Factors for Knee Osteoarthritis

EurekAlert!

New research from the University of Sydney reveals that obesity, having a knee injury and occupational risks such as shift work and lifting heavy loads are primary causes of knee osteoarthritis.

Read Article
Metformin Effective in Osteoarthritis The diabetes drug metformin provided overweight/obese patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee with significantly greater pain relief than did placebo in a small randomized trial, researchers said. https://t.co/7krvFFfRFC https://t.co/g1UyNjazUv

Links:

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Inflammatory vs. Noninflammatory Pain https://t.co/ZZLMnT8IVO https://t.co/AqqonM6Vht

Links:

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Inflammatory vs. Noninflammatory Pain https://t.co/ZZLMnT8IVO https://t.co/pD6nutctI0

Links:

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Lknee.OA_.jpg

Metformin Effective in Osteoarthritis

MedPage Today

The diabetes drug metformin provided overweight/obese patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee with significantly greater pain relief than did placebo in a small randomized trial, researchers said.

Read Article
Senescent "Zombie" Cells and Low Back Pain In a preclinical study led by McGill University researchers, two drugs targeting “zombie cells” have been shown to treat the underlying cause of chronic low back pain. The condition affects millions of people worldwide. https://t.co/UxHH3bMGkQ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Metanalysis suggests MTX may be effective in knee OA. 6RCTs, 602 pts of MTX vs PBO, showed MTX significantly relieved pain (mean diff −0.44; P 0.0003) knee/hand OA; Functional improved for knee only, but no differences in quality-of-life outcome or adverse events https://t.co/lmBEnTLFHY
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RheumNow Podcast square

Rheumatology: Believe It or Not (4/25/2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. Should we believe the reviews and metanalyses?

Read Article

Recent Blogs

From DNA to PGA

David Pisetsky, MD, PhD
dna
I have been investigating the mechanisms of antinuclear antibody (ANA) expression in SLE since 1978. In this pursuit, I have followed the advice of my first division chief, Dr. Ralph Snyderman, a great academician.  Ralph told me to identify a research focus and make it mine. I think I have done reasonably well in my mission so you can imagine my surprise (and excitement) when, for the Lupus 2025 meeting in Toronto, I was asked to conduct a Meet the Professor session on the Type 1 & 2 model for SLE. Read Post

From the Archives: Rheumatology Dead Word Cemetery

Jack Cush, MD
CTD.jpg
I recently heard of a secondary school assignment wherein students were challenged to “bury” a word that was no longer useful or appropriate. Their exercise has now evolved into an unofficial RheumNow task force to retire diagnostic terms that have grown into misuse in rheumatology and medicine. How did we decide which words should perish? And by what criteria? Who has the final say? Read Post
×