Fibromyalgia/Pain

Rheum Survey: Beyond weight loss, How will GLP-1 drugs benefit rheumatic pts?

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Southern Israel study (2009-24) shows fibromyalgia prevalence Incr from 1.04% to 3.88%, esp 30-59 yrs; more males, w/ more Psych comorbidities; fewer hospitalizations & specialist visits but increased imaging. More use of pregabalin, duloxetine, & gabapentin. https://t.co/kgmvdZF9HQ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
It’s almost time. 🔥 Registration for RheumNow Live 2027 opens OCTOBER 1. Two days of practical, engaging rheumatology education designed to challenge how you think and influence how you practice. 📅 Jan 30–31, 2027 📍 Dallas + Online https://t.co/Ju0zzYX8Tl
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Obesity in Rheumatic Diseases: More than just a Comorbidity https://t.co/0QJ188HYSm https://t.co/3L09m2cowl

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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Gabapentin Use Rose as Restrictions Fell, Study Shows

MedPage Today

Gabapentin use jumped quickly in Michigan after the drug was removed from the state's controlled substance schedule in 2024, a cross-sectional study showed.

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Single center, DBRPCT of tofacitinib 11 mg/d vs PBO in 100 knee OA pts (KL Gr 1-2); At wk 12 there was NO significant differences betw groups in VAS Pain, or other outcomes-WOMAC, Oxford Knee Score, EQ-5D-5L, analgesic use https://t.co/VDtgY7hTm4 https://t.co/PveouQbI8r

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
CLOAK study: 3 mos DBRPCT of Colchicine vs PBO (no NSAID) in 120 symptomatic KOA (KL gr 2/3) shows no benefit in VAS pain index knee after 3 mos. (but COL pts had signif change in some biomarkers hsCRP, β-NGF (p < 0.05); PGE2, IL-1ra, IL-8, and VEGF (p < 0.16). https://t.co/MPgLpr7LPP
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Join us for Tuesday Nite Rheumatology on September 22 for: 🔴 Obesity Treatment & Safety Experts will tackle: • GLP-1/GIP therapies • Lifestyle & bariatric interventions • Treatment selection & safety • Cost & compounding concerns • Sarcopenia & bone health • The future https://t.co/YNEsGofRR9
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Observational study of 63,215 neuropsychiatric (NP) pts showed semaglutide signif lowered NP events over 2yrs (vs metformin, SGLT2 inhibitors, DPP-4 inhib);unrelaed to wt loss. Less substance, mood anxiety, CNS atrophies, neuromuscular, eating/sleep & personality/impulse-control https://t.co/tbuvLRK3QE
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Discussing Weight Loss: 3 Minute Script Dr. Jack Cush's 3 Minute Script as discussed in his Introducing Weight Loss video. https://t.co/JRWAPc5if5 https://t.co/jI65VzTIfs

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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Early RA Referral Clinics Work (9.18.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

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

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Bariatric Surgery in the Era of GLP-1RA Overweight/obesity is a chronic multi-system disease that can impair physical and mental health. It now affects almost 1 in 3 Canadians. Multiple recent guidelines have therefore suggested using waist measurements, in addition to BMI, to https://t.co/RaXnQ2d9Yr
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
4,197 pts from the UK Biobank met fibromyalgia criteria, yet 72.6% had NOT received a diagnosis. Non-Dx assoc w/ male, older age, milder sxs or other pain Dx (OA, CRPS, CFS), lower polysymptomatic distress scores, and less frequent fatigue. https://t.co/Y9m9jR5wbR https://t.co/fitm675kyK

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Obesity management goes far beyond the number on the scale. Watch our Four Pillars of Weight Loss video series, part of this month’s The Obesity Imperative campaign. What Are the Four Pillars of Obesity Management? Building a Multidisciplinary Program for Obesity & Arthritis https://t.co/16v4JFVWWs
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Discussing Weight Loss: 3 Minute Script Dr. Jack Cush's 3 Minute Script as discussed in his Introducing Weight Loss video. https://t.co/JRWAPc5if5 https://t.co/NUpxPT4bdo

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Weight Loss Improves Psoriatic Disease Substantially! Even before the introduction of incretin therapy and bariatric surgery, many randomized and interventional studies (2019–2026) have consistently showed that weight loss produces clinically meaningful, dose-dependent https://t.co/BWeW7fzSC8
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Single center study of FALLs in 124 ambulatory RA females ≥50 yrs.(age 68 yrs, DAS28 2.6, sarcopenia 16%, prior fall 25%). 27.4% had falls; predicted by prior fall hx (OR 2.76, hypnotics/anxiolytics (3.92), not steroids or sarcopenia (NS trend) https://t.co/J62RPF9rQs https://t.co/OKxdPl5Oev

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Music and Pain Relief A new scoping review in Pain Reports by Bradt et al., examines the effect of MBIs on pain management. While its efficacy is well established, how or why music relieves pain has never been fully explained. This systematic review is based on 663 records and https://t.co/0FJgzWSoOB
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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A Day of Infamy (9.11.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on Rheumnow.com - including obesity, disappointing durability with GLP-1 drugs, AI diagnoses and worries about CV risk in ANCA-associated vasculitis. And take this week's RheumIQ quiz

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Difficult PsA is called ‘difficult-to-manage’ (D2M) or ‘treatment-refractory’ dz (TRD). Data from 5 Nordic PsA registries 14,362 ps, D/Cs of ≥2/≥3/≥4 b/tsDMARDs in 36%/18%/10%. Freq of D2M low 2%/3%/3%, & TRD was 1.2%/1.2%/0.8%. Female #s, depression, & opioids incr w/ # of https://t.co/FkQU5BVRn2
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RCT 451 chronic LBP in general practice shows 8-wk telehealth mindfulness reduced pain intensity and interference at 6 months compared with usual care, BUT changes did not meet the prespecified mean 1-point MCID between groups. Is it worth doing? https://t.co/H4oYTeq1is https://t.co/cozq7gGnYO

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Osteoarthritis, Obesity and GLP-1s https://t.co/SGnWksQBpT https://t.co/TPxM4aj7bd

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
High BMI decreases the odds for MDA in PsA, esp w/ TNFi Rx (but not Inflx, IL-17i, IL-12/23i, IL-23i, JAKi). Longitudinal PsA cohort 1291 pts (mean BMI 29); Higher BMI independently assoc w/ signif. lower odds for MDA (OR 0.97), also female, age, smoking, FM & Xray damage. https://t.co/zAJ8Pmk1HY
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Obesity Journal Club https://t.co/CxAWoGBqpx

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Music and Pain Relief A new scoping review in Pain Reports by Bradt et al., examines the effect of MBIs on pain management. While its efficacy is well established, how or why music relieves pain has never been fully explained. This systematic review is based on 663 records and https://t.co/HBCURxB9WC
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Recent Blogs

rheumthought

Obesity in Rheumatic Diseases: More than just a Comorbidity

Marina Magrey, MD
Magrey RT cover image
A few years ago, when I would see a patient with rheumatic disease and increased BMI, I would often document it as obesity as a comorbidity, recommend weight loss and exercise, and then move on. My approach has changed.
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Advanced Practice Rheum

Fibromyalgia

Jack Cush, MD
APR fibro video cover
Dr. Jack Cush reviews fibromyalgia.
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Advanced Practice Rheum

Evaluation of Rheumatic Complaints

Jack Cush, MD
Eval of Rheum Complaints Cover Image
Dr. Cush provides a systematic approach to evaluating musculoskeletal and rheumatic complaints in clinical practice.
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