Fibromyalgia/Pain

Cognitive-behavioral Therapy Lessens Fibromyalgia Pain

Save

EurekAlert!

Sep 22, 2023

In a recent randomized clinical trial of patients with fibromyalgia, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)—which uses structured techniques to alter distorted thoughts and negative moods—was superior to a matched education treatment in reducing the interfering effects of pain and other aspects

Read Article

Woeful Rheumatology Referrals

Save

Jack Cush, MD

Sep 07, 2023

Early diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis (IA) is rooted in patient (self or MD) referrals. A recent analysis shows only a minority of rheumatology referrals had inflammatory arthritis, with only 21% were seen within the first 6 weeks of symptoms.

A total of 1023 were patients

Read Article

SAVE THE DATE! RheumNow Live will now be taking place in January! Will you be there? https://t.co/cpfWvKaR1y

RheumNow @Dr. John Cush( View Tweet )

Sep 02, 2023

SAVE THE DATE! RheumNow Live will now be taking place in January! Will you be there? https://t.co/WCfBzthXvl

RheumNow @Dr. John Cush( View Tweet )

Aug 31, 2023

Livedo reticularis is a painless, cyanotic cutaneous mottling in a fishnet pattern, often on extremities > trunk & exaggerated by cold. NOT specific but may be assoc w/ fibromyalgia, Raynauds, atheromatous or autoimmune Dz, hyperviscosity, thrombotic Dz https://t.co/DNec96Wf2x https://t.co/7HOjwuFQm9

Links:

https://bit.ly/3QOx8M9

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Aug 22, 2023

15% of the World Population has Osteoarthritis

Save

EurekAlert!

Aug 22, 2023

The Lancet reports a new study revealing that the most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis, affects 15% of the global population over the age of 30.

Read Article

Mono- and Oligo- are Different (8.18.2023)

Save

Jack Cush, MD

Aug 18, 2023

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

Glucocorticoid Affects Weight, but not Blood Pressure in RA A pooled analysis of 5 RCTs shows that the effects of 2 years of low-dose glucocorticoid (GC) treatment in RA can significantly

Read Article

UK study of 1,.3 million RMD (RA, PsA, FM) pts looked at opioid Rx 2006-2021. New opioid Rx incr 2006 to 2019, but incr most (4.5 fold) in FM from 3.4/10K in 2006 to 8.7 in 2018/2019 (falling to 5.9 in 2021). Overall less opioid use during the pandemic https://t.co/rNmk6AGMAX https://t.co/8XDFjFa5x9

Links:

https://bit.ly/3QYXNpV

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Aug 16, 2023

Pizza and Rheumatoid Arthritis (8.11.2023)

Save

Jack Cush, MD

Aug 11, 2023

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the wonderful wide world of Rheumatology. This week:

Swedish study of 325 #AAV pts saw CVA in 35 pts (8%); CVA incidence=11.3/1000 PYs - this was higher than gen population [SIR 1.85). AAV CVA risk factors included age

Read Article

Patient Perspectives on Telemedicine Use During the Pandemic Research from the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance included surveys and data gathering from rheumatology patients. https://t.co/EJ5TkiDMcJ https://t.co/xBx7OIxf9h

Links:

https://bit.ly/45lemA9

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Aug 10, 2023

POTS Review The Cleveland Clinic Journal has published a full-read review of POTS, a condition often seen in clinic w/ symptoms like fibromyalgia, but is clinically diagnosed w/ finding sustained tachycardia upon standing w/o orthostatic hypotension. https://t.co/jdPZPzY3CI https://t.co/UgZHRwSJRt

Links:

https://rheumnow.com/news/postural-orthostatic-tachycardia-syndrome-review

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Aug 09, 2023

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome Review

Save

Jack Cush, MD

Aug 07, 2023

The Cleveland Clinic Journal has published a full-read review of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a condition often seen in clinic with symptoms like fibromyalgia, but is clinically diagnosed with finding sustained tachycardia upon standing without orthostatic hypotension.

Read Article

HEALTH DISPARITIES: Lancet study shows from 2000-2019, all-cause mortality was signif. higher in the American Indian/Alaska Native (1028/100K) & Blacks (953·/100K) compared to Whites (802); but lower in Asians (442) & Latinos (595) https://t.co/g8Z3h6BYw8 https://t.co/Ckz1L3O0W7

Links:

https://bit.ly/45eZ67L

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Aug 04, 2023

English for the Biologically-Challenged (8.4.2023)

Save

Jack Cush, MD

Aug 04, 2023

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com. This week highlights Veterans, Vegetarians and Antenatal Corticosteroids.

Read Article

Rheums: Have a rheumatology question or case for Dr. Cush? Record it here and we'll feature it on an upcoming podcast. Tell us your name and where you practice rheumatology. https://t.co/uY9Mwyrsn3

Links:

https://bit.ly/47dWEQJ

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Aug 03, 2023

Chronic neck pain is associated with increased mortality in individuals with osteoarthritis. NHANES study of 5965 adults, OA in 8.2% and 5.9% had neck pain. Neck pain assoc w/ 2 fold risk OA. OA pts w/ chr neck pain higher all-cause mortality risk (OR ~3) https://t.co/MLzJUa3AnY https://t.co/WB8lhvUOjw

Links:

https://bit.ly/3OtTD7s

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Jul 27, 2023

Structured interviews from 462 pts from Michigan SLE clinic. 22% admit to cost-related non-adherence (CRNA) over 12 mos. CRNA associated signif. higher levels SLE disease activity & more lupus damage. Worse scores in those with Fibromyalgia https://t.co/NHIIqmWVqJ https://t.co/zX4gTFTcW7

Links:

https://bit.ly/451CjfK

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Jul 26, 2023

US study shows 1635 adults receiving chiropractic spinal manipulation for radicular LBP receive significantly less gabapentin prescription (OR 0.53; 0.40 to 0.71; p<0.0001) over 1-year follow-up compared with those receiving usual medical care https://t.co/t0uTMdLEzO https://t.co/rCR04sMdRV

Links:

https://bit.ly/3Dsp3oL

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Jul 26, 2023

Have a rheumatology question or case for Jack Cush? Record it here and we may feature it on an upcoming podcast. Tell us your name and where you practice rheumatology. https://t.co/vGt12ul6iy https://t.co/044BScmSYc

Links:

https://bit.ly/3K4sy8m

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Jul 21, 2023

Research from 12 states with medical cannabis laws looked at 583 820 adults w/ chronic noncancer pain. Data over 3 yres shows < 0.05% change in the use of opioid prescriptions, nonopioid prescriptions, pain meds, or chr pain procedures https://t.co/ArbP4xe4dH https://t.co/MPRBZNIIoS

Links:

https://bit.ly/3Dg0OKa

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Jul 18, 2023

In AUSTRALIA, 30% (~ 7million) have a chronic #MSK condition, costing $14.6 billion (10% of all healthcare spending) in 2019-20. Overall, 4 million w/ back problems, 3 million arthritis, 900,000 osteoporosis, 450,000 w/ #RA. https://t.co/TDV50PoRXj https://t.co/EtSUuv6jMA

Links:

https://bit.ly/3K1GwIc

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Jul 18, 2023

Anti-Drug Antibodies with Biologics (7.14.2023)

Save

Jack Cush, MD

Jul 14, 2023

Dr. Jack Cush Reviews the news and journal reports on CVA, TKA, PJP, ADA, and more!

Read Article

Metanalysis of 8 RCT, 188751 pts assessed mortality risk & FM. Overall, all-cause mortality increased in FM (HR 1.27, 1.04 to 1.51), but not in subgroup Dx by 1990 criteria. Increased SMR for accidents, infxn, suicide & decreased for cancer (0.82) https://t.co/Ujv8KP8FJK https://t.co/lNGUM0wB3O

Links:

https://bit.ly/3XSeWmq

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Jul 14, 2023

Pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Chronic pain affects 33-50% of the population. High impact chronic pain is seen in 4.8% of US adult population. Chronic pain accounts for 22-50% of GP consultations. More from BMJ.. https://t.co/IRVpJZNS0L https://t.co/YVIM38aWWK

Links:

https://bit.ly/44pebE0

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Jul 11, 2023

Opioids Ineffective in Acute Lower Back and Neck Pain A randomised controlled trial including 347 participants with lower back or neck pain found there was no benefit of taking opioid pain relievers compared to placebo. https://t.co/96mETyhKyL https://t.co/48ojNCnoZW

Links:

https://bit.ly/3JPjOmq

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Jul 10, 2023

Recent Blogs

From the Archives: Rheumatology Dead Word Cemetery

Save

Jack Cush, MD

Oct 31, 2022

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

Pain in Psoriatic Arthritis

Save

Philip Mease, MD

Apr 26, 2022

Pain is typically ranked by both patients and physicians as the most important symptom of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) to assess and treat. Although the predominant concept of the etiology of pain in PsA is that of inflammation in peripheral joints, entheses, and bone signaling through peripheral nociceptive fibers, perceived as pain in the central nervous system, it is actually more complex than that. The ability of a treatment to ameliorate pain is one of the principle measures of its effectiveness. Thus pain improvement or worsening are key determinants of shared decision making about treatment in PsA. Read Post