Osteoarthritis

Swimming Reduces Disability from Low Back Pain Swimming is commonly recommended for patients with chronic low back pain. Yet, there is little trial data investigating swimming. An Australian study has shown for the first time that a program of swimming can be clinically https://t.co/OfxsvRjyJg
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Dz new terminology from 2026 G-CAN consensus. Preferred: - acute CPP crystal arthritis - Chronic CPP crystal arthritis - Chronic CPP crystal arthritis - OA w/ CPP - Chondrocalcinosis (xray) * Pseudogout is obsolete https://t.co/L95N2ObHr3 https://t.co/ST7RkJa8BR

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
UK primary care database (2000–21) gout study of new colchicine initiators (n 31,478) vs noninitiators (mean 60 yrs, BMI 30), follow-up of 4.5 yrs. Colchicine use had a signif. 12% lower risk of Joint Arthroplasty (HR 0.88); 23% lower TJA in knee/hip OA (HR 0.77) https://t.co/bT07lUYBB2
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Expert Perspective on Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease A current perspective article by Dr. Sara Tedeschi tackles many unresolved issues around CPPD diagnosis, classification, and management, including the lack of clinical trials or FDA approved treatments. https://t.co/zxJ9aQweNl
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
swim.jpg

Swimming Reduces Disability from Low Back Pain

EurekAlert!

Swimming is commonly recommended for patients with chronic low back pain. Yet, there is little trial data investigating swimming. An Australian study has shown for the first time that a program of swimming can be clinically effective in reducing disability from chronic low back pain

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UK primary care database (2000–21) gout study of new colchicine initiators (n 31,478) vs noninitiators (mean 60 yrs, BMI 30), follow-up of 4.5 yrs. Colchicine use had a signif. 12% lower risk of Joint Arthroplasty (HR 0.88); 23% lower TJA in knee/hip OA (HR 0.77) https://t.co/TkYFYhANuH
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Chondrocalcinosis

Expert Perspective on Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease

Jack Cush, MD

A recent perspective by Tedeschi tackles many unresolved issues around CPPD diagnosis, classification, and management, including the lack of clinical trials or FDA approved treatments.

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#THA revisions in 3657 RA vs 446428 OA pts (mean F/U ~7y) find RA has signif incr risk of revision (HR 1.35); espec due to infx (HR 1.48), dislocation (1.87), aseptic loosening (0–3m; 2.81). No diff w/ cemented, cementless, hybrid THA. Age > 65 was main risk factor. https://t.co/iK6pL3QF1W
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Hip Replacement Advances Hip replacement surgery has been a major advance in the management of patients with hip damage and diminishing quality of life. While this review provides new information regarding a new type of hardware (end of article), lets begin with a general https://t.co/ZosOkoawiv
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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Seronegative RA Disease Activity (7.17.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

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

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Genicular artery embolization for knee OA does not work in a 12-mos randomized sham-controlled trial of 58 pts. Pain scores improved equally in both groups https://t.co/7wwmzpTaNL https://t.co/8MsRXqKDo2

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
The Power of Self-Management with Chronic Low Back Pain Almost everyone will deal with back pain at some point in their lives. Most recover quickly — but for about 20% of people, acute pain becomes a chronic condition that interferes with daily life and keeps them out of the https://t.co/urZPsVwCV8
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
obesity.back_.jpg

The Power of Self-Management with Chronic Low Back Pain

EurekAlert!

Almost everyone will deal with back pain at some point in their lives. Most recover quickly — but for about 20% of people, acute pain becomes a chronic condition that interferes with daily life and keeps them out of the workforce

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Knee,injection

ICYMI: Glucocorticoid Injections in Knee Osteoarthritis

Jack Cush, MD

A randomized clinical trial of 60 patients found that glucocorticoid injections into the infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP) did not significantly reduce pain scores in patients with inflammatory knee osteoarthritis (compared to placebo).

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Generic Tofacitinib (6.26.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from RheumNow.com. Updates on tofacitinib, CAR-T therapy and AI.

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Self-Directed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain

Jack Cush, MD

Is self-directed cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) when augmented with asynchronous, personalized feedback for chronic pain (CBT-CP) superior to clinician-delivered CBT-CP?

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Retrospective study of 116 BL KOA (Kellgren–Lawrence I–II) pts rx w/ three PRP injx (n 58) or NSAIDs +/- IAhyaluronic acid (n 58). After 5 yrs there was no signif. difference in VAS, WOMAC, and SF-36, with both groups worsening. https://t.co/KDSMTvEl59 https://t.co/lgHOsppIU3

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
JAMA Review on Low Back Pain A comprehensive JAMA review synthesizes current evidence on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical evaluation, and treatment of nonspecific low back pain (nsLBP), drawing on 108 publications identified from a PubMed search (2005–2026) and the https://t.co/liEitQ2ACf
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
back, LBP, spine, AS

JAMA Review on Low Back Pain

Jack Cush, MD

A comprehensive JAMA review synthesizes current evidence on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical evaluation, and treatment of nonspecific low back pain, drawing on 108 publications identified from a PubMed search (2005–2026) and the most recent guidelines from the WHO, ACP, and NICE.

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Do You Zoster Vaccinate? (6.19.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and best ways to review EULAR 2026.

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@RheumNow WIN Nutrition session #EULAR2026 (4) 🌾 Gluten does NOT influence biologic response in RD, BELIEVE cohort, 197 pts. No need to go gluten-free unless celiac disease 🌱 Plants for Joints trial: plant-based diet + exercise → sustained DAS28&WOMAC improvement @ 2Y, RA/OA @RheumNow

Nelly ZIADE 🍀 @Nellziade( View Tweet )

Weight management should be discussed!! Obesity management will help rheumatic diseases. EULAR guidelines below. No ACR ones exist. Best evidence in OA and Gout. #EULAR2026 plenary @RheumNow https://t.co/hBu4YeXZbu

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Bella Mehta @bella_mehta( View Tweet )
NEJM reports a 10 yrs study of Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy (APM) for Degenerative Tear — randomized, sham-surgery–controlled RCT of 147 pts w/o Knee https://t.co/WMGRIOunwZ 10 years, found no signif benefit betw APM and Sham surgery (pain, function) & possible worsening https://t.co/979C7IYuyZ

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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Infectious Rheumatology (5.15.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush discusses his favorite journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com.

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Society of Interventional Radiology position statement supports genicular artery embolization (GAE) symptomatic knee #OA pts who have failed conservative therapy and not candidates for TKA. https://t.co/fFkKqRm0s6 https://t.co/0jDhVsgyha

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Recent Blogs

Best of 2023: PMR: glad or bad tidings?

Sarah Mackie, MRCP, PhD
Smile feedback opinion yes no good back opinion
Please don’t tell your patient that PMR “typically” lasts two years. According to real-world data from the UK, one in four patients with PMR is prescribed steroids by their primary care physician for over four years. But nobody tells them this at the start, and that causes big problems later on.
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PMR: glad or bad tidings?

Sarah Mackie, MRCP, PhD
Smile feedback opinion yes no good back opinion
Please don’t tell your patient that PMR “typically” lasts two years. According to real-world data from the UK, one in four patients with PMR is prescribed steroids by their primary care physician for over four years. But nobody tells them this at the start, and that causes big problems later on.
Read Post
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