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Does the research show any significant difference between anti-tumor necrosis factor drugs in terms of their effectiveness for treating psoriatic arthritis?

With most medical schools devoting only a few curriculum hours to pain management training, many physicians begin their medical career underprepared to meet the needs of patients suffering with chronic pain. Here, Barry Cole, MD, identifies several key concepts that would help improve pain care in the US if only more physicians would learn about them sooner.

Recently, a group calling itself Physicians for the Responsible Opioid Prescribing proposed several radical changes to the way we treat patients with chronic noncancer pain, calling for limits on the dose and duration of opioid treatment that would in effect deny these medications to the majority of patients now receiving them for noncancer pain.

The variety of mechanisms that play a part in pathologic pain perception leads to a great deal of complexity and variation in the clinical presentation and severity of fibromyalgia symptoms, as well as a high degree of variability in patient response to treatment.

Refining the ample evidence that rheumatologists and their rheumatoid arthritis patients disagree on the severity of symptoms, new studies reported at ACR2012 point toward better definitions of disease status, and a way to identify patients for whom treatment targets may need to be reconsidered.

Results presented at the American College of Rheumatology/Association of Rheumatology Professionals 2012 annual meeting show that adalimumab and methotrexate are more effective than DMARDs and prednisone in achieving remission in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis or undifferentiated arthritis patients.

The 23-year-old African American woman was concerned about discolored, tender spots on her face.

A specialist in irritable bowel disorder and other "functional" GI conditions offers advice on dealing with patients whose symptoms aren't easy to categorize. His pointers would apply as well to patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain and enigmatic rheumatologic disorders.

Among more than 5,000 rheumatoid arthritis patients followed for a quarter century, methotrexate use was associated with at least a 65% reduction in mortality risk

(AUDIO) New ACR guidelines on gout advise considering a test for the HLA-B*5801 allele linked to allopurinol sensitivity in some patients. This podcast by the co-chair of the panel clarifies the details.

Diagnosing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can take 2-3 years, because most symptoms are both common and nonspecific. Here are clues to quick, accurate detection.

The 27-year-old patient sustained a FOOSH (fall on outstretched hand) injury while roller skating. What classic imaging sign appears on the radiograph of his injured left elbow?

The janitor began to have shoulder pain about 5 months ago, even when he wasn't moving. Also, his fingernails are clubbed.

Results of studies of systemic treatments for patients with osteoarthritis indicate significant positive effects on biomarkers that may be associated with disease progression but no significant effects on joint-space narrowing.

Involving pharmacists, physiotherapists, and primary care physicians in caring for patients with osteoarthritis improves the quality of care, along with patients' function, pain, and quality of life.

The long-term risk of rheumatoid arthritis is up to 26-fold greater and there is up to a 32% 10-year absolute risk of RA in persons in the general population who have elevated rheumatoid factor levels.

The tumor necrosis factor α antagonist infliximab has been used for treating patients with uveitis resistant to corticosteroids.

Case study: Avid runner with midfoot pain: Stress fracture? Lisfranc ligament injury? Synovitis? The description of this rare fracture of the first metatarsal bone illustrates the importance of history and investigation.

(AUDIO) The primary challenge in lupus diagnosis is nonspecific signs and lack of good biomarkers, says Sam Lim, MD, of the American College of Rheumatology’s Lupus Initiative. Here he sheds light on how to arrive at an appropriate diagnosis.

The burden of cognitive impairment in persons with rheumatoid arthritis is significant, according to recent study findings.

The risks are proven. The benefits are questionable. The alternatives are numerous. So is it ever a good idea to prescribe opioids for patients suffering with chronic pain from rheumatoid arthritis?

A 27-year-old white man, an active-duty soldier who previously had been healthy, presented with a 5-month history of progressively worsening swelling, pain and, eventually, skin hardening in both legs and then arms

Attention to early diagnosis and intervention in osteoarthritis (OA) has increased, but which treatments may have the greatest benefit is unclear. However, available and emerging treatments can ameliorate progression.

Anterior cruciate ligament injuries occur frequently in young and active persons.

A 54-year-old Asian woman presented with ongoing renal insufficiency and anemia that were thought to be the result of analgesic nephropathy caused by NSAIDs.

Polymyositis or dermatomyositis may be complicated with antisynthetase syndrome, which can include inflammatory muscle disease, interstitial lung disease, Raynaud phenomenon, arthritis, and other symptoms.

Patients with erosive osteoarthritis have more functional impairment and significantly more pain in the hands than patients with controlled inflammatory arthritis and patients with nonerosive OA.

Myofascial pain syndrome and fibromyalgia are common forms of musculoskeletal pain that are often confused with each other, not only because of similar symptoms, but also because they frequently occur in the same patient, which can lead to difficulties in differential diagnosis and treatment.

Psoriatic arthritis, a chronic inflammatory arthritis, usually is seronegative for rheumatoid factor and is associated with cutaneous psoriasis

Raynaud phenomenon, joint pain, muscle weakness, and hand discoloration: What is the diagnosis?