Lyme disease is often considered a cause of chronic fatigue, pain and other incapacitating symptoms. This assumption stems from analyses of patients who seek retreatment for Lyme disease. However, a new study suggests that Lyme disease is not life altering in the long term for most patients. Specifically, patients with culture-confirmed Lyme disease have similar…
Progress Made in Search for a Fibromyalgia Biomarker
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthritis (SpA) all exhibit multifaceted manifestations, and many patients exhibit overlapping comorbidities. However, patients with FMS are distinct from others in that they experience widespread pain, fatigue and mood changes, including anxiety and depression. Although its hallmark symptom of pain causes rheumatologists to consider FMS a pain disorder,…
Chronic Pain: The Psychiatric Perspective
Why rheumatic pain is more than a joint issue
Systemic Sjögrens: More Than a Sicca Disease
Differences in its epidemiologic, clinical and immunologic features underscore need for a homogeneous diagnostic and therapeutic approach
Atypical Fractures Associated with Bisphosphonates
Plus, FX006, odanacatib and other rheumatology drug news, safety updates
Hypersensitivity to Non-Painful Events May Be Part of Pathology in Fibromyalgia
New research shows that patients with fibromyalgia have hypersensitivity to non-painful events based on images of the patients’ brains, which show reduced activation in primary sensory regions and increased activation in sensory integration areas.
Ethics Forum: Patient Test Requests Pose Challenges for Rheumatologists
Ethical challenges physicians face when patients request potentially unnecessary medical tests
Fibromyalgia Pain Associated with Changes in Brain Connectivity
Research suggests weakened sensory cortex connectivity extending beyond the traditional somatosensory domain may contribute to pain associated with fibromyalgia
Speak Out Rheum: Are Independent Measures of Patient Satisfaction Reliable?
Patient survey questionnaires, metrics to gauge physician performance may not be trustworthy indicators of quality of patient care
Tips for Treating Pain, Depression in Patients with Rheumatic Disease Offered at the ACR/ARHP’s 2013 Annual Meeting
Observational pain scales, diagnostic tools, pharmacologic interventions, and support from psychologists, caregivers recommended