Category Archives: Rheumatic

Making Methotrexate Work in Ankylosing Spondylitis/ Inflammatory Back Pain

Methotrexate is a fairly safe medication but studies of it solo have failed to help Ankylosing spondylitis. Chinese study found when used with methylprednisolone had a therapeutic effect and improved inflammatory markers.

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On Methotrexate? – Take Vitamin C

In rat model, vitamin C prevents oxidative stress on liver and kidney

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Is Anti-CCP -Any Good at Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Detection? – Not Really

Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibody is a blood test for Rheumatoid Arthritis. I have used it in hopes it would help with early detection but it seemed to always come back negative.. A recent study suggested it  has a 35% sensitivity. … Continue reading

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Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) Score – Using It for Steroid Dose

Had a complaint that Doctors leave patient’s in agony  with PMR without thought of their needed prednisone dose – here’s how to figure needed dose out by calculating their disease activity.

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Low Vitamin D and Chronic Pain – What is the Evidence?

In 2006, My Daughter, Janice Montbriand, published a poster called Commonly Missed Factors in Chronic Pain. Vitamin D deficiency was one of them. Since the there have been a variety of confirmatory studies – with some negative ones as well. I … Continue reading

Posted in Back Pain, Deficits, Fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, osteoporosis, Rheumatic | 1 Comment

Confirmation of Nerve Growth in Tendonopathy – in Shoulder Too

I have previously written: Does Pain “Grow” at Tendon injury sites? -and Treatment tennis elbow Now for shoulder tendonopathy, “increases of newly grown nerve fibers and blood vessels ” inside tendons has been found

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Sacroiliits Totally Unthought of Treatment – Filter Out White Blood Cells – Filtration Leukocytapheresis

Lady with ulcerative colitis and sacroiliitis improved after leukocytapheresis (LCAP).

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Is Low Vitamin D Related to Rheumatoid Arhritis?

Recent study found variations of RA by latitude and suggested low vitamin D might be cause. I don’t think it’s that simple

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Muscle-Joint Pains, Dry Mouth and Eyes? – Maybe You Have DEMS/SAPS with Thyroid Antibiodies

DEMS – dry eyes and mouth syndrome; SAPS – sicca asthenia polyalgia syndrome These cases do not qualify for sjogren’s syndrome but have “Sicca [dryness] symptoms and “nonspecific musculoskeletal pain”. They were found to have 59.2% thyroid peroxidase antibody rate … Continue reading

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Polymyaglia Rheumatica(PMR) – A New Look – Not as Easy as Seems

Due to lack of rheumatists in Regina, I have been forced to deal with complex pain cases that in part have an inflammatory nature. Some fit a PMR profile that requires more difficult management than I am used to. Below … Continue reading

Posted in Rheumatic | 2 Comments

BASDAI resource

In Ankylosing Spondylitis, the The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and Spinal Pain Visual Analog Scale (VAS) are used to obtain coverage for Etanercept. These forms are available here unprotected.

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Post-Stretococcus Reactive Arthritis – Poorly Diagnosed Treatable Chronic Pain

I have become aware of two cases of chronic pain following a Stretococcal infection. This could be a flavour of an Ankylosing Spondylitis with sacroiliits being a prime factor. As a matter of fact in those patients with persistently elevated … Continue reading

Posted in Rheumatic | 9 Comments

Got Crohn’s? – May Have Spine Arthritis Too

Recent MRI study of crohn’s colitis patients found 17/44 cases had evidence to sacroiliitis and 11 of these had back pain. HLA B27 is seen in 10% of the population. If present in any of the crohn’s patients (were in … Continue reading

Posted in Abdominal pain, Back Pain, Rheumatic | 3 Comments