Arthritis Pain Treatment

Two University of Michigan studies supported by the National Institutes of Health may bridge the gap between rheumatologists and hand surgeons as they work toward the common goal of improving the quality of life for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

A study appearing in the current issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery reveals that one of the most common conditions caused by rheumatoid arthritis is best treated surgically, sooner rather than later.

Scientists have discovered gene expression differences that could lead to better ways to classify, predict outcome, and treat juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Eventually such findings could enable doctors to target more aggressive treatment to children at risk of more severe arthritis, while those likely to have milder disease could be spared the stronger treatments that carry a greater risk of side effects. The researchers were supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), a part of the National Institutes of Health.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who failed to respond to initial treatment with rituximab (RTX) (a chimeric monoclonal antibody against the protein CD20) can still be successfully re-treated with a second course of RTX after six months, according to the results of a new study presented today at EULAR 2009, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Results of a new study show a strong link between rheumatoid arthritis and periodontal disease. Over 56 percent of patients with rheumatoid arthritis show signs of inflammatory gum disease, bone loss that hold teeth in place, dental plaque, and fewer teeth.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved a total ankle replacement system for arthritic or deformed ankles that may preserve some range of motion in the joint.

The new prosthesis is a mobile-bearing device, which relies on bearings that move across a surface of polyethylene, a flexible plastic. The device is the first of its type.

Once arthritis or injury destroys the cartilage that cushions the ankle bone, the joints can become painful enough to warrant total ankle replacement.

Nearly 40% of Utahns over age 65 who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a fall in 2006 also had arthritis. In 2005 it was just 29%. And the problem will only worsen as today’s baby boomers age.

The Utah Department of Health (UDOH) Violence and Injury Prevention (VIPP) and Arthritis (UAP) programs are joining forces to celebrate Arthritis Awareness Month in May. Their goal is to better understand if people with arthritis are more prone to falling and if so, why.

Ever noticed a "bump" on the back of someone’s wrist or had one yourself. It may be a ganglion cyst. These are benign cyst which are very common. The most common location for one is the top (dorsum) of the wrist (60-70%). They may also occur on the bottom-side (volar) of the wrist, at the end joint of a finger (distal phalangeal joint), or at the base of a finger (palm-side).

Nancy Baker, Sc.D., of the University of Pittsburgh, and colleagues report more than 75% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA), or fibromyalgia report problems with discomfort when using a computer. The report was published in the May issue of Arthritis Care & Research.

Arthritis patients often choose less physically demanding jobs, such as administrative or clerical positions. These days those jobs are very likely to involve computer time.

When asked if they are disabled, more Americans who say yes report ‘arthritis or rheumatism’ as the most common culprit. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study found that, by the year 2030, the number of disabled Americans will skyrocket 40 percent, affecting more than 67 million people.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Simponi (golimumab), a monthly treatment for adults with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis, active psoriatic arthritis, and active ankylosing spondylitis.

All three conditions are chronic disorders in which the immune system attacks multiple joints, causing stiffness, pain, and restricted motion.