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Rheumatology

<a href='/the-exchange/medical-marijuana-fibromyalgia-and-ptsd'>Medical Marijuana, Fibromyalgia, and PTSD</a>

Medical Marijuana, Fibromyalgia, and PTSD

Posted By: Richard S. Pope, PA-C, MPASRichard S. Pope, PA-C, MPAS | August 23, 2019

Have you made up your mind about the use of medical marijuana in your practice? I haven’t yet, but writing this posting has improved my knowledge of its use. more >

Found in: Rheumatology

<a href='/the-exchange/lyme-arthritis-from-high-index-of-suspicion-to-diagnosis-and-treatment'>Lyme Arthritis—From High Index of Suspicion to Diagnosis and Treatment</a>

Lyme Arthritis—From High Index of Suspicion to Diagnosis and Treatment

Posted By: Richard S. Pope, PA-C, MPASRichard S. Pope, PA-C, MPAS | August 20, 2019

An effusion of the knee(s) is the most common manifestation of Lyme arthritis, a late stage of infection with Borrelia burgdorferi, the tick involved more >

<a href='/the-exchange/how-do-drug-pricing-systems-work-if-there-is-more-competition-shouldn-t-the-list-price-go-down-'>How Do Drug Pricing Systems Work? If There Is More Competition, Shouldn’t the List Price Go Down?</a>

How Do Drug Pricing Systems Work? If There Is More Competition, Shouldn’t the List Price Go Down?

Posted By: Richard S. Pope, PA-C, MPASRichard S. Pope, PA-C, MPAS | June 22, 2019

Have you ever noticed how much more expensive drug prices become every year? I think we have all noticed this increase, so this week I decided to look in to more >

<a href='/the-exchange/what-is-the-best-treatment-for-painful-osteoporotic-compression-fractures-of-the-spine-'>What is the Best Treatment for Painful Osteoporotic Compression Fractures of the Spine?</a>

What is the Best Treatment for Painful Osteoporotic Compression Fractures of the Spine?

Posted By: Richard S. Pope, PA-C, MPASRichard S. Pope, PA-C, MPAS | April 19, 2019

Pop quiz: What is the best method of treatment for osteoporotic compression fractures of the spine? Nonsurgical treatment (NST) Balloon kyphoplasty more >

<a href='/the-exchange/a-view-of-rheumatology-from-31-years-and-30-000-feet'>A View of Rheumatology From 31 Years And 30,000 Feet</a>

A View of Rheumatology From 31 Years And 30,000 Feet

Posted By: Richard S. Pope, PA-C, MPASRichard S. Pope, PA-C, MPAS | April 16, 2019

The last 31 years of my PA career has been in the subspecialty of rheumatology. As I reflect on the changes in the field, I have become aware of the incredible more >

<a href='/the-exchange/expanding-jak-inhibitor-market-for-ra-on-the-horizon-in-2019--which-one-is-the-best-'>Expanding JAK Inhibitor Market for RA on the Horizon in 2019: “Which One Is the Best?”</a>

Expanding JAK Inhibitor Market for RA on the Horizon in 2019: “Which One Is the Best?”

Posted By: Richard S. Pope, PA-C, MPASRichard S. Pope, PA-C, MPAS | March 22, 2019

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatments continue to improve outcomes in the latest clinical trials. At the 2018 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) meeting more >

<a href='/the-exchange/cares-study-prompts-fda-boxed-warning-on-febuxostat'>CARES Study Prompts FDA Boxed Warning on Febuxostat</a>

CARES Study Prompts FDA Boxed Warning on Febuxostat

Posted By: Richard S. Pope, PA-C, MPASRichard S. Pope, PA-C, MPAS | March 19, 2019

On February 21, 2019, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a boxed warning on febuxostat. This was a result of the CARES study published in the more >

<a href='/the-exchange/how-do-you-make-a-diagnosis-of-gout-without-seeing-msu-crystals-under-a-microscope-'>How Do You Make a Diagnosis of Gout Without Seeing MSU Crystals Under a Microscope?</a>

How Do You Make a Diagnosis of Gout Without Seeing MSU Crystals Under a Microscope?

Posted By: Richard S. Pope, PA-C, MPASRichard S. Pope, PA-C, MPAS | February 22, 2019

Primary care/urgent care/emergency rooms are all settings where acute monoarthritis is seen. The differential diagnosis includes acute crystal arthritis (gout, more >

<a href='/the-exchange/is-long-term-survival-associated-with-the-use-of-nitrogen-containing-bisphosphonates-'>Is Long-term Survival Associated With the Use of Nitrogen-containing Bisphosphonates?</a>

Is Long-term Survival Associated With the Use of Nitrogen-containing Bisphosphonates?

Posted By: Richard S. Pope, PA-C, MPASRichard S. Pope, PA-C, MPAS | February 20, 2019

In the January issue of Osteoporosis International, there was an article entitled, “Mortality Risk Reduction Differs According to Bisphosphonate more >

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