Knee JointRheumatoid arthritis, tendonitis and bursitis are typical causes of chronic knee pain that can last a lifetime.

Lower BackStrain, injury, disc problems and ailments of the spine are just some of the causes of chronic lower back pain.

forearmInflammation and tendonitis are just some of the causes of burning and numbness associated with forearm pain.

NeckInjuries, posture, stress and serious conditions such as arthritis, spondylosis and meningitis are leading factors in having chronic neck pain.

LegAilments from the flu to artery problems and diabetes can be the culprit of your leg pain, thigh pain and discomfort.

shoulderBursitis, dislocation and rotator cuff injuries can cause severe shoulder pain.

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Arthritis Types, Therapy and Treatment

Joint Pain

Thumb Pain
Thumb pain causes from arthritis to joint and ligament damage

Thumb pain is typically caused be a trauma or repetitive overuse and arthritis is another common cause of pain in the joints of the hands and fingers. Acute thumb pain can be a result of a jammed thumb or thumb sprain. Injury often occurs during sports activities when a player hits their thumb on the ball or another player, and after the injury, the thumb will usually swell, show signs of bruising and hurt when it is moved.

Painful Knee
Diagnosing Pain And Swelling Of The Knee And Finger


       A 46 year-old secretary presents to the primary care office with the chief complaint of a two-month history of left knee pain and swelling as well as diffuse swelling of the right long finger. She says the knee pain and finger swelling is worse in the morning and subsides during the day. She is tired and has been frequently absent from work in the last month.

Medicine Bottles
What You Should Know About New Antirheumatic Medications

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory polyarthritis that involves small and large joints, and affects approximately 1 percent of the population in the United States.1 The natural progression of the disease leads to irreversible deformity in the hands and feet with destruction of bone and articular cartilage. This may ultimately lead to the loss of function of the extremity. There are numerous extraarticular manifestations of RA (i.e., including vasculitis).

Capsaicin
Alternative Therapies For Chronic Pain

Many of my colleagues have voiced concerns regarding the use of nutriceuticals in their practices. The expressed concerns range from “These things are unproven” and “there is no FDA scrutiny over these products” to “they don’t work all the time” and “there are no scientific, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies on their safety or effectiveness.”

Glucosamine Chondroitin
Is Glucosamine and Chondroitin a Viable Treatment Option For Knee Osteoarthritis?

Yes. Amy Pickens, MPAS, PA-C, says the over-the-counter supplement is a safe treatment option within the armamentarium of modalities for osteoarthritis of the knee. No, Blaine Carmichael, PA-C, says the literature and the general makeup of a glucosamine/chondroitin supplement makes it a less than viable treatment option for osteoarthritis of the knee.

Yes. This author says the over-the-counter supplement is a safe treatment option within the armamentarium of modalities for osteoarthritis of the knee.

By Amy Pickens, MPAS, PA-C

Arthritis Medications

Glucosamine Chondroitin
Is Glucosamine and Chondroitin a Viable Treatment Option For Knee Osteoarthritis?

Yes. Amy Pickens, MPAS, PA-C, says the over-the-counter supplement is a safe treatment option within the armamentarium of modalities for osteoarthritis of the knee. No, Blaine Carmichael, PA-C, says the literature and the general makeup of a glucosamine/chondroitin supplement makes it a less than viable treatment option for osteoarthritis of the knee.

Yes. This author says the over-the-counter supplement is a safe treatment option within the armamentarium of modalities for osteoarthritis of the knee.

By Amy Pickens, MPAS, PA-C

Rheumatism
Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis: What Recent Studies Reveal

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects more than two million adults in the United States.1 In the past decade, the advent of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis has ushered in a new erheumatoid arthritis of targeted biologic modalities. We have seen a shift to more aggressive therheumatoid arthritispy involving earlier treatment and the use of multiple medications in combination.

Gout in the hands
Managing Gout

Gout is the most common inflammatory joint disease in men over 40 years of age. It affects nearly 5 million Americans, according to estimates from the most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 111). Compounding the problem is the fact that many people with gout are under-diagnosed and many are poorly or under-treated.




Ankylosing Spondylitis
Are Anti-TNF Medications The Best Options For Ankylosing Spondylitis?

Yes. Citing literature on this subject, Charles Moxin, PA-C advocates including anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) medications within the armamentarium of care for ankylosing spondylitis (AS) as they facilitate symptom relief and improvements in quality of life.

Anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapies do provide a valuable option of therapy for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). While these treatments are not without controversy, recent studies have shown that anti-TNF medications reduce clinical symptoms in patients with AS.