Rheumatology

Robert Keenan, MD, an assistant professor of medicine in the division of rheumatology at Duke University Medical Center, discusses how physicians can improve care of patients with gout.

One of the many challenges for clinicians treating fibromyalgia is determining whether a patient has developed a true comorbid major depression and when to make a referral to a psychiatrist.

Over the last few decades, improved understanding of the neurobiology and pathophysiology of fibromyalgia has made the disease less mysterious to clinicians.

Diagnoses of fibromyalgia were originally reached by excluding other conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. Today, by contrast, diagnosis is done through a process of inclusion.

Comorbid conditions accompanying fibromyalgia include depression, sleep difficulty, restless leg syndrome, and irritable bowel syndrome. Treating these conditions can help improve patients' overall condition.

Fibromyalgia is one of the most common pain syndromes in the US, but it can be difficult to identify and treat. Learn what you need to know about the challenges and opportunities facing physicians who treat this condition.

Some supporters of medical marijuana argue that it seems absurd to allow clinicians to prescribe narcotics like morphine, will blocking their ability to prescribe marijuana. Opponents of medical marijuana point that unlike morphine, marijuana does not have the clinical data to support its use.