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CPD: Musculoskeletal and joint diseases

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Articles in this section reflect chapter ten of the British National Formulary and relate to musculoskeletal and joint diseases

 

 

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Dealing with the symptom of spasticity

March 2011

Spasticity is a symptom of many diseases and can have a huge impact on quality of life. Treatments range from physiotherapy to intrathecal baclofen pumps

 

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Care in juvenile idiopathic arthritis

December 2010

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is a long-term condition which, like asthma and diabetes, has potentially debilitating effects, not only for patients but also for their families and carers. Nicola Gray, Simon Keady and Janet McDonagh describe the condition and its treatment

Lifelong Learning

Rheumatoid arthritis: Features, causes and diagnosis

May 2010

Social and financial independence can be lost when a person develops severe rheumatoid arthritis. Prompt diagnosis and treatment can improve outcomes for patients and reduce costs to society

Lifelong Learning

Rheumatoid arthritis: Management

May 2010

Evidence in support of early and aggressive pharmacological intervention in rheumatoid arthritis continues to be gathered. DMARDs, corticosteroids and biologics are the main drugs in the armoury

Tenuous link between vitamin D and chronic pain (POEM)

April 2009

Clinical question: Is vitamin D supplementation effective in the treatment of chronic pain in patients with normal serum levels or low serum levels?

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Choosing over-the-counter analgesics

November 2008

According to the Proprietary Association of Great Britain, 2007 sales of analgesics reached £526m, making up 23 per cent of all OTC sales. There are numerous products available, but which can be recommended? Andrew Dickman reviews the situation in two articles. The first, published here, focuses on the drugs. The second looks at cautions, contraindications and other considerations

From treating polymyalgia rheumatica to managing anticoagulation

October 2008

A case study from the September 2008 BNF/BNFC e-newsletter

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Managing ankylosing spondylitis

September 2008

Navjot Nannar gives an overview of the chronic inflammatory disease of the spinal column that affects one in 250 men

 

Chondroitin ineffective for pain relief in severe knee osteoarthritis (POEM)

August 2008

Clinical question: Is chondroitin sulphate effective for pain relief or for preventing progression of osteoarthritis of the knee in patients with severe disease?

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Management of myasthenia gravis

December 2006

Susan Allen describes the symptoms of myasthenia gravis and what support pharmacists can give

 

 

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Promoting self care of joint pain

September 2006

Joint pain is a common condition and pharmacists are ideally placed to provide advice to patients on managing the condition.
John Dickson discusses joint pain, its causes, cases for referral and treatments available

Osteoporosis

October/November 2005

Bone density and its related property, bone strength, change considerably throughout life. Density increases during growth, continuing to rise even after growth in height stops. Peak bone mass is achieved between the ages of 25 and 40 years. The size and shape of each bone are genetically predetermined but are also influenced by endocrine factors, nutrition, physical forces and local growth factors

Care of the elderly - an osteoporosis medication management clinic

June 2004

This article describes the development of the role of a pharmacist practitioner with a special interest in osteoporosis

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

February 2004

Three articles on minimising the gastrointestinal risks posed by NSAIDs

Rheumatoid arthritis

January 2002

Rheumatoid arthritis affects up to 1 per cent of the world’s population and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. These articles discuss possible mechanisms by which the disease becomes established and the tendency for drug treatment of rheumatoid arthritis to be aggressive

New drugs in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

January 2001

A review of the use of etanercept and infliximab in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, as well as some others under development