Osteoarthritis pain is one of the more frustrating problems we primary care clinicians have to manage. It is a ubiquitous problem. It is a bothersome complaint. And treatment options are not great. NSAID’s can provide some relief, but Continue reading
Category Archives: Medical Practice
The paradox of opioid-induced hyperalgesia
Something has clearly gone awry with our efforts to manage chronic non-cancer pain. Emergency departments in the U.S. are facing an epidemic of opioid overdoses. Deaths from opioid overdoses now exceed those from Continue reading
Diagnosis of ADHD in children and adolescents
Clinicians should take a cautious approach when considering use of the first medical device approved by the FDA to help diagnose ADHD in children.
The FDA recently approved an EEG-based technology for Continue reading
More information on antibiotics for bronchitis
The evidence against using antibiotics to treat acute bronchitis continues to mount. Most recently, a study published in the October 4, 2013, BMJ looked at outcomes among patients treated with Augmentin, ibuprofen, or placebo. Not surprisingly, Continue reading
Mr. Moon, Mr. Moon, you’re up too soon
As a father of four and grandfather of four I recall feeling a bit guilty when announcing bedtime and signaling an end to the evening’s activities. Actually, my wife more often led the command, with me as her trusty sidekick. We both felt Continue reading
PSA testing and inverse bell-shaped curves
Human behavior fascinates me. And physician human behavior fascinates me even more. What motivates us to treat specific diagnoses in specific patients the way we do? How do we decide what medicines to prescribe? What kinds Continue reading
Vaccine-preventable illness increasing
We live in an age where most young people now alive have never seen illnesses that were common 50-100 years ago. The medical system’s success at eliminating or significantly reducing common and deadly childhood illnesses through the use of vaccines has Continue reading
Ode to the great toe
I am a long-time proponent of equality and long-time opponent of discrimination. In all aspects of life. Because of these strongly-held values, reinforced over 30-odd years practicing medicine, I still do not understand why certain organs are viewed as Continue reading
Exercise more, lose weight, quit smoking 10 years ago, eat more tomatoes, salmon, and stay away from processed meat – Live well and prosper
In late September, Kenfield, et.al., presented a late breaker at the European Cancer Congress in Amsterdam that associated a healthy lifestyle and diet with a 39-46% decreased risk of lethal prostate cancer Continue reading
Motives for nonmedical opioid use
Adults in a residential addiction treatment center had high rates of prescription opioid use for reasons other than pain relief, according to a recent article in Clinical Psychiatry News referencing a study published in Continue reading