Author Archives: admin

Skyrizi (risankizumab) is a new biologic for treating psoriasis. The first dose in Canada was injected at Charlton Health.  This treatment is given by injection as 2 prefilled syringes starting at week 0, week 4 and then every 12 weeks.  … Continue reading →

Approximately 14% of Canadians suffer from osteoarthritis. While there are currently 17 approved medications for preventing the progression of rheumatoid arthritis, there are none for OA. This is a multidimensional disease and in the past there has been resistance to … Continue reading →

The Indian Act came into being in 1876, and in 1996 the last residential school in Canada closed. Canada has a long history of racism and colonization towards Indigenous people, which has resulted in multigenerational impacts on their quality of life. … Continue reading →

DigiSplint is a Canadian company that designs custom made splints to stop the progression of deformities. This business caught my eye recently at the Canadian Rheumatology Association meeting in Montreal, where they had a booth. As a pharmacist at Charlton … Continue reading →

Beyond the many patient associations for people living with arthritis, there are also associations for practising rheumatologists and the allied health professionals who work with them.   The Arthritis Health Professions Association includes a spectrum of healthcare professionals ranging from physiotherapists, occupational therapists, … Continue reading →

According to the Canadian Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, 1 in 5 Canadian women had an unplanned pregnancy in 2016. Therefore, it is recommended that all women of child bearing potential take a pregnancy test prior to starting methotrexate and … Continue reading →

Pregnancy can be magical time but also has its challenges; especially when living with a chronic disease. For patients with arthritis, it is important to discuss various issues with your rheumatologist, from planning a pregnancy, preparing for flares that may occur over … Continue reading →

One of the sessions at the Canadian Rheumatology Association meeting held last month focused on the Association’s recently created Position Statement on the use of Medical Cannabis in Rheumatic Disease. Patients seen by rheumatologists who report using cannabis, indicate pain … Continue reading →

A common misconception is that arthritis only affects adults. Although about 24,000 Canadian children are currently living with some form of arthritis.  Here are some resources for children who are currently living with arthritis. Resource Information Website Childhood Arthritis Backpack … Continue reading →

150 minutes per week of exercise is important for all Canadians. Although some individuals with arthritis may find it hard to find modified activities. At Charlton Health we have compiled a list of community resources and on-line programs for individuals … Continue reading →