Pain Management News and Research

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Innovative hospice transition program boosts timely care for terminal patients

For patients who are in the final stages of both gradual and sudden terminal illnesses, hospice care can provide safe, comfortable, and dignified care at the end of life.

8 Jul 2024

Pain doesn’t belong on a scale of zero to 10

Over the past two years, a simple but baffling request has preceded most of my encounters with medical professionals: "Rate your pain on a scale of zero to 10."

2 Jul 2024

Study uncovers new insights into the main human cold and menthol sensor TRPM8

Chronic pain affects millions worldwide, and current treatments often rely on opioids, which carry risks of addiction and overdose.

21 Jun 2024

Walking reduces recurrence of low back pain, study finds

Adults with a history of low back pain went nearly twice as long without a recurrence of their back pain if they walked regularly, a world-first study has found.

20 Jun 2024

How virtual reality transforms women’s labor experiences

A PLOS ONE study found that virtual reality (VR) effectively reduces labor pain and anxiety, providing a positive and immersive birthing experience for women.

17 Jun 2024

Addressing the lifelong needs of adults with cerebral palsy

Because the majority of people living with cerebral palsy (CP) are adults, a focus on adult care in addition to pediatric and adolescent care is increasingly important to address their needs.

6 Jun 2024

Opioid receptors play unexpected role in gut nervous system development

Researchers at Rice University have revealed a previously unknown function of opioid receptors in the development of the enteric nervous system (ENS), often referred to as the "brain in the gut."

29 May 2024

SPLIT program: Stratified care for enhanced outcomes in low back pain management

Low back pain, or LBP, challenges health systems worldwide. To mitigate persistent disabling LBP, the implementation of a stratified approach in primary care has been suggested.

28 May 2024

Chiropractic care reduces tramadol prescriptions for sciatica, study finds

A new study led by researchers at University Hospitals Connor Whole Health found that adults initially receiving chiropractic spinal manipulation for newly diagnosed radicular low back pain (sciatica) were significantly less likely to be prescribed tramadol over the following year compared to those receiving usual medical care.

16 May 2024

Sensing a Healthier Future with Sustainable Nanomaterials and Biosensors

In this interview conducted at Pittcon 2024 in San Diego, we spoke to this year's Keynote Speaker Professor Omowunmi (Wunmi) Sadik about how sustainable nanomaterials are transforming human health.

From Pittcon 16 May 2024

Study shows limited effectiveness of common local anesthetic

Liposomal bupivacaine was launched on the market twelve years ago to provide long-lasting local control of pain.

13 May 2024

Tele-mentoring program shows promise in addressing opioid reliance for chronic pain management

More Americans suffer from chronic pain than diabetes, heart disease, and cancer combined. Yet, a shortage of pain medicine specialists persists, causing many pain sufferers to seek care in primary care settings.

7 May 2024

Case study: Cannabis might dampen the pain, but amplify the psychosis!

Case study details a 27-year-old woman with schizoaffective disorder and fibromyalgia who used high-potency cannabis to alleviate pain but experienced adverse psychiatric effects. A month-long diet lowering free glutamate improved her pain, mental health, and allowed her to quit cannabis, highlighting the risks of cannabis self-medication for pain management.

7 May 2024

MIT study reveals circadian impact on drug metabolism in engineered livers

Giving drugs at different times of day could significantly affect how they are metabolized in the liver, according to a new study from MIT.

25 Apr 2024

Prenatal opioid exposure not associated with risk of neuropsychiatric disorders in children

Opioid use during pregnancy is not associated with a substantial increase in the risk of neuropsychiatric disorders such as ADHD in children, finds a large study from South Korea published by The BMJ today.

24 Apr 2024

UniSA research highlights key pain concepts for managing pelvic pain

A new study from the University of South Australia is putting people’s experiences of pelvic pain at the front of pain education to develop better pain management strategies and improved outcomes.

23 Apr 2024

Empowering patients: Key concepts for managing pelvic pain

A new study from the University of South Australia is putting people's experiences of pelvic pain at the front of pain education to develop better pain management strategies and improved outcomes.

18 Apr 2024

Tiam1 inhibition mitigates morphine tolerance and hyperalgesia in mouse model

Morphine and other opioids are vital to treat severe and chronic pain. However, they have two problems - prolonged use creates morphine tolerance, where ever-increasing doses are needed for the same pain relief, and paradoxically, prolonged use also can create an extreme sensitivity to pain, called hyperalgesia.

9 Apr 2024

Immersive VR may be a useful non-medication strategy to improve cancer pain

A 10-minute virtual reality (VR) session significantly lessened pain in hospitalized patients with cancer in a recent clinical trial published by Wiley online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. Even a day later, participants experienced sustained benefits.

8 Apr 2024

Smartphone app and health coach combo improves surgical outcomes

Coupling a smart phone app with a real-life health coach appears to be key to helping patients adhere to pre-surgical preparation and post-surgical recovery guidance and improving surgical outcomes, according to new findings led by UPMC and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine physician-scientists.

4 Apr 2024