Pain News and Research

Latest Pain News and Research

Biological framework tracks postpartum vulvar tissue recovery timelines

A new biological model published in Sexual Medicine Reviews by Oxford University Press addresses why pain with sex after childbirth-reported by 60% of women at three months-persists for some long after hormones return to normal.

21 Oct 2026

Operating room air purification fails to reduce surgical infections

A study of more than 110,000 surgeries found that adding advanced air purification and sterilization systems to operating rooms did not reduce surgical site infections, postoperative complications, or deaths.

20 Oct 2026

Simple medical card game reduces preoperative anxiety in children

Preoperative anxiety affects about 60% of children and is linked with poorer cooperation at anesthesia induction, greater postoperative pain, and maladaptive behavioral changes.

20 Oct 2026

Hunger may drive the propensity to develop alcohol addiction

Researchers at Brown University have discovered a molecular link between hunger and the formation of "reward" memories that play a role in alcohol addiction.

20 Oct 2026

Chronic Hand Eczema (CHE) is affecting NHS healthcare professionals and can impact patient care, report finds

LEO Pharma and the British Skin Foundation (BSF) today launched a new report exploring the impact of Chronic Hand Eczema (CHE) on NHS healthcare professionals (HCPs) and the wider healthcare workforce.

20 Oct 2026

Hospitals can lower surgical emissions through greener anesthesia choices

Hospitals can sharply reduce the climate impact and cost of surgery without compromising patient safety by changing routine anesthesia practices, including reducing the use of high-emission anesthetic gases, suggests a new study presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2026 annual meeting.

19 Oct 2026

Antibiotic exposure during childhood linked to higher risk of IBS in young adults

Antibiotic use from childhood through early adulthood was associated with higher odds of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) at age 24, with the odds increasing as the number of antibiotic prescriptions rose, according to a new study presented today at UEG Week 2026.

19 Oct 2026

Cannabis smokers may need more anesthesia during upper endoscopy

Patients who smoke or vape cannabis may need more anesthesia during an upper endoscopy than those who use edibles or do not use cannabis, according to a new study presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2026 annual meeting.

19 Oct 2026

Presurgical sleep medications linked to less pain and anxiety after surgery

Improving sleep before surgery through the use of melatonin or Ambien (zolpidem) may ease presurgical anxiety, reduce pain after surgery, decrease opioid requirements and help patients recover better, according to an analysis of 25 years of research presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2026 annual meeting.

19 Oct 2026

GLP-1 medications linked to reduced postoperative infections and heart complications

GLP-1 medications, widely prescribed for diabetes and weight loss, may also help protect people from serious complications after surgery.

19 Oct 2026

Preoperative physical activity linked to lower delirium risk after surgery

Staying active before surgery may do more than strengthen the body for recovery - it may protect the brain.

19 Oct 2026

Cannabis users face increased heart attack risk around surgery

As marijuana use becomes more common and legal in most U.S. states, patients who use cannabis may face a significantly higher risk of heart attack around the time of surgery, while also showing an unexpected lower risk of dangerous blood clots in the veins, suggests a study presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2026 annual meeting.

19 Oct 2026

Ketamine may ease early depressive symptoms after cesarean delivery

Ketamine, a medication used in operating rooms for anesthesia and pain control, may offer another benefit for some new mothers: easing early symptoms of postpartum depression after cesarean delivery (C-section), according to a study presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2026 annual meeting.

19 Oct 2026

Noise-canceling headphones reduce nausea and vomiting after surgery

Patients who wore noise-canceling headphones during minimally invasive gynecologic surgery were significantly less likely to experience postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), suggest findings from a randomized clinical trial presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2026 annual meeting.

19 Oct 2026

Language barriers limit access to postpartum headache treatment

New mothers with limited English proficiency are less likely to receive the standard treatment for painful and debilitating headaches that can occur if the membrane surrounding the spinal cord is accidentally punctured during an epidural for childbirth, according to a study presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2026 annual meeting.

19 Oct 2026

Postoperative monitoring apps reduce emergency visits and complications

Mobile app-based monitoring may help address the vulnerable days and weeks after surgery when recovery shifts from the hospital to home with little direct supervision.

19 Oct 2026

You don't need 10,000 steps a day to benefit your heart, cardiologists say

A new American College of Cardiology scientific statement recommends integrating individualized exercise prescriptions into routine cardiovascular care, drawing on evidence supporting aerobic activity, resistance training, and cardiac rehabilitation. The authors emphasize that previously inactive individuals have the most to gain from increasing physical activity, while exercise recommendations should consider individual health conditions, functional capacity, and safety.

18 Oct 2026

Women with low bone density reported less pain after taking pine bark extract

A randomized clinical trial involving 67 women with osteopenia or stable osteoporosis found that three months of Pycnogenol® supplementation improved self-reported bodily pain and vitality scores compared with placebo. However, overall disease-specific quality of life did not significantly improve, and the six-month findings were insufficient to establish long-term benefits or safety.

15 Oct 2026

Light-activated experimental opioid eliminates dangerous side effects

Opioid painkillers are some of the strongest analgesic medicines, but they are also the riskiest owing to a range of side effects, including addiction.

15 Oct 2026

Losing weight is one thing. Keeping your muscle is another, experts say

The International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) position stand concludes that sustained calorie restriction drives weight loss, while adequate protein intake and resistance training help preserve lean mass. Reviewing intermittent fasting, ketogenic diets, and other dietary approaches, the authors emphasize individualized nutrition plans, body composition, and sustainable weight management rather than rapid weight loss alone.

14 Oct 2026