Breaking News

This section includes a wide variety of pain management stories, arranged by date and type (not significance), which have appeared in the popular media (print, broadcast, and on-line) in the last month. Because of the volume of stories, only the first few are included on the main page. Be sure to click on "More Stories" at the bottom of each front page section.

Pain Stories In The News

Polyanalgesic Consensus Panel Issues New Guidelines for Pain Management via Intraspinal Infusion
February 8, 2007
A panel of experts has recommended major changes to the guidelines used to determine treatment via intraspinal infusion for patients suffering from severe chronic pain. Story

Sleep Pillow Plus Exercise Best for Neck Pain
February 6, 2007
Sleeping with a neck support pillow and doing neck exercises can help ease chronic neck pain, Canadian researchers report. Story

More Pain Stories In The News

Pain Studies In The News

Unintentional Poisoning Deaths --- United States, 1999--2004
February 9, 2007
In 2004, poisoning was second only to motor-vehicle crashes as a cause of death from unintentional injury in the United States. Nearly all poisoning deaths in the United States are attributed to drugs, and most drug poisonings result from the abuse of prescription and illegal drugs. Story

Alpharma Data Demonstrates Alcohol Does Not Significantly Affect Pharmacokinetics of KADIAN(R) Capsules
February 9, 2007
Alpharma Inc., a leading global specialty pharmaceutical company, presented results of a Phase IV study of KADIAN(R) (morphine sulfate extended-release) Capsules that demonstrate the pharmacokinetics of the long-acting opioid are not significantly affected by the consumption of alcohol. Story

More Pain Studies In The News

Policy and Law

Greater Sickle Cell Funding is Sought: Va. Legislators Want to Nearly Triple Money for Patient Programs
January 30, 2007
Legislators are asking for additional funds for programs that help people who have sickle cell anemia, a life-threatening inherited blood disorder that can cause crippling pain episodes. Story

Research Abstracts Stay up-to-date on the latest research! This section of Currents offers complete abstracts on a wide variety of pain and pain management topics that have been selected from the National Library of Medicine. All Abstracts

Some include:

Abdi S, Datta S, Trescot AM, et al.
Epidural steroids in the management of chronic spinal pain: a systematic review. Abstract

Asmundson GJ, Hadjistavropoulos HD.
Is high fear of pain associated with attentional biases for pain-related or general threat? A categorical reanalysis. Abstract

Burke J, Buchberger DJ, Carey-Loghmani MT, et al.
A pilot study comparing two manual therapy interventions for carpal tunnel syndrome. Abstract

Gallagher RM, Welz-Bosna M, Gammaitoni A.
Assessment of dosing frequency of sustained-release opioid preparations in patients with chronic nonmalignant pain. Abstract

Graff-Radford SB.
Temporomandibular disorders and other causes of facial pain. Abstract

Vallerand AH, Collins-Bohler D, Templin T, et al.
Knowledge of and barriers to pain management in caregivers of cancer patients receiving homecare. Abstract

All Abstracts

Legislative and Administrative Updates

State: Arizona
Title: House Bill 2114
Summary: Creates a pilot program covering chiropractic services under the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System.. Creates the Chiropractic Care Pilot Program (Program), and requires the AHCCCS to enroll 3,000 members previously treated through the system for back or neck pain.
Sponsor: Stump
Status: 01/09/2007 Introduced.
01/16/2007 To House Committee on Health.
01/16/2007 Additionally referred to House Committee on Appropriations.
01/16/2007 Additionally referred to House Committee on Rules
01/31/2007 To House Committee on Health. [full text]

State: Massachusetts
Title: Senate Docket 482
Summary: Regulates the medical treatment of chronic intractable pain.
Sponsor: Jeff Mankiewicz
Status: 01/09/2007 Filed.

More Legislative and Administrative Updates

Practice Guidelines

American Chronic Pain Association
ACPA Medications & Chronic Pain 2007 [full text]

Council of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Associates and Foundation for Acupuncture Research
Acupuncture and electroacupuncture: evidence-based treatment guidelines [full text]

More Practice Guidelines

New Clinical Trials

Arthritis

Condition: Arthritis
State: FL
Purpose: This study will compare 3 approved medicines commonly used to treat pain - Celecoxib, Ibuprofen, and Naproxen.

Condition: Arthritis (Rheumatoid)
State: AL, AZ, FL, IL, MO, NY, OR, WA
Purpose: This 12-week study is designed to evaluate risk-benefit of three subcutaneous dose regimens of ACZ885, added on to stable methotrexate (MTX) therapy (greater than or equal to 7.5 mg/week), compared to placebo in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The study will investigate the magnitude of effect as well as onset of effect for the different dose regimens.

More New Clinical Trials

CAM Conclusions

CAM Conclusions provides a digest of the evidence-based literature relating to specific treatments that are considered to be a part of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Items in this section have been selected from the National Library of Medicine’s PubMed database and have been published during the last ten years. Entries are arranged in order of their date of publication, and each includes a link to the article abstract published by the National Library of Medicine. Additional links to governmental and academic sources have been included to provide background information that may help the practitioner gain a better understanding of the use and application of these therapies.

Acupuncture for Neck Pain
The World Health Organization has classified neck pain as one of the “diseases, symptoms or conditions for which acupuncture has been proved—through controlled trials—to be an effective treatment”[Source pg. 23]. Although numerous clinical studies support the use of acupuncture for the treatment of chronic neck pain, a significant number of negative and inconclusive studies suggest that additional study into the effectiveness of this treatment modality is still needed.

Acupunture for Neck Pain continued

Advocacy

The Migraine Awareness Group: A National Understanding for Migraineurs (MAGNUM) and The HealthCentral Network to Develop Enhanced Internet Resources for Migraine Patients
January 30, 2007
The Migraine Awareness Group: A National Understanding for Migraineurs (MAGNUM) and MyMigraineConnection.com announce that they will work together to create enhanced online resources for Migraine sufferers. Story

Lagniappe (A little something extra)

Dentists Offer Massages, Foot Scrubs to Take the Pain Away
February 8, 2007
It may seem odd, but it's getting more and more common. Spa dentistry is a growing niche carved out by tooth doctors trying to take the bite out of going to the dentist. Story

Big Handbags Can be Pain in the Neck
January 17, 2007
Lighten up, ladies, and beware the ponderous purse. That gargantuan handbag poses a serious health risk. Story

Schoenfelder Loses Bet, Skis Nude on Lauberhorn
January 10, 2007
Rainer Schoenfelder lost a bet Wednesday, and paid for it by skiing nude down the Lauberhorn. The 29-year-old Austrian skier, who hurt his neck and back in a crash last week, lost a bet with his physiotherapist, who had been treating his injuries. Schoenfelder had vowed to ski naked if his pains had lessened by Wednesday morning. Story

Editorial Team
Edward Duensing, Research
Lennie Duensing, Editorial

Design
Carol Harper