 |
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.
Studies/Research
Two-thirds of GPs 'may be shortening patients' lives' (UK Survey)
March 7, 2006
Almost two-thirds of doctors believe colleagues are intentionally administering pain relief knowing it may hasten patients' death, according to a survey published today.
Over 200 GPs were surveyed by Dignity in Dying, the campaigning body for the legalization of assisted dying. The survey found that almost two-thirds (62%) believe doctors sometimes administer pain relief to a terminally ill patient knowing that it may hasten death under the principle of "double effect". Story
Rotator Cuff Surgery Brings Significant Relief to Patients with Multiple Medical Problems
March 7, 2006
People suffering from multiple medical conditions report greater improvement in their shoulders after rotator cuff surgery than patients with no other preoperative disorders, according to a new study published in the March 2006 issue of the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. Story
OTC Painkillers May Up Women's Blood Pressure
March 3, 2006
Do over-the-counter painkillers raise blood pressure? Some do, at least in women.
In a study published last year in Hypertension, a journal of the American Heart Association, researchers from the Nurses' Health Study looked at the records of more than 5,000 female nurses ages 34 to 77. They found that those who took 500 milligrams or more a day of acetaminophen were twice as likely to develop high blood pressure as those who didn't. Story
Acupuncture Shown to Relieve Migraines (UK)
March 2, 2006
Acupuncture, one of the most popular complementary treatments, works as well as standard drugs for migraines, German researchers said on Thursday. They compared the effects of real and fake acupuncture with drug treatments for migraine and found all equally effective. The main finding was that Chinese acupuncture was as effective as drug treatment for the prophylaxis of migraine. Story
Scientific Research Highlights at the
Research Presented at the American Academy of Pain Medicine Annual Meeting
February 26, 2006
Pain medicine investigators presented preliminary research findings at poster sessions held during the 22nd annual meeting of the American Academy of Pain Medicine The highlights include: Pain, Stress and Fear in Hurricane Katrina Victims, Hip Joint Pain Referral Patterns: A Descriptive Study; The Role of Body Mass Index on Quality of Life among African Americans and Caucasians with Chronic Pain; and, Opioid Blood Levels in High Dose, Chronic Pain Patients. Click on “Story” below for descriptions of each study. Story
More Pain Studies in the News
Conditions, Diagnosis, and Treatments
PBS Offers New Documentary on Interstitial Cystitis
February 27, 2006
A little known but devastating disease will be the focus of an upcoming PBS documentary. Makers of “Healthy Body, Healthy Mind” interviewed Jill Osborne, President of the Interstitial Cystitis Network (ICN), and Melody Thomas Scott, Star of The Young & The Restless, for the season premiere of the series, scheduled for broadcast in March 2006….As recently as ten years ago, interstitial cystitis (IC) was considered a relatively rare condition of post-menopausal women. New research by Matt Rosenberg MD now suggests that up to 12% of women have typical warning signs of IC, including urinating six or more times a day, pelvic pain and nighttime frequency. Story
How to Avoid Acetaminophen-Related Liver Problems, from Harvard Women's Health Watch
March 2, 2006
Each year, overdoses of acetaminophen (sold as Tylenol and other brands) account for more than 56,000 emergency room visits and an estimated 458 deaths from acute liver failure, reports the March issue of the Harvard Women's Health Watch. And according to a new study from the U.S. Acute Liver Failure Study Group, acetaminophen-related liver failure appears to be on the rise. Researchers at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle found that between 1998 and 2003, the percentage of acute liver failure cases attributed to acetaminophen nearly doubled, rising from 28% to 51%. Story
Severe Arthritis Linked to Increased Cancer Risk
February 27, 2006
Rheumatoid arthritis patients with the most severe disease are roughly 70 times more likely to develop lymphoma, a type of cancer, than patients with mild disease, according to new research from Sweden. The findings provide some of the best evidence yet linking the elevated lymphoma risk among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients to the disease itself and not the drugs used to treat it. Story
Safe and Effective Migraine Headaches Treatments Identified in New Free Report Posted on Consumer Reports Medical Guide
February 23, 2006
All headaches are not created equal. For migraine sufferers, a debilitating attack can put life on hold. To help people make affordable and informed health decisions with their doctor, Consumer Reports Medical Guide has free information about symptoms of migraine headaches, identifying triggers, and treatment options. This resource includes information from a new Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs report that assesses the effectiveness and safety of triptans, which are the most frequently prescribed migraine headaches medicines: Consumer Reports Story
More Conditions, Diagnosis, and Treatments Articles
Pain Stories
Marathoner Running to Rebuild Clinic Destroyed by Katrina
February 23, 2006
Tracey Petron runs for many reasons - to combat stress, to prove that disabilities can be overcome with perseverance, and simply because she loves it.But when the 41-year-old York Township woman runs in the 110th annual Boston Marathon on April 17, it will be for even loftier reasons, and in spite of concerns voiced by a family member and one of her doctors. Petron will try to run the 26.2-mile race to raise money to rebuild the New Orleans clinic of her neurosurgeon, Dr. David G. Kline, who specializes in the area of peripheral nerves. Story
Katrina Evacuation Caused Rise in Chronic Pain
February 23, 2006
Some of the thousands affected by Hurricane Katrina who suffered from chronic pain before the storm hit experienced more pain in the disaster's aftermath, while others saw their pain scores subside, two new studies suggest. Researchers say the key factor in keeping pain levels down was the conditions under which victims found themselves in the days and weeks after the storm. Story
Guest Speaker, Lynn Webster, MD, Says Pain Medicine often Underprescribed
February 14, 2006
As Dr. Lynn Webster sees it, there's a big pain problem in this country that is only going to get worse if something isn't done soon. Webster, the medical director at Lifetree Clinical Research and Pain Clinic in Salt Lake City, visited St. Peter's Hospital on Friday to give a presentation on the conundrum of undertreated pain sufferers and doctors' reluctance to prescribe opioids. "Not all chronic use of opioids is abuse," Webster said. "And those who do abuse opioids are thought to be addicts. And that's not true." Story
Many Anesthesiologists Wouldn't Choose Medicine Again
February 12, 2006
Reflecting the frustrations of modern medical practice, 30% of anesthesiologists responding to a 2005 survey conducted by physician recruiting firm www.locumtenens.com said they would not choose medicine if they could decide their career paths all over again. Story
Tool May Improve Pain Management in Nursing Homes
March 10, 2006
An experimental "Pain Medication Appropriateness Scale" (PMAS) appears to be a useful tool for assessing the suitability of prescribing practices in nursing homes and for testing whether interventions to improve prescribing behavior are effective, investigators report. Criteria in the PMAS include type of pain, such as persistent or breakthrough pain; pain severity; degree of relief obtained from medication; a constipation regimen for patients taking opioids; and exclusion of high-risk drugs, such as codeine-containing drugs. Story
Policy, Law, Advocacy
Public Citizen Petitions FDA to Ban Darvon Products
February 27, 2006
Public Citizen today petitioned the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to immediately begin to phase out the widely prescribed pain reliever propoxyphene (Darvon, Darvocet and generic versions) from the market because the drug has been associated with more than 2,000 accidental deaths, is physically addictive, and is no more effective than safer alternatives. Story
Illinois Legislature takes new look at medical marijuana
February 23, 2006
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.
The national debate over medical marijuana is lighting up in Illinois. Under a bill that could be debated in Springfield as early as today, patients would be allowed to possess small amounts of marijuana - which advocates say helps pain sufferers, but opponents say would open the door to legalized pot. Story
AG Funds Drawing Legislative Ire
February 23, 2006
When West Virginia Attorney General Darrell V. McGraw Jr. announced a $10 million settlement in 2004 with Purdue Pharma over its controversial painkiller OxyContin, it was hailed as a rare cash payout from a powerful drugmaker. To this day, not another state has gotten money from Purdue Pharma for OxyContin. The company is prevailing in litigation everywhere else. But in West Virginia, without admitting any wrongdoing, Purdue decided to settle a lawsuit brought in 2001 by the Attorney General's Office on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Resources, the Public Employees Insurance Agency and the Workers' Compensation Commission. The agencies accused Purdue of aggressive marketing tactics that downplayed the addictive nature of OxyContin. According to initial court filings, the agencies sought to recover more than $30 million in prescriptions for the drug. Story
Research Funding
February 16, 2006
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) held its annual Research Capitol Hill Days, which emphasizes the importance of federal funding for musculoskeletal research and increases awareness regarding the impact of musculoskeletal conditions on patients and their families. This event provides the orthopaedic community—comprised of orthopaedic surgeons, the patients they care for and researchers—with the opportunity to speak with members of Congress and personally advocate for the future of musculoskeletal care. Story
H.E.L.P. Counteracts Effects of Chronic Pain in the Workplace
March 9, 2006
Chronic pain has a $100-billion annual impact on businesses and corporations. Absenteeism, insurance claims, workers' compensation and lost productivity costs are rising. But a new program is improving the odds for employees who experience chronic pain and those who employ them. H.E.L.P. (Help Eliminate Loss from Pain) combines the experience of a chronic pain survivor and motivational speaker, Rowe Jones, with the expertise of a pain management doctor, Evans Amune, M.D., a practicing physician at Florida Hospital Pain Medicine Centers. Story
Prescription Diversion and Abuse
Physician gets 20 years for illegal prescriptions
February 23, 2006
Dr. William Nucklos prescribed unneeded pain pills to more than 200 patients in Springfield, authorities said. Story
Doctor admits illegal pain pills
February 20, 2006
A doctor pleaded guilty to illegally distributing thousands of painkiller pills to people who weren't patients. Dr. Andrew D. Weiss, 45, of Boca Raton, entered a guilty plea Friday to four counts of illegally distributing a controlled substance. He faces up to 20 years in prison on each charge. Story
Board Suspends Doctor's License
February 15, 2006
Calling physician Satyanarayana Rao Korabathina an "immediate and serious danger" to public health, the state's top health official suspended the doctor's medical license Tuesday.The Florida Department of Health issued an emergency suspension of Korabathina's medical license, meaning he will not be able to practice medicine in Florida. The state's Board of Medicine, which oversees doctors, is part of the Department of Health. Story
First of pain clinic cases hits court in early June
February 15, 2006
The first jury trial resulting from the 2003 investigation into the former Professional Pain Management of Ohio office has been set for June 1 in Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court at New Philadelphia. Story
Industry-Released News
B. Braun Offers Continuing Education Program on Newest Developments in Pain Management
March 2, 2006
B. Braun Medical Inc., a global leader in the manufacturing and sales of products and services for the delivery of patient care, announced today the availability of a new Continuing Education (CE) program in Pain Management. The course delivers practical information on the newest medications and current best practices for treating and managing pain in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Story
Once Daily Morphine Sulphate (Avinza) Relieves Chronic Pain Better than Twice Daily Oxycodone (OxyContin)
March 1, 2006
Opioid naďve patients with chronic low back pain may get better relief from once daily morphine sulfate (Avinza) than twice daily oxycodone (OxyContin), according to a study presented here at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Pain Management (AAPM). Story
Research and Markets: Pain Therapeutics 2005 Explains Just What the Cox-II Crisis Means for the Future of Pain Management (Ireland)
March 2, 2006
In this new report, key pain management therapeutics such as Cox-II inhibitors, opioids, triptans, anticonvulsants and traditional NSAIDs are discussed in terms of their past, present and future value and the role they are playing in the effective management of pain. The dynamics of this market have been altered greatly over the past year. The troubles surrounding the multi-billion dollar Cox-II class has created a void in the marketplace. Story
FDA approves Acetadote for use in children
March 7, 2006
Cumberland Pharmaceuticals, a Nashville drug maker, got a boost when the FDA approved the company's top moneymaking medicine for use in children, a move that could expand the drug's potential market by 70%. Acetadote, the first injectable drug to combat poisoning by acetaminophen, the active ingredient in some over-the-counter pain relievers, now will be sold to children's hospitals. Story
More Industry News
Lagniappe (A little something extra)
Sickle Cell Pain Awareness Stamps: Images from an Artist’s Pain
March 2, 2006
A new PC Postage Stamp Series has been designed by the famous Haitian born Artist Hertz Nazaire, whose Sickle Cell Pain paintings are known and featured worldwide in a range of products from fine art prints to medical book covers, these pain images have helped in the education and awareness of Sickle Cell Disease for many years. Sickle Cell Pain Awareness Postage Stamps have been created to help in the on going fight to provide more awareness and understanding of what it means to live with chronic pain. Story
Migraine and Headache Poetry Contest Launched
The "Putting Our Heads Together" Poetry Contest 2006 is now underway. Submissions from people who have head pain disorders or affected by them through other people are being accepted online through March 21, 2006. Author and patient advocate Teri Robert has been experiencing headaches and Migraine attacks from childhood and encourages sufferers to find creative ways to express their pain and emotions. Story
Books
Spice Rack May Be Better for Pain Relief Than Drugstore
Jacob Teitelbaum, MD Offers Strategies for Natural Pain Relief in Pain Free 1-2-3!
February 21, 2006
The average American kitchen contains more pain relievers than the average medicine cabinet -- and being all natural, the kitchen remedies are much safer than Motrin, Tylenol, Vioxx and other common pain medications sold in drug stores.
"Turmeric, pepper, ginger, cherries, hops, and even pie pectin (Certo) are just a few examples of everyday foods and spices that have been shown to relieve pain," says board certified internist Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, author of Pain Free 1-2-3 - A Proven Program for Eliminating Chronic Pain Now! (McGraw- Hill, April 2006). His new book explores the many causes of pain and its manifestations, and teaches people how to use both natural and prescription therapies (comprehensive medicine) to treat the entire range of pain issues. Story
|
