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 Studies In The News

Study finds naturopathic care for chronic low-back pain to be efficacious, cost-effective
March 12, 2008
Naturopathic care is more cost-effective than a standardized physiotherapy-education regimen in the treatment of chronic low-back pain, according to a study in the latest issue of Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. Story

Gender bias may affect care of people with osteoarthritis, study finds
March 10, 2008
A recent study shows that unconscious prejudices among doctors may explain why women complaining of knee pain are less likely than men to be recommended for total knee replacement surgery. Story

More Pain Studies In The News

Pain Stories In The News

Nasal polyps from analgesics
March 10, 2008
If a patient develops respiratory problems after taking analgesics, this indicates that the active substances are poorly tolerated. One should also think of analgesic intolerance when patients suffer from chronic irritation of the gastrointestinal tract, without any recognizable allergy or infection. Story

Sore step relief: New treatments for plantar fasciitis
March 7, 2008
Patients living with plantar fasciitis have several options, including non-operative treatment, partial plantar fasciectomy, shockwave therapy, and  gastrocnemius recession.  Each treatment option has its pros and cons. Story

More Pain Stories In The News

Prescription Addiction, Diversion, and Abuse

Wichita patients having difficulty finding doctors
February 21, 2008
Patients of a Kansas doctor who is charged with illegally prescribing painkillers say medical providers have repeatedly refused to treat them out of concern that they could be subjects of similar prosecution. Story

For Your Patients

New back-strengthening program for back pain relief from Johns Hopkins Health Alerts
February 26, 2008
Johns Hopkins Health Alerts has just published a new quick and easy in-home back-strengthening program for back pain relief. This back-strengthening program is designed to prevent back pain by preventing muscle weakness. Story

News From Industry Sources

Endo licenses U.S. rights for Voltaren® Gel -- the first FDA-approved topical treatment for relief of osteoarthritis pain
March 4, 2008
Voltaren Gel received regulatory approval in October 2007 from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, becoming the first topical prescription treatment for use in treating pain associated with osteoarthritis and the first new product approved in the U.S. for osteoarthritis since 2001. Story

Endo Pharmaceuticals to launch three new dosage strengths of OPANA® ER. Intermediate strengths provide additional dosing options for physicians treating patients with moderate-to-severe chronic pain
March 3, 2008
Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc.announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved three new dosage strengths of OPANA® ER (oxymorphone HCl) extended-release tablets CII. The new strengths -- 7.5 mg, 15 mg, and 30 mg -- will be available on April 1, 2008 and will join previously approved OPANA ER dosage strengths of 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg. Story

More News From Industry Sources

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:

Logan DE, Simons LE, Stein MJ, et al.
School impairment in adolescents with chronic pain. Abstract

Campbell-Fleming JM, Williams A.
The use of ketamine as adjuvant therapy to control severe pain. Abstract

Gregory PJ, Sperry M, Wilson AF.
Dietary supplements for osteoarthritis. Abstract

Kunz M, Mylius V, Schepelmann K, et al.
Impact of age on the facial expression of pain. Abstract

Jackson E, Kelley M, McNeil P, et al.
Does therapeutic touch help reduce pain and anxiety in patients with cancer? Abstract

Harris JM Jr, Elliott TE, Davis BE, et al.
Educating generalist physicians about chronic pain: live experts and online education can provide durable benefits. Abstract

van der Velde G, Hogg-Johnson S, Bayoumi AM, et al.
Identifying the best treatment among common nonsurgical neck pain treatments: a decision analysis. Abstract

248 Research Abstracts

Legislative and Administrative Updates

Branch of Government: U.S. House of Representatives
Title: HR 5465
Summary: A bill to require the Department of Defense to implement a pain care initiative, and for other purposes
Sponsor: Loebsack, David [IA-2]
Latest Action: February 14, 2008: Introduced and Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. full text

Branch of Government: U.S. Senate
Title: S 2160 [Veterans Pain Care Act of 2007]
Summary: Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out at each Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care facility an initiative on pain care which shall include, for each individual receiving treatment at such facility: (1) an assessment for pain at the time of admission or initial treatment, and periodic assessments thereafter; and (2) appropriate pain care including, when necessary, access to specialty pain management services. Directs the Secretary to carry out within the Medical and Prosthetic Research Service of the Veterans Health Administration a program of research and training on acute and chronic pain. Requires the Secretary, under such program, to designate cooperative centers for research and education on pain, with at least one center as a lead center for research on pain attributable to central and peripheral nervous system damage commonly associated with battlefield injuries characteristic of modern warfare.
Sponsor: Daniel K. Akaka, D-HI
Latest Action: February 28, 2008: Report filed by Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs (S.) full text

More Legislative Updates

New Practice Guidelines

Arthritis
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence [U.K.]
Osteoarthritis : the care and management of osteoarthritis in adults
[Summary and recommendations]

Cancer Pain
American College of Chest Physicians
Complementary therapies and integrative oncology in lung cancer
[Summary and recommendations]

Digestive System Diseases
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence [U.K.]
Irritable bowel syndrome in adults : diagnosis and management of irritable bowel syndrome in primary care
[Summary and recommendations]

Palliative Care
American College of Chest Physicians
Palliative care in lung cancer
[Summary and recommendations]

New Clinical Trials

Alabama

Analgesics, Opioid
City: Birmingham
Summary: A clinical research study evaluating an investigational pain medication for a possible once-a day treatment for moderate to severe chronic low back pain.

City: Huntsville
Summary: A clinical research study evaluating an investigational pain medication for a possible once-a day treatment for moderate to severe chronic low back pain.

More New Clinical Trials

Advocacy

Thousands of women across Virginia fight the pains of fibromyalgia; Jennifer Phillips is one woman who is fighting back
February 28, 2008
For six years Jennifer Phillips woke up in the mornings dreading another day of pain, inflammation and stress. Mrs. Phillips, who has made fighting fibromyalgia a lifetime mission and now as reigning Mrs. Virginia United States 2007, she has a platform to advocate for thousands of other women like her. Story

Lagniappe (A little something extra)

Discovery of link between human and insect reactions to stress means comatose locusts may help relieve migraines
February 8, 2008
A study using insect models to examine how the nervous system controls breathing when stress is induced through high temperatures and oxygen deprivation has discovered that the locust's reaction to extreme heat is very similar to a disturbance in mammals that has been associated with human migraines and stroke. Story

The peculiar pain of paper cuts: experts offer theories on how such little cuts can hurt so much
Febebruary 8, 2008
Oh, the paper cut. Since the dawn of office work, it has been the one thing that can make even the most composed business person spew profanities. Somehow, that little cut stings more than any other nick — and it keeps hurting, too. Story

Celebrities suffer from pain, too: pain-prone professionals among rich and famous
January 31, 2008
It's no secret that, with the blessing of celebrity, comes the many burdens of fame -- from impossibly busy schedules to dealing with tabloid scrutiny. However, for many stars, chronic pain presents an additional burden. According to Dr. Robert Kaniecki, director of the Headache Center at the University of Pittsburgh, even stars sometimes don't know when it's time to get treatment for serious pain. Story

Editorial Team
Edward Duensing, Research
Lennie Duensing, Editorial

Design
Carol Harper