New Books

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

Severe headaches associated with higher temperatures, lower barometric pressures
March 10, 2009 [Source: Neurology]
A study of more than 7,000 patients provides some of the first large-scale data on how environmental conditions -- weather, as well as air pollution -- influence headache pain. The findings showed that of all of the environmental factors considered, higher air temperature in the 24 hours prior to the patient's hospital visit was most closely associated with headache symptoms. Story

Pain relief of osteoplasty shown for those suffering from metastatic bone disease
March 10, 2009 [Source: Society of Interventional Radiology]
A recent study showed that osteoplasty—a highly effective minimally invasive procedure to treat the painful effects of metastatic bone disease by injecting bone cement to support weakened bones—provides immediate and substantial pain relief. In the study, the average pain intensity score for patients based on the 11-point visual analog scale dropped significantly from 8.8 +/1.4 to 1.8 +/2.1 within 24 hours of osteoplasty. Story

More Pain Studies In The News

Pain Stories In The News

FDA approves Genzyme’s Synvisc-One for osteoarthritis of the knee Important therapy provides six months pain relief with single injection
February 26, 2009 [Source: Genzyne Corp]
Genzyme Corporation today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted marketing approval for Synvisc-One™ (hylan G-F 20), a product intended for the relief of pain associated of the knee. Synvisc-One is the only single-injection viscosupplement approved for the treatment of OA knee pain in the United States. Story

Competitive Technologies receives FDA authorization for sales of pain therapy medical device
February 25, 2009 [Source: Competitive Technologies, Inc.]
Competitive Technologies, Inc. (NYSE Alternext US:CTT) announced today that the US Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a 501(k) letter of authorization allowing US sales of CTT's pain therapy medical device. The device is a non-invasive method for rapid treatment of high-intensity oncologic and neuropathic pain, including pain resistant to morphine and other drugs. Story

More Pain Stories In The News

Policy and Law

Attorney argues pharmacists have 'duty' to inform about pain drug abuse
March 2, 2009
A Southern Nevada lawyer told the state Supreme Court that pharmacists had a “duty” to at least call physicians to voice their concerns before dispensing a narcotic painkiller to a woman who killed a man in a 2004 accident in Las Vegas. In this case, pharmacists continued to fill prescriptions for the defendant even after being warned by a state task force that she might be a prescription drug abuser. Story

Product News & Clinical Trial Reports

Targacept provides update on TC-6499 and pain program in GlaxoSmithKline alliance
March 11, 2009 [Source: Targacept, Inc]
Targacept, Inc. has announced that it has completed analysis of data from a Phase 1 multiple rising dose trial of TC-6499, and concluded that the results do not project a therapeutic margin sufficient to support further development of TC-6499 for neuropathic pain. Story

Medicated Arthri-Zen Relief Cream clinically shown to work for up to 8 hours
March 11, 2009 [Source: RZN Nutraceuticals]
A recent randomized, blinded study found that Arthri-Zen Relief Cream(R) provides fast relief that is shown to last for up to eight hours. The study recruited 83 adults with physician-diagnosed arthritis, all of whom had had a history of daily arthritis pain for a minimum of six months. For ten days, study subjects applied Arthri-Zen Relief Cream(R) to joint "hot spots" three times a day. The results: 63% of study subjects got relief from swelling, 93.8% experienced an increase in range of motion, 94.1% got relief from arthritis and inflammation and a full 100% had relief from muscle pain and joint stiffness. Story

More Product News & Clinical Trial Reports

For Your Patients

Learn how to reduce back pain caused by commuting by car
March 6, 2009
Studies have found that workers who spend at least half their time in an automobile are three times more likely than average workers to have back pain. It's freeway back misery when you add traffic, tension, adjusting a Bluetooth headset, shuffling CDs, or changing the dial on your iPod as you manage the wheel. Here are some easy "good back" tips for road-weary commuters. Story

New Issues of Online Full-Text Periodicals

Pain Medication & Treatment: ACPA Supplement 2009
March 2009 [Source: American Chronic Pain Association]
Revised annually, the 2009 supplmement of ACPS’s Pain Medication & Treatment is perhaps the most concise and comprehensive document of its kind, which makes it an excellent reference for all healthcare providers. The 2009 edition of this publication features expanded coverage of non-drug interventions and complementary therapy options. Basic information is provided on invasive interventions, such as spinal cord stimulation and implanted intrathecal drug delivery systems, as well as non-invasive passive interventions, like acupuncture and manipulation therapy. Issue

The Beacon [Emerging Solutions in Pain]
February 24, 2009
Issue

Pain Treatment News/Research Updates.
January February 2009
Issue

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:

Chiechio S, Zammataro M, Caraci F, et al.
Pregabalin in the treatment of chronic pain: an overview. Abstract

Chou R, Fanciullo GJ, Fine PG, et al.
Opioids for chronic noncancer pain: prediction and identification of aberrant drug-related behaviors: a review of the evidence for an American Pain Society and American Academy of Pain Medicine clinical practice guideline. Abstract

Chaipinyo K, Karoonsupcharoen O.
No difference between home-based strength training and home-based balance training on pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomised trial. Abstract

Ekici G, Bakar Y, Akbayrak T, et al.
Comparison of manual lymph drainage therapy and connective tissue massage in women with fibromyalgia: a randomized controlled trial. Abstract

Kanai A.
Treatment of lumbar disk herniation by percutaneous intradiscal high-pressure injection of saline. Abstract

Talaei A, Siavash M, Majidi H, et al.
Vitamin B(12) may be more effective than nortriptyline in improving painful diabetic neuropathy. Abstract

von Trott P, Wiedemann AM, Lüdtke R, et al.
Qigong and exercise therapy for elderly patients with chronic neck pain (QIBANE): a randomized controlled study. Abstract

196 Research Abstracts

Legislative and Administrative Updates

Branch of Government: Illinois. House
Title: House Bill 9
Summary:Creates the Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Education Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health, subject to appropriation, shall establish the Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Education Program to promote public awareness of the syndrome and the importance of early detection, diagnosis, and treatment. Provides that the Department shall work with health care providers, local public health agencies, and other appropriate
Sponsor: Tracy and May
Status: 01/14/2009 Introduced.
01/14/2009 To House Committee on Rules.
02/04/2009 To House Committee on Health Care Availability and Accessibility.
02/19/2009 In House. Placed on Short Debate Calendar. Second Reading. [full text]

Branch of Government: Illinois. House
Title: House Bill 626
Summary:Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Illinois Insurance Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, and the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act; provides that an individual or group policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan must provide coverage for … physician prescribed or ordered pain medication.
Sponsor: Flowers
Status: 02/05/2009 Introduced.
02/06/2009 To House Committee on Rules.
02/11/2009 To House Committee on Health Care Availability and Accessibility.
01/14/2009 To House Committee on Rules. [full text]

More Legislative and Administrative Updates

New Practice Guidelines

Analgesics, Opioid
American Pain Society
Clinical guidelines for the use of chronic opioid therapy in chronic noncancer pain
[Summary and recommendations]

Anesthesia
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence [UK]
Ultrasound-guided regional nerve block
[Summary and recommendations]

More Practice Guidelines

New Clinical Trials

Alabama

Nervous System Diseases
City: Birmingham
Summary: A study evaluating the safety and efficacy of RGH-896 in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain.

Arizona

Headache Disorders
City: Gilbert
Summary: A study to determine how well the combination medication, sumatriptan and naproxen sodium, treats migraine headache in adolescents 12-17 years old.

City: Litchfield Park
Summary: A study to determine how well the combination medication, sumatriptan and naproxen sodium, treats migraine headache in adolescents 12-17 years old.

More New Clinical Trials

New Books

Jackie Gardner-Nix
The mindfulness solution to pain : step-by-step techniques for chronic pain management
2008, New Harbinger
Description: This new book offers a revolutionary treatment approach, mindfulness-based chronic pain management, that helps your patients harness their mind’s power to quiet their pain and put them in control of it. This book, which includes stationary meditations, movement meditations, mindful art, and other strategies, will help them understand how emotions and thoughts affect physical symptoms and reverse the debilitating effects of some chronic pain conditions. More info

30% discount for Academy members (good until May 1, 2009)

Lagniappe (A little something extra)

Leeches: beauty treatment or pain reducer? (Video)
March 12, 2009 [Source: CBS News]
Actress Demi Moore swears by the treatment, but experts say it's meant for medical reasons. Story

Too much PlayStation may cause painful lumps
February 25, 2009 [Source: University Hospitals and Medical School of Geneva]
Gamers beware: Keeping too tight a grip on the console and furiously pushing the buttons can cause a newly identified skin disorder, PlayStation palmar hidradentitis, which is marked by painful lumps on the palms. Story

Hot chili peppers help unravel the mechanism of pain
February 25, 2009 [Source: PLoS Biology]
Researchers have used capsaicin -- the chemical that makes peppers like this jalapeno spicy hot -- to uncover novel insight into how pain-receptor systems can adapt to painful stimuli. By combining electrical and optical measurements, they now have been able to link directly the depletion of PIP2 and the desensitization of the receptor. Story

Editorial Team
Edward Duensing, Research
Lennie Duensing, Editorial

Design
Carol Harper, Art Direction
Katie Duensing, Data Input