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

New treatment for prostatitis from Stanford researchers helps many sufferers of pelvic pain
June 8, 2007
The Stanford researchers do not treat prostatitis as a disease of the prostate gland. Instead the treatment focuses on relaxing chronic tension and releasing spasm in the pelvic muscles. Story

Do parents play a role in their kids' migraine pain? Study: how much headache pain is genetic, how much is mimicked?
June 7, 2007
There are more than two million kids who suffer from migraines in this country - some as young as five years old.* Nearly 9 times out of 10, those kids come from families with a history of migraines.* While these headaches may be shared, does that mean the pain is necessarily the same? A new study is underway to find out how much pain is genetic, and how much is mimicked. Story

24 More Pain Studies In The News

Pain Stories In The News

Pain-Topics.org Addresses Oxycodone Safety Concerns
June 11, 2007
A new, peer-reviewed report exclusively from Pain Treatment Topics provides guidance on the safe prescribing of immediate release (IR) and controlled release (CR) oxycodone. Additionally, a patient instructions handout emphasizes medication compliance and safety to help prevent accidental misuse and avoidable adverse events. Story

Mallinckrodt launches Magnacet(TM) tablets
June 7, 2007
Mallinckrodt Brand Pharmaceuticals today announced that it is providing a new pain management drug, called Magnacet(TM) (oxycodone HCl /acetaminophen tablets CII). Magnacet is the only available Oxycodone product coupled with 400mg of acetaminophen, a unique dosage that gives physicians flexibility in treating patients with moderate to moderately severe pain. Story

9 More Pain Stories In The News

Prescription Addiction, Diversion, and Abuse

University of Wisconsin, Pain & Policy Studies Group publishes slide show entitled, “Diversion of prescription opioids” on the Internet
June 1, 2007
In recent years, attention to the increasing and tragic consequences of abuse of opioid analgesics has led some to suggest that the main source of the problem is physicians' prescribing to pain patients, rekindling fears about regulatory scrutiny and doubts about the use of these important medications. Such assertions need to be examined in light of evidence that there are many sources of diversion, including theft of large quantities from pharmacies before they are prescribed. Story

New CASA White Paper finds 70 percent rise in web sites advertising, selling prescription opioids, stimulants, depressants
May 16, 2007
For three years straight, the number of rogue Web sites selling controlled prescription drugs like OxyContin, Vicodin, Valium, and Ritalin has increased, according The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University. Story

3 More Prescription Addiction, Diversion, and Abuse Articles

For Your Patients

Patient Instructions Handout: Safely Taking Oxycodone
This peer-reviewed paper discusses the safe prescribing of both immediate release (IR) and long-duration controlled release (CR) formulations of oxycodone. Concerns about oxycodone diversion, misuse, and abuse have been justified; however, with proper prescribing, appropriate risk management, and effective patient education, it remains a useful analgesic option in the practice of pain management. Story

News From Industry Sources

AVANIR Pharmaceuticals presents Zenvia phase III data in diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain at International Congress on Neuropathic Pain
June 8, 2007
Active treatment with Zenvia significantly reduced pain interference with daily activities and sleep compared with placebo. Story

Trexima(TM) (sumatriptan/naproxen sodium) demonstrated migraine-free response across multiple attacks
June 8, 2007
New data from two large trials show that Trexima, when taken early, was nearly twice as effective as placebo in eliminating all traditional migraine symptoms at two and four hours across multiple attacks with just one tablet. Story

8 More News From Industry Sources Stories

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:

Ballantyne JC.
Opioid analgesia: perspectives on right use and utility. Abstract

Hamilton NA, Catley D, Karlson C.
Sleep and the affective response to stress and pain. Abstract

Hoffmann DE.
Can state medical boards adequately respond to reports that physicians are inappropriately prescribing opioids? Abstract

Dixon KE, Keefe FJ, Scipio CD, et al.
Psychological interventions for arthritis pain management in adults: a meta-analysis. Abstract

Massey PB.
Reduction of fibromyalgia symptoms through intravenous nutrient therapy: results of a pilot clinical trial. Abstract

363 Research Abstracts

Legislative and Administrative Updates

Branch of Government: U.S. Congress. House of Representatives
Title: House Concurrent Resolution 159
Summary: Expressing the support of Congress for a National Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Awareness Month.
Sponsor: Bishop
Latest Action: Referred to House Energy and Commerce (05/24/20070 [full text]

Branch of Government: U. S. Congress. House of Representatives
Title: Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act
Summary: To amend the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2001 to require the provision of chiropractic care and services to veterans at all Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers.
Sponsor: Filner
Latest Action: Referred to the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs (05/24/2007) [full text]

10 More Legislative and Administrative Updates

Practice Guidelines

Headache Disorders
British Association for the Study of Headache
Guidelines for all healthcare professionals in the diagnosis and management of migraine, tension-type, cluster and medication-overuse headache, 3rd edition, 2007
[full text]

Innovative Medical Research, Inc
Migraine Disability Assessment Questionnaire
[full text]

3 More Practice Guidelines

New Clinical Trials

Arizona

Spinal Stenosis
City: Phoenix
Purpose: Purpose: To assess whether the Stabilimax NZ™ is at least as safe and effective as the control therapy of fusion in patients receiving decompression surgery for the treatment of clinically symptomatic spinal stenosis at one or two contiguous vertebral levels from L1-S1.

California

Nervous System Diseases (Neuropathic Pain)
City: Irvine
Purpose: To collect beginning information on whether intravenous (IV) administration of KRN5500 is safe and effective for treatment of neuropathic pain in patients with cancer.

54 More New Clinical Trials

Advocacy

National Vulvodynia Association invites research proposals
The NVA invites research proposals focusing on the classification, etiology, diagnosis and/or treatment of generalized vulvodynia or vulvar vestibulitis syndrome.

Grants typically range from $15,000 to $25,000. Due to the limited amount of funding, NVA requires confirmation that all funds will be applied to direct research costs, not institutional costs.

If you are interested in applying, please submit a brief letter of intent to Chris Veasley (chris@nva.org) by June 30, 2007 outlining the following:

- Name and professional background of the primary investigator
- Study objective and time frame
- Budget summary (US dollars)

NVA will email you application guidelines following receipt of your letter of intent. Completed applications are due August 10, 2007. If you have previously submitted a proposal to NVA, you are invited to re-apply. Applicants do not have to be US residents. We welcome correspondence about potential projects. Please direct any questions to Christin Veasley via email (chris@nva.org) or phone (401-398-0830).

Lagniappe (A little something extra)

10 embarrassing massage questions
Do you tip? Are you supposed to be nude? Do you say anything if the pressure's not deep enough? What if you're self-conscious about your body? Story

Hollywood headaches are flights of fancy
June 07, 2007
Headaches don't kill. But you'd never know it if you relied on Hollywood for your medical information, researchers contend in a new report. The portrayals are often misleading and could confuse viewers, a new study suggests. Story

Editorial Team
Edward Duensing, Research
Lennie Duensing, Editorial

Design
Carol Harper