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

Pramipexole can significantly reduce limb pain in patients with restless legs syndrome
June 10, 2008   
A new study demonstrating that pramipexole (Mirapexin(R)/Sifrol(R)) can significantly reduce RLS-associated limb pain in patients with Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)(1). This effect is in addition to delivering effective relief from the broad range of RLS symptoms, including sleep disruption, daytime tiredness and mood disturbance. Story

The jury is still out on how best to treat chronic pain
June 8, 2008
A review of recent studies on pain reports that while various approaches and combinations of therapies to treat pain have advantages and disadvantages, researchers don't yet know how to determine which is best for individual patients. Story

More Pain Studies In The News

Pain Stories In The News

Physical signs of severe pain separate drug seekers from legitimate patients
June 11, 2008
Healthcare providers face the problem of distinguishing between patients in pain who need potent opioid drugs for relief and persons seeking drugs for illicit purposes. A new report from Pain-Topics.org tells how to objectively assess legitimate pain. Story

America in everyday pain?  
June 10, 2008
Nearly half of Americans are using over-the-counter pain medication like aspirin, Advil or Tylenol on a daily basis according to a recent survey Among those survey respondents who do take over-the-counter pain medication on a daily basis, 10 percent cited heart health as the reason, 23 percent cited muscle pain, 26 percent cited joint pain, 21 percent cited migraine pain and 20 percent said they take these products for back pain. Story

Debt hurts your body, too
June 9, 2008
Among the people reporting high debt stress in a new poll, 44 percent had migraines or other headaches and more than half had muscle tension, including pain in the lower back. That can be compared with 15 percent and 31 percent of those with low levels of debt stress. Story

Nagging headache often linked to dental pain
June 3, 2008
Many headache sufferers might want to consult their dentist as well as their doctor since headaches and dental pain have a lot in common. Pain centered in the nerves and muscles running throughout the face and neck can trap sufferers in a painful feedback loop, with head pain triggering jaw and neck pain and vice versa. 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:

Katz N.
Abuse-deterrent opioid formulations: are they a pipe dream? Abstract

Andereya S, Stanzel S, Maus U, et al.
Assessment of leech therapy for knee osteoarthritis: a randomized study. Abstract

Chen LM, Miaskowski C, Dodd M, et al.
Concepts within the Chinese culture that influence the cancer pain experience. Abstract

Hirsh AT, George SZ, Bialosky JE, et al.
Fear of pain, pain catastrophizing, and acute pain perception: relative prediction and timing of assessment. Abstract

Underwood M, Ashby D, Carnes D, et al.
Topical or oral ibuprofen for chronic knee pain in older people. The TOIB study. Abstract

229 Research Abstracts

Legislative and Administrative Updates

Branch of Government: U.S. Congress. House
Title: Veterans Pain Care Act of 2008 (HR 6122)
Summary: A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop and implement a comprehensive policy on the management of pain experienced by veterans enrolled for health care services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes
Sponsor: Tim Walz
Latest Action: 05/21/2008 -- Introduced to the House; Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. full text

Branch of Government: California. Senate
Title: Senate Joint Resolution 25
Summary: Urges the Congress of the United States to accelerate the federal investment in fibromyalgia research at the National Institutes of Health, to ensure adequate Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement and coverage of fibromyalgia therapies and to launch a public awareness campaign on that subject.
Sponsor: Negrete McLeod
Latest Action: 05/22/2008 -- To Assembly Committee on Health. full text

More Legislative and Administrative Updates

New Clinical Guidelines

Back Pain
MVP Health Care
Back Care Program That Emphasizes Pain Control and Behavioral Modifications Reduces Pain Levels and Lost Workdays (update)
[Summary and recommendations]

National Committee for Quality Assurance
Use of imaging studies for low back pain: percentage of members with a primary diagnosis of low back pain who did not have an imaging study (plain x-ray, MRI, CT scan) within 28 days of the diagnosis. (update)
[Summary and recommendations]

Pelvic Pain
European Association of Urology
Guidelines on chronic pelvic pain
[Summary and recommendations]

New Clinical Trials

Arizona

Fibromyalgia
City: Chandler
Summary: A clinical research study seeks volunteers experiencing symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Headache Disorders
City: Phoenix
Summary: A research study of satisfaction with medications for migraines.

Nervous System Diseases
City: Mesa
Summary: A study evaluating the effect of an investigational medication in combination with an approved medication for relieving the pain of post-herpetic neuralgia.

More New Clinical Trials

Lagniappe (A little something extra)

People with joint pain can really forecast thunderstorms
June 3, 2008
Doctor at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia says you should believe your grandmother, friend or co-worker when they tell you it’s going to rain—even if it’s simply because their aching knees, hips, hands or shoulders “say so.” Individuals can experience pain fluctuations with the slightest change in barometric pressure, but most patients report significant increases in pain before and during severe changes in weather, like summer downpours and thunderstorms. Story

A history of pleasure and pain
May 17, 2008
Drugs in their many and varied forms have been with us since the dawn of human history. A Melbourne Museum exhibition is examining their changing roles through the ages, writes Kate Holden. Story

Editorial Team
Edward Duensing, Research
Lennie Duensing, Editorial

Design
Carol Harper