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 Study Finds Oral Cannabis Ineffective in Treating Acute Pain
August 7, 2008
A study published in the July issue of the Journal Anesthesiology discovered that oral cannabis (a form of medical marijuana) not only failed to alleviate certain types of pain in human volunteers but, surprisingly, it instead caused increased sensitivity to some forms of pain. Story

Medicinal marijuana effective for neuropathic pain in HIV
August 6, 2008
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to assess the impact of smoked medical cannabis, or marijuana, on the neuropathic pain associated with HIV, researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine found that reported pain relief was greater with cannabis than with a placebo. Story

More Pain Studies In The News

Pain Stories In The News

New remedies approach arthritis pain gingerly
August 5, 2008
Ginger is delicious in a stir fry, but can it also help arthritis? Ginger in concentrated form is sold as pills, massage oil and now a new cream to treat arthritis. Lab tests show ginger has strong anti-inflammatory properties, but doctors say there's scant proof that it eases arthritis. Story

Treatment for pain divides physicians
August 3, 2008
While federal investigators try to track down Kentuckians who go out of state to secure prescription pain pills to sell or abuse, many Kentucky doctors are wrestling with questions of how and when to treat thousands of legitimate patients who need those same drugs. Story

More Pain Stories In The News

Policy and Law

Hatch, Dodd bill could bring relief to 75 million Americans who suffer from severe pain
July 31, 2008
Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) introduced a bill today that could bring relief to an estimated 75 million Americans who suffer from chronic or acute pain. The National Pain Care Policy Act of 2008 is aimed at overcoming obstacles to pain care by coordinating research, improving healthcare provider education and raising awareness of pain and pain management. Story

Key House Committee approves Walz Veterans Pain Care Act Walz says bill will improve quality of life for veterans
July 17, 2008
Tohe Veterans Pain Care Act of 2008, authored by Congressman Tim Walz was approved by the House Veterans Affairs Committee clearing the way for the legislation to go before the full House of Representatives. Story

News From Industry Sources

5-LOXIN® proven to reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis in new human study published in Arthritis Research and Therapy
August 1, 2008
In the study, 5-LOXIN supplementation conferred clinically and statistically significant improvements in pain scores and physical function scores in OA patients at doses of 100mg and 250mg daily. Interestingly, significant improvements in pain score and functional ability were recorded in as early as 7 days after the start of treatment. 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:

Blum K, Chen AL, Chen TJ, et al.
The H-Wave(R) device is an effective and safe non-pharmacological analgesic for chronic pain: a meta-analysis. Abstract

de Ru JA, Buwalda J.
Botulinum toxin A injection into corrugator muscle for frontally localised chronic daily headache or chronic tension-type headache. Abstract

Hudson TJ, Edlund MJ, Steffick DE, et al.
Epidemiology of regular prescribed opioid use: results from a national, population-based survey. Abstract

Lachapelle DL, Lavoie S, Boudreau A.
The meaning and process of pain acceptance. Perceptions of women living with arthritis and fibromyalgia. Abstract

McCabe CS, Blake DR.
An embarrassment of pain perceptions? Towards an understanding of and explanation for the clinical presentation of CRPS type 1. Abstract

Seers K, Crichton N, Martin J, et al.
A randomised controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of a single session of nurse administered massage for short term relief of chronic non-malignant pain. Abstract

227 Research Abstracts

Legislative and Administrative Updates

Branch of Government: U.S. Congress. House
Title: Pain Care Act of 2008 (H.R. 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: Walz
Latest Action: 0710/2008: Approved for full Committee action by House Committee on Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health full text

Branch of Government: U.S. Congress. Senate
Title: National Pain Care Policy Act of 2008 (S. 3387)
Summary: A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to pain care
Sponsor: Hatch
Latest Action: 07/31/08: Introduced and referred to Referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. full text

Branch of Government: California. Senate
Title: S.J.R. 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 lauch a public awareness campaign on that subject.
Sponsor: McLeod
Latest Action: 07/14/2008 Adopted by Assembly. To Senate for concurrence. full text  

New Clinical Guidelines

Analgesics, Opioid
NHS. National Patient Safety Agency (U.K.)
Reducing dosing errors with opioid medicines
[Summary and recommendations] [Supporting Information]

Analgesics, Opioid
Trescot AM, Helm S, Hansen H, Benyamin R, Glaser SE, Adlaka R, Patel S, Manchikanti L
Opioids in the management of chronic non-cancer pain: an update of American Society of the Interventional Pain Physicians' (ASIPP) guidelines.
[Summary and recommendations]

Back Pain
Michigan Quality Improvement Consortium
Management of acute low back pain
[Summary and recommendations]

New Clinical Trials

Alabama

Herpes Zoster
City: Birmingham
Summary: A clinical research study of an investigational vaccine to see if it prevents shingles.

Nervous System Diseases
City: Birmingham
Summary: A study of Metanx® in subjects with type 2 diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

More New Clinical Trials

Lagniappe (A little something extra)

When fashion can be a pain!
July 28, 2008
Those shiny earrings, neck chains and even fillings might be giving you the ‘bling’ edge over the others, but in the bargain you may be putting your back at stake, Simon King from New Zealand said earrings, neck chains, watches and even fillings and gold crowns could trigger debilitating muscle ache. Story

Avoid the pain of a jet plane
July 28, 2008
Physiotherapist Dave Burliston offers some advice on how to make sure your holiday is a pleasure and not a pain. The last thing you want is your overworked body giving in to the strain of it all and your holiday bed being replaced with a hospital bed. Story

Editorial Team
Edward Duensing, Research
Lennie Duensing, Editorial

Design
Carol Harper