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

Léger Survey reports 84 per cent of Ontario physicians feel patients may be addicted to prescription painkillers
September 3, 2008
Prescription painkiller dependence is a serious problem in Ontario, according to the results of a new survey conducted by Léger Marketing polling 211 Ontario General Practitioners. The survey reports that the majority of Ontario physicians (84%) feel that their patients may be addicted to commonly-prescribed painkillers (i.e., opioid-based such as oxycodone, morphine, meperidine and acetaminophen-codeine. Story

College freshmen: Pain killers and stimulants less risky than cocaine; more risky than marijuana
September 3, 2008
First year college students believe that occasional nonmedical use of prescription pain killers and stimulants is less risky than cocaine, but more risky than marijuana or consuming five or more alcoholic beverages every weekend, according to a new study published in the September issue of Prevention Science. Story

More Pain Studies In The News

Pain Stories In The News

Consumer Reports urges chronic headache sufferers to examine their use of pain relief drugs
September 2, 2008
 Consumer Reports advises people who suffer from frequent headaches to talk to their doctors before reaching again into their medicine cabinets. Overuse of prescription and over-the-counter pain medications can make headaches worse. Story

Study examines use of opioids
August 27, 2008
Researchers from Boston University's Slone Epidemiology Center have found that in a given week, over 10 million Americans are taking opioids, and more than 4 million are taking them regularly (at least five days per week, for at least four weeks). Story

More Pain Stories In The News

News From Industry Sources

Alpharma announces acceptance of the EMBEDA™ Capsule NDA filing U.S. Food and Drug Administration grants priority review status
September 02, 2008
Alpharma Inc., announced that the United States Food and Drug Administration has advised the Company that its New Drug Application for EMBEDA™ (morphine sulfate extended-release with sequestered naltrexone hydrochloride) Capsules has been accepted and designated for priority review. The priority review status provides for a review period of six months from the date of submission. Story

Covidien announces agreement with Purdue Pharma L.P. enabling launch of oxycodone hydrochloride extended-release tablets
September 02, 2008
Covidien, a leading global provider of healthcare products, today announced that its subsidiary, Mallinckrodt Inc., has reached an agreement with Purdue Pharma L.P. to end a patent infringement lawsuit between them. In connection with the agreement, Purdue has agreed to grant Mallinckrodt a royalty-bearing license to sell limited quantities of oxycodone hydrochloride extended-release tablets for a limited period of time ending in 2009. As a result, Mallinckrodt expects to begin selling oxycodone hydrochloride extended-release tablets before the end of September 2008. 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:

Lee MS, Shin BC, Ernst E.
Acupuncture for rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review. Abstract

Manchikanti L, Singh V, Falco FJ, Cash KM, Fellows B.
Cervical medial branch blocks for chronic cervical facet joint pain: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial with one-year follow-up. Abstract

Mitra S.
Opioid-induced hyperalgesia: pathophysiology and clinical implications. Abstract

Forsythe ME, Dunbar MJ, Hennigar AW, et al.
Prospective relation between catastrophizing and residual pain following knee arthroplasty: two-year follow-up. Abstract

Little P, Lewith G, Webley F, et al.
Randomised controlled trial of Alexander technique lessons, exercise, and massage (ATEAM) for chronic and recurrent back pain. Abstract

Murina F, Bianco V, Radici G, et al.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation to treat vestibulodynia: a randomised controlled trial. Abstract

173 Research Abstracts

Advocacy

New Survey Reveals Communication Gap Between Healthcare Professionals and Pain Patients - Nation's Top Pain Organizations Unite to Address Issue
September 8, 2008
A nationwide survey found a sizable gap exists between patients and healthcare professionals when it comes to understanding and discussing pain. To address this discrepancy, a new coalition of leading pain management organizations has formed to improve how patients and healthcare professionals communicate with each other. Story

National Vulvodynia Association invites applications for the Dr. Stanley C. Marinoff Vulvodynia Career Development Award
August 14, 2008
The Dr. Stanley C. Marinoff Career Development Award was established to encourage medical professionals to pursue their clinical and/or academic interest in vulvodynia. The award provides seed money for one of the following: (i) medical research (ii) establishment or enhancement of a vulvar pain clinic, or (iii) writing a publication on vulvodynia. The NVA’s intent is to encourage the development of medical professionals in this field and enable them to pursue further clinical or academic opportunities. Story

The Mayday Fund announces 2008-2009 winners of Mayday Pain and Society Fellowship
August 1, 2008
The Mayday Fund announces the selection of six experts in pain management to be fellows under The Mayday Pain & Society Fellowship. The new fellows hail from across the United States and Canada, specializing in a wide variety of health care disciplines including anesthesiology, nursing, pharmacy pediatrics and pain policy. Story

Legislative and Administrative Updates

Branch of Government: California. Assembly
Title: Assembly Concurrent Resolution 112
Summary: Establishes a Legislative Task Force on Fibromyalgia to provide a public information and outreach program, promote fibromyalgia education and training programs for physicians and other health professionals, to collaborate with a broad group of stakeholders, to review current state policies and practices concerning treatment of fibromyalgia, to develop a state fibromyalgia strategic plan, and to hold a related summit.
Sponsor: Dymally
Latest Action: 08/29/2008: Withdrawn from Senate Committee on Rules. Ordered placed on third reading. 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: Negrete McLeod
Latest Action: 08/19/2008: In Senate. Senate concurred in Assembly amendments. To enrollment.
08/22/2008: Enrolled.
08/27/2008: Chaptered by Secretary of State.
08/27/2008: Resolution Chapter No. 117 full text  

Branch of Government: Illinois. Senate
Title: Senate Bill 2012
Summary: Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law. Creates the Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Task Force and membership. Requires hearings. Relates to chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, arthritis and other preventable non-communicable diseases associated with risk factors such as poor nutrition, physical inactivity, tobacco or alcohol abuse as well as other social determinants of chronic illness. Relates to a racial and socioeconomic disparity
Sponsor: Delgado and Radogno
Latest Action: 08/25/2008: Signed by Governor.
08/25/2008: Public Act No. 95-900 full text

New Practice Guidelines

Age Groups, Aged
Horgas AL, Yoon SL
Pain management. [In: Evidence-based geriatric nursing protocols for best practice]
[Summary and recommendations]

Back Pain
American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Low back disorders
[Summary and recommendations]

New Clinical Trials

Alabama

Nervous System Diseases
City: Birmingham
Summary: A study comparing the efficacy and safety of ARC-4558 (clonidine topical gel 0.1%) with placebo in the management of pain associated with painful diabetic neuropathy.

More New Clinical Trials

Books

Mitchell Bebel Stargrove, ND, LAc, Jonathan Treasure, MA, MNIMH, RH (AHG), MCPP and Dwight L. McKee, MD
Herb, Nutrient, and Drug Interactions - Clinical Implications and Therapeutic Strategies
As more and more people take nutritional supplements and herbal medicines, there is a growing concern among alternative and conventional practitioners about potential drug/herb and drug/nutrient interactions. This book provides detailed, evidence-based coverage of the most commonly encountered therapeutic agents in modern clinical practice, and it is designed to help you safely and effectively integrate herbal, nutrient, and drug therapy for your patients or clients. Combining pharmaceuticals with herbs or supplements may complement or interfere with a drug’s therapeutic action or may increase adverse effects. Comprehensive clinical data, quick-reference features, and the insight and expertise of trusted authorities help you gain a confident understanding of how herbal remedies and nutritional supplements interact with pharmaceuticals and develop safe, individualized treatment strategies for your patients. For additional information and to view the table of contents, please click on the following link: Book

Lagniappe (A little something extra)

Sticks and stones: a new study on social and physical pain
August 27, 2008
According to some researchers, words may pack a harder punch that we realize. In a recent study, psychologists found that the pain of physical events may fade with time, while the pain of social occurrences can be re-instantiated through memory retrievals. Story

Flying is a headache, literally, for many travelers
August 27, 2008
In a study of 906 men and women who had traveled more than once by plane, nearly 6 percent reported that they experienced headaches associated with flying. Based on 3.3 billion seats available each year on commercial flights, with 70 percent occupancy, researchers estimate that more than 100 million people suffer from flight-associated headaches annually. Story

Nobel Peace Prize nominee calls for countries to adopt convention on torture
August 20, 2008
One of the world's leading experts on torture issues has urged over 45 countries to ban the use of torture in their nations, by calling upon them to sign the United Nations Convention Against Torture (UNCAT). The Nobel Peace Prize nominee described torture as the worst of all traumas experienced by a person and has called for the remaining countries not only to adopt the Convention, but for those who have already ratified it to follow and implement its articles into law within their countries. Story

Airline travelers willing to pay more for a spine-friendly seat
August 14, 2008
A recent survey showed that 88% of people who had flown in North America in the last year reported that they had back or neck pain--or both--after a typical flight on United, American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, or any of the other major carriers. In addition, 74% said they'd pay an extra fee for a special seat that doesn't give them back or neck pain. Story

Editorial Team
Edward Duensing, Research
Lennie Duensing, Editorial

Design
Carol Harper