Pain Studies In The News
Brain response differences found in the way women with IBS anticipate and react to pain
January 4, 2007
Researchers found that women with IBS cannot effectively turn-off a pain modulation mechanism in the brain, which causes them to be more sensitive to abdominal pain, compared to women without IBS. Story
Minorities less likely to get narcotics for pain in emergency department
January 6, 2007
Blacks and Hispanics who go to hospital emergency departments in pain are significantly less likely than whites to get pain-relieving opioid drugs, according to a new study. Blacks were prescribed opioids at lower rates than other groups for almost every type of pain-related emergency department visit, including back pain, headache, and abdominal pain. Story
Exercise program improves symptoms in arthritis patients
January 4, 2008
Patients with arthritis, the country’s leading cause of disability, tend to be less fit than their peers who don’t have this condition. Studies have shown, however, that they can safely participate in exercise programs to increase their fitness, strength and psychosocial status and that health providers recommend that arthritis patients participate in exercise. Story
Blacks, Hispanics less likely to get strong pain drugs in emergency rooms
January 1, 2008
Despite increases in the overall use of opioid drugs to relieve severe pain, black and Hispanic patients remain significantly less likely than whites to receive these pain-relievers in emergency rooms, according to a new national study. Story
Use of opioids to treat pain in emergency departments on the rise, but racial differences in opioid use still exist
December 27, 2007
In the last 15 years, use of opioid medications to treat patients with pain-related emergency department visits has improved although white patients were more likely to receive opioids than patients of a different race/ethnicity. Story
Massage may help ease pain and anxiety after surgery
December 18, 2007
A 20-minute evening back massage may help relieve pain and reduce anxiety following major surgery when given in addition to pain medications. Compared with the control group, patients in the massage group experienced short-term decreases in pain intensity, pain unpleasantness and anxiety Story
Battle of the sexes: male vs female response to pain and illness exposed
December 18, 2007
New pain research has confirmed the long-held belief that men and women suffer from and cope with pain and illness in different ways. men were more likely to regard themselves as 'Battlers', i.e. they will take a cold or flu remedy and carry on with their daily routine, while women were more likely to regard themselves as 'Fussers'. Fussers will try anything and everything to relieve their symptoms. Story
Sugar injections resolve chronic neck pain
December . 18, 2007
Researchers studied 98 patients who had suffered with chronic neck pain for a near average of five years and who during that time had visited with an average of three physicians/pain specialists without satisfactory resolving of their pain. Physicians then performed Prolotherapy, a series of injections of a dextrose (sugar) solution into the neck.
Ninety percent of patients who were on medications at the start of Prolotherapy were able to cut their pain medication usage by 50% or more Story
Growth hormone may relieve fibromyalgia pain
December 17, 2007
Daily injections of growth hormone may help reduce pain and improve the quality of life in some patients with fibromyalgia, new findings of a small study suggest. Twelve patients were randomly selected to receive daily injections of growth hormone therapy. After 12 months, the number of tender points was much lower in those who received the growth hormone Story
Pain treatment in the field: good for soldiers’ comfort and better for rebuilding troop strength
December 17, 2007
Noncombat-related acute and recurrent chronic pain are the leading causes of soldier attrition in modern war, with the return-to-duty rate as low as 2 percent when these soldiers are treated outside the theaters of operation. However, that rate jumps to 95 percent when troops and officers are treated and managed for pain in the field of instead of being sent elsewhere for therapy, according to a new study Story
Constipation most common cause of children's abdominal pain
December 17, 2007
Acute and chronic constipation together accounted for nearly half of all cases of acute abdominal pain in children treated at one hospital. A new study suggests that physicians should do a simple rectal examination for constipation when trying to determine the cause of abdominal pain in children. Story
Chronic knee pain: is surgery the only solution?
December 13, 2007
The results of a study indicate that sufferers of chronic patellofemoral syndrome, a chronic pain in the front part of the knee, gain no extra benefit from surgery. Furthermore, the authors suggest that giving these patients a therapeutic exercise regime rather than putting them through surgery could save money. Story
New data about the impact of the shingles virus on healthy adults
December 12, 2007
When a vaccine to prevent shingles was approved for use in 2006, the Food and Drug Administration recommended the vaccine for people age 60 and older who previously had chickenpox. But two issues -- the vaccine’s cost and the perception that shingles primarily affects adults with weakened immune systems -- have left some physicians undecided about whether healthy adults need the vaccine. Story
New research finding on experience of pain
December 12, 2007
Researchers at UQ's Queensland Brain Institute have discovered a new brain mechanism that plays an important role in regulating how we experience pain. Their findings indicate that there is also an interaction between the stress pathways in the brain and the pain pathway that targets the amygdala Story
New surgical devices treat neck pain while preserving motion
December 11, 2007
Surgeons from the Spine and Back Center at Rush University Medical Center are now offering the first artificial cervical disc approved by the FDA and are studying additional new devices to help reduce pain while preserving the motion of the spine. Story
Sympathomimetic amine therapy may improve refractory gastroparesis similar to its effect on chronic pelvic pain--case report
December 10, 2007
A medical condition common in women, not well known by the medical community, manifests with a variety of symptomatology and is related to a defect in the sympathetic nervous system leading to increased capillary permeability. The condition usually manifests as either fluid retention or pain syndrome. Without knowledge of this condition, the cause of the women's complaints are usually found refractory to a variety of treatments. They do, however, respond quickly and effectively to treatment with sympathomimetic amines. Story
Meniscal damage and the development of persistent knee pain
December 8, 2007
Meniscal damage does often not directly provoke knee symptoms. Meniscal damage is a feature of knee osteoarthritis, independent of knee pain, aching, and stiffness, according to new research. Story |
