Pain Studies In The News
Price makes the pain go down, study says
March 4, 2008
In a recent study, researchers found that people given identical pills got greater pain relief from the one they were told cost $2.50 than from one supposedly costing 10 cents. Story
Study sees prescription drug abuse at colleges
March 3, 2008
About a fifth of U.S. college students are taking painkilling pills and other prescription drugs to get high. And students who take prescription drugs for non-medical reasons are at least five times more likely to meet the definition of having a drug abuse problem than students not misusing them. Story
Runners' high demonstrated: brain imaging shows release of endorphins in brain
March 3, 2008
Researchers have succeeded in demonstrating the existence of an 'endorphin driven runner's high'. These results are also relevant for patients suffering from chronic pain, because the body's own opiates are produced in areas of the brain which are involved in the suppression of pain. Story
Aromatherapy may make you feel good, but it won't make you well, study shows
March 3, 2008
One of the most comprehensive investigations done to date on aromatherapy failed to show any improvement in either immune status, wound healing or pain control among people exposed to two often-touted scents. While one of two popular aromas touted by alternative medicine practitioners – lemon – did appear to enhance moods positively among study subjects, the other – lavender – had no effect on reported mood, based on three psychological tests. Story
Patients educate patients to control migraine
February 27, 2008
When migraine patients trained other migraine patients how to prevent migraine headaches, attacks declined and both trainers and trainees gained a greater sense of control over their attacks. Story
Risks of CVD for COX-2 inhibitors lower than previously reported
February 26, 2008
Researchers conclude that the cardiovascular disease risks (CVD) for COX-2 inhibitors are no greater than most traditional NSAIDs, except naproxen, and are smaller than previously suggested. They believe that, for the present, individual clinical judgments about COX-2 inhibitors and NSAIDs should not be limited to risks of CVD but that they should also include concerns about non-CVD risks such as gastrointestinal bleeding, and other benefits, including improved quality of life resulting from decreases in impairment from musculoskeletal pain syndromes. Story
Acupuncture may be effective for menstrual pain
February 26, 2008
Acupuncture can help relieve menstrual pain and improve the quality of life for some women, a new study from Germany shows. Among women given acupuncture, 63.4 percent reported at least a 33 percent improvement in their symptoms, while 24 percent of women in the control group did. Story
Spine surgery yield greater benefits over nonsurgical treatments
February 22, 2008
A research study by orthopedic spine, back and neck surgeon at Rush University Medical Center Dr. Howard An and colleagues found that patients who underwent surgery for spinal stenosis showed significantly more improvement in all primary outcomes than did patients who were treated nonsurgically. Story
Swimming eases pain of mystery ailment (fibromyalgia)
February 21, 2008
In a recent study of 33 women, the researchers had one group exercise in warm water for more than an hour three times a week for eight months while the others did no aquatic training. The women who swam said the workouts helped ease their pain and they reported an improved quality of life. Story
More than one-quarter of seniors living at home report chronic pain: StatsCan
February 21, 2008
More than one-quarter of Canadian seniors living in households and almost 40 per cent of those in institutions experience pain on a regular basis, Not surprisingly, a high proportion of those with chronic pain found it had an impact on their quality of life. Story
Weight training aids chronic neck pain
February 21, 2008
New research suggests that strength training may ease chronic neck and shoulder pain, a problem that has grown increasingly common as people spend more time on computers.
The current study included 48 Danish women with chronic trapezius pain, most of whom spent much of their workday in front of a computer. After 10 weeks, women who strength-trained showed a 70 percent to 80 percent decrease in their pain ratings from the beginning of the study. Story
Oxymorphone extended release effective in opioid-experienced patients with degenerative disc disease: presented at AAPM
February 18, 2008
Most patients with degenerative disc disease can achieve good pain control when they switch from an opioid to an extended-release formulation of oxymorphone. Story
Chronic pain should be considered a disease
February 15, 2008
The concept that chronic pain is a disease in its own right is leading to new specific treatments aimed at physical, psychological, and environmental components of this major disease, including genetic predisposition, according to a world renowned pain medicine expert. Story
Seven-year neck pain study sheds light on best care
February 15, 2008
A seven-year, international study published today finds that some alternative therapies such as acupuncture, neck manipulation and massage are better choices for managing most common neck pain than many current practices. Also included in the short-list of best options for relief are exercises, education, neck mobilization, low level laser
therapy and pain relievers. Story
Patients with fibromyalgia treated with a synthetic form of marijuana, nabilone, showed significant reductions in pain and anxiety in a first-of-its-kind study
February 14, 2008
Results of a recent study showed the nabilone group had significant reductions in pain and anxiety, measured by comparisons with baseline scores on the visual analogue scale for pain, the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and the FIQ anxiety score. From the data, the study concluded nabilone has significant benefits for pain relief and functional improvement in fibromyalgia patients. Although the improvement was significant, none of the nabilone-treated subjects had complete relief of their fibromyalgia symptoms. Story
Expenditures rising for back and neck problems, but health outcomes do not appear to be improving
February 12, 2008
Although expenses related to back and neck problems have increased substantially in the last decade, outcomes such as functional disability and work limitations do not appear to be improving. Story
Reducing pain: osteoarthritis study looks at weight loss as solution
February 12, 2008
A new study wants to determine if losing a significant amount of weight will reduce pain in their knees, improve their mobility and stave off the effects of osteoarthritis. Story
Epilepsy drug fails for migraine prevention
February 11, 2008
Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) failed to hold off severe migraine headaches despite earlier data suggesting it did, researchers found. Action Points Unlike certain other epilepsy drugs successful for migraine, oxcarbazepine does not regulate a neurotransmitter involved in the headaches. Story
Inexpensive online pain education program for physicians as effective as live presentations by national experts
February 11, 2008
In a recent study, researchers compared the online education programs to live presentations. Physicians attending both pain education programs had comparable improvements in their pain management knowledge and beliefs and these improvements lasted at least 3 months. Story |
