Pain Studies in the News
Tai Chi improves pain in arthritis sufferers
June 2, 2009 Source: Arthritis & Rheumatism
The results of a new analysis have provided good evidence to suggest that Tai Chi is beneficial for arthritis. Specifically, it was shown to decrease pain with trends towards improving overall physical health, level of tension and satisfaction with health status. Story
Back to normal: surgery improves outcomes for spine patients
May 29, 2009 Source: American Academy of Orthopaedic
People with the spine disease called degenerative spondylolisthesis -- who choose surgical treatment -- experience substantially greater relief from pain over time compared to those who do not have surgery, according to a new In the past, physicians had been uncertain whether surgery provided significantly greater relief for patients, but these results help to confirm the advantages to surgery. Story
Pain hurts our economy and is debilitating productivity in the Canadian workplace
May 28, 2009 Source: Canadian Pain Society
According to surveys of 4,000 Canadians conducted in 2007 and 2008, over 18% of adults suffer from chronic pain. Of the 600 moderate to severe chronic pain sufferers given a more detailed survey, almost 60% had lost their job, suffered loss of income or had a reduction in
responsibilities as a result of their pain.Pain is negatively impacting our workforce,
causing a throbbing issue that must be addressed.
Story
Common migraine pain condition also prevalent in cluster headache
May 27, 2009 Source: Thomas Jefferson University
A pain condition common in people with migraines also has a high prevalence in patients with cluster headache, according to a new study. Approximately half of a group of patients with cluster headaches experienced cutaneous allodynia, a condition that causes patients to have pain as a response to normally inconspicuous sensations. Story
New survey results highlight major gaps in public awareness of gout
May 22, 2009 Source: The Gout & Uric Acid Education Society
The Gout & Uric Acid Education Society announced today that new survey results reveal alarming gaps in the public's awareness of gout. In the survey of more than 2,000 Americans, 65% of adults admitted to being "not at all knowledgeable" about gout and just over 70% did not know that gout is a form of arthritis. Story
Intervention helps reduce pain and depression
May 26, 2009 Source: American Medical Association
For patients who experience pain and depression, common co-existing conditions, an intervention that included individually tailored antidepressant therapy and a pain self-management program resulted in greater improvement in the symptoms of these conditions than patients who received usual care. Story
Study offers new insights into morphine-induced tolerance and increased pain sensitivity
May 21, 2009 Source: Source: American Society of Anesthesiologists
A study published in the June issue of Anesthesiology has shown that a drug metabolite of the opioid morphine may be a key factor in the paradoxical increased sensitivity to pain caused by chronic morphine use. Story
Painkiller patch can lead to addiction
May 15, 2009 Source: The Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Morphine patches are supposed to reduce use of painkillers, and provide more control over their use in chronic pain conditions. This method of medication is best for patients who need low doses of pain-relieving medicine. In a perfect world, it makes sense: the medication could be more controlled, drug consumption could be reduced, and the risk of dependence should therefore be less. Now it turns out that incorrect use of the patches can make problems worse, so that the effect is the opposite of what was intended. Story
Doctors with 'special interest' in back pain know less about treating it
May 14, 2009 Source: Wolters Kluwer Health
Primary care physicians with a "special interest" in managing back pain are actually less well-informed about the latest research-based evidence on back pain treatment, reports a recent study. Story
Prevalence of interstitial cystitis in U.S. much larger than previously believed
May 13, 2009 Source: Interstitial Cystitis Association
Three to eight million women in the United States may have interstitial cystitis . This newly released prevalence number represents about 3 to 6 percent of all U.S. women. This sharper picture of who has interstitial cystitis and what it is results from an expansive and rigorous epidemiology study funded by the National Institutes of Health. The initial screening data from surveys of 100,000 households reveals interstitial cystitis prevalence much higher than was previously thought. Story
Real and simulated acupuncture appear effective for back pain
May 11, 2009 Source: American Medical Association
Three types of acupuncture therapy—an individually tailored program, standard therapy and a simulation involving toothpicks at key acupuncture points—appear more effective than usual care for chronic low back pain, according to a new study. At the eight-week follow-up, 60 percent of the participants receiving any type of acupuncture (individualized, standardized or simulated) experienced a clinically meaningful improvement in their level of functioning, compared with 39 percent of those receiving usual care Story
SPINE trial shows that acupuncture eases chronic low back pain
May 12, 2009 Source: Group Health Cooperative Center for Health Studies
Acupuncture can help people with chronic low back pain feel less bothered by their symptoms and function better in their daily activities, according to the largest randomized trial of its kind. But the SPINE (Stimulating Points to Investigate Needling Efficacy) trial raises questions about how the ancient practice actually works. Story
Breaks, posture shifts help ward off low back pain
May 7, 2009 BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
People who do work that requires them to spend lots of time with their backs bent should take frequent walking and standing breaks to avoid lower back pain, the authors of a new study conclude. Story |
