•  News 
•  Research 
•  Legislation 
•  Guidelines 
•     Clinical Trials    
•  Books 
•  Lagniappe 

Call for Poster Abstracts 2010!

Poster Proposal Form

Academy-sponsored Monograph: Integrative Approaches to Fibromyalgia [pdf]

The American
Academy of
Pain Management

The American Academy of Pain Management is an inclusive, interdisciplinary/ integrative organization serving clinicians who treat people with pain through education, setting standards of care, and advocacy.

•  Studies
•  Stories
•  Rx Diversion
•  Patients
•  Guidelines
•  Product News/Clinical Trials Results


•  Advocacy

 Pain Studies In The News

Why does feeling low hurt? Depressed mood increases the perception of pain
June 7, 2010 Source: Elsevier
A new study revealed that inducing depressed mood disrupted a portion of the participants' neurocircuitry that regulates emotion, causing an enhanced perception of pain. The authors speculate that being in a sad state of mind and feeling low disables one's ability to regulate the negative emotion associated with feeling pain. Pain, then, has a greater impact. Rather than merely being a consequence of having pain, depressed mood may drive pain and cause it to feel worse.
[Story]

Common knee pain in runners effectively reduced, eliminated by hip exercises
June 7, 2010 Source: Indiana University
According to a new study, twice weekly hip strengthening regimen performed for six weeks proved surprisingly effective at reducing -- and in some cases eliminating -- knee pain referred to as patellofemoral pain (PFP) in female runners. The injured runners began the six-week trial registering pain of 7 when they ran on a treadmill and finished the study period registering pain levels of 2 or lower; i.e. no onset of pain.
[Story]

More Pain Studies In The News

Non-Academy News

NINR Pain Methodologies Boot Camp
The NINR Pain Methodologies Boot Camp is a one-week intensive research training course at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, sponsored by the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR).
[More information]

Fibromyalgia Syndrome: Practical Strategies For Improving Diagnosis And Patient Outcomes
An Interactive Symposium With Patient Case Videos

This case-based, interactive CME program is designed to provide clinicians with new insights and strategies for the appropriate, effective diagnosis and management of fibromyalgia syndrome. Video-based doctor-patient case simulations are presented and discussed.

This activity was originally presented as a satellite symposium at the 20th Annual Clinical Meeting in Phoenix and was adapted for release on January 18, 2010. The symposium was supported by an educational grant from Forest Laboratories, Inc.
[More information]

Florida Academy of Pain Medicine Annual Meeting and Tradeshow
July 16-18, 2010 The Breakers, Palm Beach
[More information]

Subscribe to The Pain Practitioner!
See sample article below:

Naturopathic Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndromeby Kevin Wilson, ND, DAAPM (article)
If you are a member of the Academy, you are entitled to many excellent benefits including The Pain Practitioner, our quarterly magazine. If you are not an Academy member, you can subscribe for just $35 a year!
[Subscribe!]

 Stories

Overtreated: surgery too often fails for back pain
June 8, 2010 Source: The Associated Press
By one recent estimate, Americans are spending a staggering $86 billion a year in care for aching backs from MRIs to pain pills to nerve blocks to acupuncture. There is little evidence, however, that the population got better as the bill soared over the past decade. The reality is that time often is the best antidote. Most people will experience back pain at some point, but up to 90 percent will heal on their own within weeks.
[Story]

Dentists seek to curb abuse when helping patients manage pain
June 7, 2010 Source: American Dental Association
Dentists want to assist and be able to safely prescribe medication that will lessen the pain of a tooth extraction or a root canal. But when opioids are prescribed, they also want the medicine in the pill bottle to be used for the right purpose and do not want to contribute to the country's opioid abuse problem. This conflict was at the heart of the Tufts Health Care Institute's Program on Opioid Risk Management, a two-day conference held in March.
[Story]

More Pain Stories In The News

 For Your Patients

What is vulvodynia? What causes vulvodynia?
May 18, 2010 Source: Medical News Today
Vulvodynia is "Chronic vulvar discomfort with complaints of burning and superficial irritation." The pain, burning or irritation associated with vulvodynia may make sitting still for long periods very uncomfortable. Experts believe vulvodynia is underreported because of the absence of visible signs and because many women are reluctant to talk about their symptoms. Treatment options are available to lessen the pain and discomfort of vulvodynia.
[Story]

 Product News/Clinical Trial Results

Nautilus Neurosciences announces U.S. Launch of CAMBIA(TM) (diclofenac potassium for oral solution) for the treatment of migraine
June 8, 2010 Source: Nautilus Neurosciences, Inc.
Nautilus Neurosciences, Inc. announced today that CAMBIA(TM) (diclofenac potassium for oral solution) is now available in the United States for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura. CAMBIA was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in June 2009.
[Story]

Competitive Technologies' Calmare(R) Pain Therapy Treatment to treat patients at Walter Reed Army Medical Center
June 4, 2010 Source: Globe Newswire
Competitive Technologies, Inc. announced today that the Walter Reed Army Medical Center has joined the growing list of organizations that will treat pain patients with CTT's Calmare(R) Pain Therapy Treatment, as authorized by the Surgeon General of the U.S. Army and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Medical Command. The Calmare Pain Therapy Treatment will be used to treat wounded warriors and other military personnel who are suffering from neuropathic pain.
[Story]

More Product News/Clinical Trial Results

 Advocacy

In the Face of Pain® offers social media 101 for pain management advocates
June 2, 2010 Source: Purdue Pharma L.P.
Today, In the Face of Pain® launches a series of online instructional videos to help pain management advocates expand their outreach efforts through popular social media forums. The Social Media Guides provide an introduction to social media applications and walks users through the process of setting up, using and maintaining these communication vehicles. Topics include "An Overview of Social Media," "Advocacy in Social Media," and "Facebook 101."
[Story]

The Overlapping Conditions Alliance launches the 'Campaign to End Chronic Pain in Women' on Capitol Hill, to fight discrimination against women in U.S. Healthcare Campaign Releases Comprehensive Report & Groundbreaking Campaign Film on Chronic Pain in Women
May 19, 2010 Source: The Campaign to End Chronic Pain in Women
The Overlapping Conditions Alliance today launched the Campaign to End Chronic Pain in Women, a campaign to end discrimination and improve care for women suffering from chronic pain. The Campaign aims to improve the quality of women's lives by raising awareness about chronic pain conditions that disproportionately impact women, as well as the neglect, dismissal and discrimination faced by women living with chronic pain under the current U.S. healthcare system.
[Story]

OSU pharmacist leading efforts for pain awareness and action
May 11, 2010 Source: Oregon State University
Millions of Americans and thousands of Oregonians receive inadequate treatment for chronic pain, and a new initiative may help address that. Kathryn Hahn plans to lead an “action network”. The goal of the new network, Hahn said, is to involve millions of people with this problem; raise public awareness; promote favorable policies and legislation; and build a national movement called “Conquering Pain Together.”
[Story]

Research Abstracts

Stay up-to-date on the latest research! This section 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:

Borgeat A.
Do opioids affect the ability to drive safely?
Journal of pain & palliative care pharmacotherapy. 2010 Jun;24(2):167-9.
[Abstract]

Marshall, KP. Micich, LA Cosby, AG
Health beliefs related to willingness to accept treatment of pain with potentially addictive drugs
International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Marketing. 2010;4(1):9-20
[Abstract]

Teets RY, Dahmer S, Scott E.
Integrative medicine approach to chronic pain.
Primary care. 2010 Jun;37(2):407-421.
[Abstract]

Kalender ME, Comez G, Sevinc A, et al.
Leech therapy for symptomatic relief of cancer pain.
Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.). 2010 Mar;11(3):443-5.
[Abstract]

Cao H, Liu J, Lewith GT.
Traditional Chinese medicine for treatment of fibromyalgia: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials
The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2010 April;16(4): 397-409
[Abstract]

Yakovlev AE, Resch BE.
Treatment of chronic intractable atypical facial pain using peripheral subcutaneous field stimulation
Neuromodulation. 2010 Apr; 13(2): 137-140(4)
[Abstract]

More Research Abstracts

Legislative Updates

United States/Branch of Government: U.S./Senate
Title: SB 3397 (Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010)
Summary: Amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow an ultimate user who has lawfully obtained a controlled substance to deliver that substance to another person, without being registered, for the purposeof disposal if: (1) the person receiving the controlled substance is authorized to engage in such activity; and (2) the disposal takes place in accordance with regulations issued by the Attorney General to prevent diversion of controlled substances.
Permits the Attorney General to authorize long-term care facilities to dispose of controlled substances on behalf of ultimate users in a manner that will provide effective controls against diversion and that is consistent with public health andsafety.Latest Action: 05/24/2010 Introduced
Sponsor: Klobuchar A
Full Text:

State/Branch of Government: Florida. Senate
Title: SB 2272
Summary: Relates to the regulation of privately owned pain- management clinics to include requiring the clinics to be registered, requiring such clinics to cease operations if the registration is denied or revoked, requiring a new registration application for a change of ownership of such clinic, the inspections of such clinics, specified acts by such clinic are considered a felony or misdemeanor, and disciplinary actions against health professional licensees of such clinics.
Latest Action: 05/21/2010 To Governor
Sponsor: Fasano
Full Text:

More Legislative Updates

Guidelines

Age Groups, Aged
National Committee for Quality Assurance
Care for older adults (COA): percentage of adults 65 years and older who had each of the following during the measurement year: advance care planning, medication review, functional status assessment and pain screening
Summary

Analgesics, Opioid
McMaster University; National Pain Center; Ontario, Canada
Canadian Guideline for Safe and Effective Use of Opioids for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain
Summary

Fibromyalgia
University of Texas, School of Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner Program
Management of fibromyalgia syndrome in adults (updated)
Summary

Clinical Trials

Arizona
Digestive System Diseases
City: Chandler
Summary: A study to determine the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of JNJ-27018966 compared with placebo in the treatment of patients with irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea.

California
Arthritis
City: La Quinta
Summary: A study to evaluate the safety and performance of the ConforMIS iUni® Unicompartmental Knee Resurfacing Device in patients with single compartment osteoarthritis.

More New Clinical Trials

Books

The Treatment Trap: How the Overuse of Medical Care Is Wrecking Your Health and What You Can Do to Prevent It.
Publisher: Chicago: Ivan R. Dee, 2010

Abstract:
With health reform enacted by the Congress and signed by the President, the subject matter of The Treatment Trap is a compelling component in the national debate. Taking advantage of Rosemary Gibson's knowledge gleaned from extended experience in the field of medical care and Janardan Singh's similar knowledge but from a financial perspective, the authors explore the most neglected issue in American medicine today: the overuse of medical care, including needless surgery and other invasive procedures, out-of-control x-ray imaging, profligate testing, and other wasteful practices that have become routine among too many American doctors. Their combined reporting and analysis concentrates on the human aspects of this disturbing trend in health care, with personal experiences that reflect poorly on hospitals as well as physicians. They show how money spent for questionable and even useless care is diverting major funds that could be better used to treat patients who are genuinely sick and sometimes cannot afford the extravagant charges of the American health-care system. Their suggestions for reforming the delivery of health care, and their cautions to individual consumers about how to deal with situations they may encounter, make The Treatment Trap essential reading for medical care consumers, health-care professionals, and policymakers alike.

Price: 16.47
[To Order:]

Lagniappe

The prevalence of headache may be related with the latitude: a possible role of Vitamin D insufficiency?
May 13, 2010 Source: The journal of headache and pain
According to recent observations, there is worldwide vitamin D insufficiency in various populations. Here, authors studied the literature to delineate a relation of prevalence rate of headaches with the latitude. They noted a significant relation between the prevalence of both tension-type headache and migraine with the latitude. There was a tendency for headache prevalence to increase with increasing latitude.
[Story]

'Mouse Grimace Scale' to help identify pain in humans and animals
May 10, 2010 Source: McGill University
A new study shows that mice, like humans, express pain through facial expressions. The newly developed Mouse Grimace Scale could inform better treatments for humans and improve conditions for lab animals, psychology researchers say. This is the first time researchers have successfully developed a scale to measure spontaneous responses in animals that resemble human responses to those same painful states.
[Story]