The American Academy of Pain Management
The American Academy of Pain Management is an inclusive, interdisciplinary, and integrative organization serving clinicians who treat people with pain through education, setting standards of care, and advocacy.
The American Academy of Pain Management News and Research is made possible, in part, by educational grants from the following sponsers:
Pain Stories In The News
Meniscus transplant can ease suffering of painful knee
October 6, 2009 Source: Methodist Hospital, Houston
A meniscus transplant, a rarely performed arthroscopic procedure, might help delay the onset of arthritis and relieve knee pain for young, active people. It is recommended for people under the age of 50 who have pain after a significant meniscal injury or multiple previous meniscus surgeries and are too young and active for a knee replacement and for individuals who have no functioning meniscus and have limited damage to the cartilage surfaces of the joint.
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Mind matters in promoting health
October 3, 2009 Source: Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing
Nurse researchers and clinicians at the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing and the Johns Hopkins Hospital recognize that mind does matter when it comes to health and healing. They are currently exploring how to prevent the damage excessive stress can do to a young child's development and how the mind can help speed or slow healing and help control pain. They're also helping nurses recognize and recover from their own stress-induced behavioral problems.
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Researchers develop an integrated treatment for veterans with chronic pain and posttraumatic stress
October 3, 2009 Source: Boston University Medical Center
Using components of cognitive processing therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy, researchers developed a 12-session integrated treatment for chronic pain and posttraumatic stress disorder. A recent pilot study found that soldiers greatly benefit from receiving this new integrated treatment, which involves a therapist manual and patient workbook for readings and homework assignments.
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Researchers discuss chronic pain in Scientific American Mind
September 25, 2009 Source: University of Arizona
The newly published article, "When Pain Lingers," explores the biological bases of chronic pain, suggesting that the common denominator for chronic pain is hyperexcitable neurons along the pain pathway, from the site of the injury to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Potential strategies for dealing with chronic pain are addressed, including advanced diagnostic techniques, identification of biomarkers that could lead to early detection and treatment, and individually tailored therapies.
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Alternative therapies for fibromyalgia
September 23 2009 Source: The New York Times
Today, The Times Health Guide takes a look at fibromyalgia, an ailment that that afflicts both women and men with a range of symptoms that include pain, fatigue, and memory problems. While the condition remains poorly understood and has no known cure, growing research is revealing new strategies for dealing with fibromyalgia in a way that helps many patients live with the disease successfully.
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Johns Hopkins and National Fibromyalgia Association announce successful outcomes from landmark educational initiative
September 16, 2009 Source: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
According to the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, the Fibromyalgia Circle of Care Initiative has achieved great success in heightening awareness, diagnosis and best practice treatment of fibromyalgia. The initiative combines multiple disciplines to address deficiencies in properly identifying, diagnosing, and managing fibromyalgia patients. The increased awareness resulting from this educational program will help encourage immediate, aggressive treatment.
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Scientists find virtual reality helps relieve pain
September 15, 2009 Source: Reuters
Teenager Jordan Robinson has faced excruciating pain since a backyard prank went wrong, but treatment with the “Snow World” virtual reality program offers him relief. While his burn care would normally be extremely painful, Robinson is too busy throwing snowballs at penguins and snowmen to notice much pain. This type of virtual reality helps manage pain in burn victims by distracting the patient and using hypnotic suggestion during burn care.
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First patient implanted with world’s smallest rechargeable neurostimulator for chronic pain celebrates one-year anniversary
September 11, 2009 Source: St. Jude Medical
After recovering from a parachuting accident, Adam Hammond battled chronic pain that left him dependent on a wheelchair. Hammond became the first patient in the world implanted with an Eon Mini neurostimulator, the world’s smallest neurostimulator for chronic pain. Today, Adam is active, exercising and no longer in need of a wheelchair. More than 60,000 St. Jude Medical neurostimulation devices have been implanted in patients in 35 countries around the world.
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Weblog from Pain-Topics.org Dispels Common Myths of Pain Care
September 11, 2009 Source: Pain Treatment Topics
To counteract the abundance of misinformation about pain and its treatment, Stewart B. Leavitt, MA, PhD, and associates have launched the “Pain-Topics News/Research UPDATES” weblog to provide evidence-based perspectives on current research and other issues of concern.
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Controlling Pain Can Speed Recovery for Children with Cancer
September 11, 2009 Source: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Cancer and its treatment causes discomfort on many levels, but controlling pain can speed recovery for children battling the disease, say pain management experts at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. In the past, medical professionals treated pain almost as an afterthought—after all, eradicating disease was the primary goal. As childhood cancer cure rates increased, clinicians recognized the need to alleviate suffering. By controlling pain, health care workers could advance recovery.
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"No Pain, No Gain” Rings False for Nurses
September 11, 2009 Source: Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing
Pain, a frequent fellow traveler with both acute and chronic illnesses, can drive some people to the emergency room or doctor’s office. For others, pain, or fear of it, can keep them from seeking care in the first place. Because they are on the front lines of care, nurses are also in the forefront of pain management, working with patients at the bedside and at the research bench.
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