Researchers found that nearly 30% of reproductive-age women experienced chronic or cyclic pelvic pain, with endometriosis women reporting higher levels of pain. Physicians may want to ask patients about pain during routine visits, and women should inform their doctors about any pain they're experiencing.
A new therapy called HF10 has been shown to provide significantly greater long-term relief for chronic back and leg pain compared to traditional SCS therapy. The study found that patients receiving HF10 therapy experienced a higher percentage of pain reduction and reported higher levels of satisfaction.
Researchers link positive and negative mood to daily pain in rheumatoid arthritis patients, suggesting that interventions targeting depression and momentary mood may improve pain and quality of life. The study's findings may have implications for individuals with chronic pain beyond rheumatoid arthritis.
Patients with depression or anxiety experience 50% less pain improvement, 75% more opioid abuse when prescribed opioids. Identifying psychiatric disorders early can improve pain relief and reduce opioid abuse risk.
A study by WSU researchers found that an online program can help people with chronic non-cancer pain manage their symptoms and reduce opioid use. Participants who used the program reported increased confidence and positive thinking, and made progress towards reducing or eliminating pain.
Researchers found that male and female mice process pain using different cells, with female mice relying on T cells to sound the pain alarm. This discovery has far-reaching implications for developing targeted pain medications and highlights the need for more inclusive preclinical research.
A new evidence-based protocol to treat acute, severe pain in emergency department patients has been shown to be effective and safe. The study found that simply asking patients if they want more pain medication resulted in satisfactory pain control for 99% of participants.
Researchers discovered that chronic pain causes brain inflammation, altering mood and motivation regions. A new treatment approach may help restore dopamine release and reward-motivated behavior in patients with chronic pain.
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego developed a novel facial pattern recognition software to assess pediatric pain levels. The software achieved good-to-excellent accuracy in assessing pain conditions and performed equivalent to parents but better than nurses.
A study of US and international orthopaedic surgery patients found that despite receiving more pain medication, American patients reported higher worst pain scores than international patients. This suggests that the relationship between pain medication and pain perception may be complex.
Research reviews suggest that individuals with cognitive impairment, including dementia and Alzheimer's disease, exhibit altered pain processing. This is often accompanied by increased sensitivity to painful stimuli, making effective diagnosis and treatment challenging due to communication difficulties.
Dr. Min Zhuo's team identified a molecule that can reduce chronic pain-related anxiety by blocking pre-LTP in neurons of the ACC, which mediates anxiety. The study reveals the biological basis for the link between pain and anxiety, with implications for treating both conditions.
Researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center identified brain regions activated during mismatches between expected and experienced pain. The parietal lobe and insular cortex were found to be involved in processing real-time mismatches.
Researchers have identified a key role for microglia in the development of chronic pain, including hyperalgesia and allodynia. Microglia-to-neuron signaling is crucial for these effects, which could lead to new treatments for chronic pain.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet found that people can be conditioned to associate images with specific pain responses without conscious awareness. This study suggests that unconscious learning may have a significant impact on higher cognitive processes, including pain perception.
A new study suggests that dopamine contributes to chronic pain states by targeting A11 neurons. Removing these neurons can selectively diminish chronic pain in mice. The findings offer potential clues for developing new treatments for chronic pain.
A large Norwegian health study of over 10,400 adults found that people with insomnia have increased pain sensitivity. The effect was strongest in those with both insomnia and chronic pain, highlighting the need for treatments targeting both conditions.
A pioneering Oxford University study using MRI scans found that babies experience pain much like adults, with 18 of 20 brain regions active in adults also active in babies. The study suggests that infants may be more sensitive to pain than adults and highlights the need for improved pain relief guidelines.
Researchers at Saint Louis University discovered that targeting the A3 adenosine receptor can 'turn off' pain signals in the spinal cord, providing potential relief for patients with chronic pain. The study found that activating this receptor promotes GABA signaling, which is often lost or diminished in chronic pain conditions.
A study published in Cell Reports reveals that pain signaling pathways influence the sensitivity of opioid receptors on neuron surfaces. The findings may help develop non-addictive pain management drugs.
A recent study published in PAIN found that combining morphine and nortriptyline provides better pain relief than using either drug alone, with 87% of patients experiencing significant pain reduction. The combination treatment also showed no worsening of common side effects such as constipation and dry mouth.
A study published in PAIN journal reports that 20-30% of opioid analgesic drugs prescribed for chronic pain are misused, while the rate of opioid addiction is approximately 10%. The researchers note variability in rates across studies and question whether the benefits of opioids for chronic pain outweigh the consequences.
Patients with Parkinson's disease experienced improved or eliminated preoperative pain after eight years following subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation. However, new musculoskeletal pain developed in 75% of patients during the follow-up period.
Research reveals spinal cord neurons in the dorsal horn use glycine to inhibit pain signals, while also controlling various forms of itch. The discovery offers new insights into the Gate Control Theory and potential therapeutic targets for pain management.
Scientists at TUM discovered that brain activity changes when transitioning from sensory to emotional processing during prolonged pain. The experiment showed that nerve cells in the brain trigger a different pattern of activity after applying a placebo cream, reducing perceived pain.
A new study by researchers from the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, the Regenstrief Institute, and Indiana University School of Medicine reports that a stepped-care strategy improved function and decreased pain severity in veterans with chronic musculoskeletal pain, producing at least a 30 percent improvement in pain-related di...
Research identified seven compounds that block key pain signals to the brain, offering hope for new painkillers. The compounds show high levels of stability and potency, making them promising candidates for treating chronic pain.
A large twin study suggests that genetic factors may explain the association between low back pain and depression. The study, published in PAIN, analyzed data from nearly 2,150 Spanish twins and found a significant link between symptoms of depression and low back pain.
Researchers found that a regional anesthetic technique, called ultrasound-guided paravertebral blocks, can significantly reduce chronic post-operative pain in women after mastectomies. The study showed that these nerve blocks most reduced neuropathic pain, which affects sensation and is the most common form of chronic pain.
Scientists at UT Arlington discovered that optogenetically stimulating a small area of the brain, specifically the anterior cingulate cortex, can significantly reduce pain behavior in lab mice. This breakthrough could lead to new strategies for managing chronic pain and improving our understanding of pain pathways.
The University of Pittsburgh is leading a $14 million clinical trial comparing two approaches to treat acute lower back pain, one with usual care and the other with cognitive behavioral therapy. The study aims to reduce chronic lower back pain and its effects on daily life.
Research shows that altering visual cues can impact pain by changing the physical point at which pain is experienced. Participants who suffered from chronic neck pain were shown to have a broader range of motion when visual feedback understated head rotation and a reduced range when it overstated head rotation.
Chronic pain in patients with chronic kidney disease is common and associated with improper use of pain medications. An estimated 26 million people in the US have CKD, making it a significant concern for patient safety.
A new study by Prof. Ruth Defrin and colleagues found that acute psychosocial stress significantly decreases pain inhibition capabilities while increasing pain intensification in healthy young male adults. The researchers applied acute stress tests to evaluate the body's pain modulation mechanisms prior and after stress induction.
A new report by an independent panel found that evidence-based approaches to treating chronic pain are lacking, with no existing algorithm for determining the best treatment approach. The panel recommends multidisciplinary care incorporating patients' perspectives and emphasizes the need for more research on opioids and other treatments.
A recent study by University of Colorado Boulder researchers found that pain processing in the brain involves two separate pathways: one for physical pain and another for cognitive regulation. The latter pathway is involved in emotion and motivation, but also plays a key role in long-term pain and disability.
A new study from Massachusetts General Hospital has found evidence of neuroinflammation in key brain regions of chronic pain patients. The study, published in the journal Brain, identifies a possible way to measure pain and may lead to new treatment strategies.
A new study published in Neurology found that pregabalin is not effective in controlling the pain associated with lumbar spinal stenosis. The most common type of chronic lower back pain in older adults, this condition affects millions worldwide and often leads to surgery or stronger pain medications.
Researchers at Salk Institute and Harvard Medical School have identified a neural mechanism in the spinal cord that sends erroneous pain signals to the brain. The discovery provides a key to understanding how chronic pain disorders arise from dysfunctional neural processing, opening doors to potential new treatments.
A randomized controlled trial found that intranasal ketamine is effective in treating moderate to severe pain in children with limb injuries. The study showed improved pain relief and satisfaction rates compared to fentanyl, with fewer adverse events reported for ketamine.
Saint Louis University researcher Daniela Salvemini and colleagues have discovered a way to block a pain pathway in animal models of chronic neuropathic pain, suggesting a promising new approach to pain relief. Activating the A3 adenosine receptor subtype provides robust pain reduction across several types of pain.
Researchers at Harvard University successfully converted mouse and human skin cells into pain sensing neurons that respond to various stimuli, including acute and inflammatory pain. The 'disease in a dish' model may lead to improved drug development for chronic pain treatment.
A new study finds that physical pain and social rejection activate different brain regions, challenging the long-held theory that they are processed similarly. The research could lead to more effective treatments for social pain, including the use of traditional painkillers.
A new study published in PAIN found that chronic pain patients without opioid treatment have an increased risk of death compared to those with pain but without opioid use. Long-term opioid users had a higher risk of death due to causes other than cardiovascular and cancer mortality, as well as a four times higher risk of toxicity poiso...
A Northwestern University study found that smokers are three times more likely to develop chronic back pain and that quitting the habit may reduce vulnerability to this condition. The research also identified a key brain region involved in addictive behavior and motivated learning.
According to a WSU study, nearly one in five US adults suffer from persistent pain, with significant economic and social costs. Persistent pain affects daily life, work, family, and social interactions, increasing the risk of mental illness and addiction.
A study published in the Journal of Pain Research found that individuals with chronic pain pay more frequent and longer attention to pain-related words than those without. This discovery uses state-of-the-art eye-tracking technology to better understand how people attend to pain stimuli.
A new study from the University of Melbourne found that acupuncture did not improve chronic knee pain in patients older than 50. The research, published in JAMA, involved 282 participants who received either real or sham acupuncture for 12 weeks.
A new study suggests decreased brain connectivity between pain-related and sensorimotor areas may contribute to deficient pain regulation in fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia patients exhibit impaired normal pain perception due to functional decoupling of pain-processing brain regions.
A study published in JAMA found that acupuncture did not improve chronic knee pain or function in patients over 50 years old. While acupuncture showed modest improvements in pain at short-term follow-up, these benefits were not sustained at one year.
The NIH/NCCAM initiative aims to enhance options for managing pain and associated problems in US military personnel, veterans, and their families. The research will focus on nondrug approaches to address chronic pain, PTSD, drug abuse, and sleep issues.
A new study by Indiana University researchers found that combining an epilepsy medication with morphine can effectively treat neuropathic pain. The combination of the two drugs resulted in improved pain management and reduced need for opioids, offering a potential solution to the difficult-to-treat condition.
Researchers found that men and women have similar pain tolerance levels, with resilience being the main determining factor. Patients who accept their chronic pain experience less anxiety, depression, and improved quality of life.
Researchers found that antidepressants reduced pain in over half of the trials examined, but cautioned that more definitive studies are necessary to recommend their use. The review aims to inform future research directions for this area of study.
Spinal cord injury pain is a debilitating consequence of neurological disorders, interfering with rehabilitation and quality of life. Microenvironment modulation enhances stem cell therapy for SCI pain by preventing aberrant central sprouting of nociceptive fibers.
A new study by Aarhus University reveals that one in three young people experience knee pain between the ages of 12 and 19. The pain often persists even after two years, with 55% of adolescents with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome still suffering from knee pain after two years.
A large randomized trial found paracetamol to be no better than placebo in treating acute lower back pain, challenging universal recommendations. The study suggests advice and reassurance may be more effective than pharmacological strategies for acute episodes of low-back pain.
A new study published in JAMA found that patients enrolled in a 12-month telecare program experienced significant improvement in chronic pain management, with twice the likelihood of pain reduction compared to usual care. The program also showed increased patient satisfaction.
A telephone-delivered telecare intervention improved chronic musculoskeletal pain compared to usual care, with nearly twice as many patients experiencing a 30% reduction in pain score. The intervention was associated with clinically meaningful improvements in pain and treatment satisfaction.
A study found that nearly half of deployed soldiers reported combat injuries, with 44% experiencing chronic pain and 15.1% using opioids in the past month. The researchers emphasized the urgent need to address chronic pain and opioid misuse among military personnel.