A University at Buffalo psychiatrist is developing a standardized vocabulary for chronic pain to improve its assessment. By studying thousands of patients from around the world, he aims to create a uniform way of describing pain using ontology, which draws on philosophy and computational approaches.
A study by St. Michael's Hospital found that nearly half of homeless people with chronic pain use street drugs to treat their condition, highlighting the need for improved approaches to managing chronic pain in this population. The study also highlights the importance of community outreach programs and education for healthcare provider...
Despite new guidelines and educational efforts, up to 75% of surgical patients in the USA still fail to receive adequate post-op pain relief. New pain medications and techniques under development could help improve symptom relief for patients.
The study highlights large gaps in the evidence base for treating chronic non-cancer pain, emphasizing the need for a multi-faceted approach that considers physical and emotional functioning. Researchers urge further investigation into combination treatments to identify effective therapies for specific patient characteristics.
A new study reveals that certain types of chronic pain may be caused by signals from the skin itself, rather than damage to nerves within the skin. Skin cells generate increased amounts of a lesser-known 'beta' isoform of CGRP, which may be sending pain signals to remaining sensory nerve fibers in the skin.
A study involving 257 children aged 9-15 found that excessive gaming device use leads to increased wrist and finger pain. The length of time spent playing heightened the pain suffered, with each additional hour increasing the odds of reporting pain.
Researchers have found that itch receptors work through pain receptors on sensory neurons, suggesting a potential link between the two conditions. The study's findings could lead to new treatments for intractable itch, particularly in chronic diseases such as kidney and liver failure, diabetes, and cancer.
Researchers at University of Michigan have developed a novel gene therapy, NP2, that shows promise in providing substantial pain relief for patients with unrelenting cancer-induced pain. The study demonstrates the safety and efficacy of NP2 in reducing pain by up to 80% over four weeks.
Improved pain management can significantly reduce disability in older adults, associated with increased sleep difficulty and numerous problems. Strategies include physical activity, pain protocol interventions, and medication use to optimize patient well-being.
A study found that parents' pain catastrophizing scores predict their adult children's results, regardless of actual pain levels. This suggests that families may develop a specific cognitive style of dealing with pain. The researchers assessed 285 participants, including 100 patients with chronic pain and their adult children.
A new study aims to improve the care of African Americans with cancer pain by providing a five-week program called Power Over Pain - Coaching or POP-C. The program addresses the challenges to pain care in this urban community and seeks to reduce suffering, distress, and burden among patients and caregivers.
Research published in Arthritis Care & Research found that traffic accidents increase the likelihood of developing chronic widespread pain by 84%. Individuals with poorer health or psychological issues may be more prone to developing this type of pain following a traumatic event.
Researchers at UC Davis have discovered a link between two major biological pathways involved in pain, which may pave the way for new treatments. The study found that inhibitors of the enzyme sEH can alleviate debilitating pain by targeting the messenger cAMP.
A recent study found that 65% of hospital patients reported experiencing pain within the last 24 hours, with 42% rating their pain as more than seven out of ten. The survey also revealed that only 39% of patients were asked to rate their pain using a numeric scale, highlighting the need for improved pain assessment in hospitals.
Researchers found that viewing a person's hand reduces pain levels due to its size. Participants who saw an enlarged hand tolerated greater heat before reporting pain, while those seeing a smaller hand reported lower temperatures.
A recent U-M study reveals that cancer survivors are likely to experience pain at some point in their care, with 43% of racially diverse survivors experiencing pain since diagnosis. The study also found that women and blacks are more prone to chronic pain and disability due to pain.
A recent study published in Pain found that cancer patients who smoke experience greater pain than nonsmokers, with increased pain severity and interference with daily activities. Quitting smoking may reduce pain over time, suggesting a potential benefit for cancer patients.
University at Buffalo researchers discover that removing a class of potassium channels from nociceptors during inflammation reduces hyperalgesia, providing a potential therapeutic target for pain relief. This breakthrough could lead to the development of non-addictive, less-toxic painkillers.
Primary care providers experience stress and guilt when managing chronic pain, often feeling ineffective and frustrated. Strategies to ease these frustrations are crucial for improving pain management from both patient and provider perspectives.
Chronic pain affects up to 30% of adults in Europe, impacting everyday lives and workability. Patients find managing pain requires adapting lifestyle, discovering new ways to express themselves, and engaging in activities that bring joy and social interaction.
A new study finds that patients with knee osteoarthritis who also experience lower back or foot pain report more severe knee pain. Additionally, having multiple pain locations, including elbow pain, is associated with higher knee pain scores.
Researchers at Children's Hospital Boston identified a novel human pain gene, α2δ3, associated with different sensitivity to acute and chronic pain. Minor variations in this gene were found to be linked to reduced pain sensitivity, while certain polymorphisms were also associated with increased risk of chronic pain.
A study published in Arthritis Care & Research found that narcotics and diagnostic tests are overused in treating chronic neck pain, with only 53% of subjects prescribed therapeutic exercise. The researchers suggest that evidence supports the effectiveness of rehabilitation conditioning and acupuncture as treatments for chronic neck pain.
The European Oncology Nursing Society has launched a breakthrough cancer pain initiative to improve patient outcomes in palliative care. The survey aims to identify knowledge gaps and provide insights into best practices for managing breakthrough cancer pain among oncology nurses across Europe.
Research from Utrecht University reveals that anger and sadness amplify pain equally in both women with and without fibromyalgia. The study also found that emotional sensitization of pain may be especially detrimental in people who already have high pain levels.
Researchers found that high-dose intravenous aspirin significantly reduced pain in patients with severe withdrawal headaches caused by medication overuse. The study showed that 25% of participants experienced a significant reduction in pain, while 40% reported a modest pain reduction.
A randomized controlled trial found smoked cannabis significantly reduces chronic pain intensity, improving sleep quality and anxiety levels. The study used three different potencies of THC and a placebo, with the highest THC level showing the most significant benefits.
Researchers discover small RNAs regulate genes involved in chronic pain, offering a new avenue for developing drugs to treat debilitating conditions like arthritis and back pain. Small RNAs may serve as possible drug targets to restore normal pain thresholds.
A recent study by the University of Michigan Health System found that black patients are prescribed fewer pain medications than whites, while women receive weaker doses. The research highlights racial and gender gaps in pain care and suggests changes are needed to address these disparities starting in primary care.
Research by Elizabeth Sweeney examines how biomedical tests diagnose and define pain, leading to emotional suffering for patients with unexplained conditions. The study analyzes over 20 articles from the journal Pain®, highlighting challenges in diagnosing chronic pain.
Research suggests that women experience chronic pain longer, more intensely, and more often than men due to hormonal and social factors. Treating both physical and mental symptoms is crucial for effective management of chronic pain in women.
A new study found that menstrual cramps can cause alterations in the brain's gray matter, even when pain is not present. Researchers discovered abnormal changes in specific brain areas involved in pain transmission and regulation, suggesting that the adolescent brain may be vulnerable to menstrual pain.
Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have identified a gene associated with chronic pain susceptibility in humans. They found that genetic variants of Cacng2 were significantly associated with chronic pain in breast cancer patients after breast removal surgery, suggesting a potential link between genetics and pain perception.
Researchers have identified a gene, CACGN2, associated with chronic pain susceptibility in humans. The study suggests that genetic variants in this gene may contribute to individual differences in chronic pain experience.
Researchers found that people with better mental health felt less pain, while those with worse mental health experienced more. The study suggests that mental-health treatment could be an effective way to lessen arthritis pain.
Researchers have discovered a novel approach to ease chronic and acute pain caused by sickle cell disease, using cannibinoids that equally lessen pain in animals as opioids, but with much smaller doses. The treatment has great promise for patients with this genetic blood disorder.
A new study published in Pain found that patients' attitudes and beliefs about chronic lower-back pain significantly affect their disability levels. The study highlights the importance of health literacy in managing CLBP, with individuals with high disability citing anatomical reasons for their pain experience.
A randomized controlled trial found that patients with chronic low-back pain and degenerative lumbar osteoarthritis who took glucosamine for six months showed no significant difference in pain-related disability, pain, or quality of life compared to those who received a placebo. The study suggests that further research is needed to det...
A six-week hip strengthening regimen significantly reduced patellofemoral pain (PFP) in female runners, with most participants experiencing no pain. The study suggests that stronger hips can correct running form errors contributing to PFP.
A new study found that meditation lessens the perception of pain in individuals with a higher level of meditation experience. This method may have potential as an additional therapy option for treating chronic pain.
Researchers at the University of Georgia found that daily ginger supplementation reduces exercise-induced muscle pain by 25 percent. The studies also showed that heat-treating ginger does not enhance its pain-relieving effects.
Researchers have developed a Mouse Grimace Scale to measure spontaneous responses in mice resembling human pain expressions. The scale accelerates the development of new analgesics for humans while eliminating unnecessary suffering in lab animals.
A U-M study reveals that socio-economic factors, particularly race and age, significantly influence the use of alternative therapies like acupuncture and biofeedback in chronic pain patients. As people age, they are more likely to seek alternative therapies to manage chronic pain.
Researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center have discovered a family of endogenous capsaicin-like molecules that play an important role in pain biology. They have developed two new classes of analgesics using drugs that either block the synthesis or inactivate these substances.
Dr. Joel Hirsch's research provides new information on how calcium channels work and offers a framework for designing drugs that can modulate them to provide relief from chronic pain. The discovery has the potential to lead to new treatments for conditions such as backaches, sore limbs, and arthritis.
A University of Michigan Health System study found black men with chronic pain experience more severe symptoms, leading to increased disability and depression. The study highlights the need for a culturally appropriate approach to caring for black men with chronic pain.
Research reveals chronic pain changes brain activity in response to acute pain, predicting worsening of ongoing back pain. The nucleus accumbens plays a key role in this process, with altered activity patterns in patients compared to healthy controls.
Researchers at OHSU School of Dentistry have discovered that inflammation boosts the production of a protein involved in pain signaling, which could lead to new treatments for craniofacial pain conditions. The findings provide a crucial understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying trigeminal pain.
Researchers at the University of Liverpool have discovered a single low dose infusion of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) significantly reduces pain in patients with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), improving quality of life. The treatment has few adverse effects and can be repeated every four weeks.
A new guideline from the American Academy of Neurology finds that transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) is not effective in treating chronic low-back pain. Research shows conflicting results, but TENS may be beneficial for diabetic nerve pain.
A study found that acetaminophen reduced self-reported social pain and neural responses to social rejection in brain regions associated with physical pain. The findings suggest that acetaminophen may mitigate the distress of social rejection, potentially reducing antisocial behavior.
Insecure adolescents experience more intense pain in forms like headaches, abdominal pain, and joint pain. They are also more likely to be depressed compared to peers with secure attachments. The study highlights the importance of considering interpersonal factors in treating adolescent pain and depression.
Chronic musculoskeletal pain in two or more locations and high levels of severe pain are linked to a higher risk of falls in older adults. The study found that participants who reported chronic pain had an increased rate of falls, with those reporting the highest levels of pain severity also at elevated risk.
A new study reveals that chronic musculoskeletal pain in older adults significantly increases their risk of falls. The research found that participants with chronic pain in two or more joints had a 50% greater risk of falling compared to those with no pain.
A systematic review and meta-analysis found that low-level laser therapy (LLLT) significantly reduces pain after treatment for non-specific neck pain. LLLT is a non-invasive, painless treatment that can be administered in primary-care settings, with no reports of serious adverse effects.
A new study published in Clinical Rehabilitation found that patients with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) who underwent painful physiotherapy experienced significant improvements in physical function, while those who avoided painful treatment saw further loss of function. The study suggests a 'full on' approach to physiotherapy m...
A study of 3,754 women found that nearly 50% experience pain symptoms 2-3 years after breast cancer treatment, with young age and supplemental radiation therapy increasing the risk. The most common areas affected by pain are the axilla, arm, breast area, and side of the body.
A new study shows that a single hour of mindfulness meditation training can significantly reduce pain awareness and sensitivity. The research found that meditation subjects experienced less pain while meditating and after the activity was concluded, compared to control groups.
Researchers found that yoga significantly reduced pain intensity and pain medication use in minority populations with chronic low back pain. The study, which included 12 weeks of hatha yoga classes, showed promising results for this often underrepresented population.
Research found inflammation is associated with increased pain sensitivity at joint sites, while sleep problems are linked to increased pain sensitivity at both joint and non-joint sites. This study highlights the importance of considering inflammatory and non-inflammatory factors when evaluating pain in RA patients.