The Krembil Research Institute and University Health Network release new guidelines discouraging brain imaging as a test for chronic pain. Brain imaging is considered unreliable due to variability between people and within individuals, making it unsuitable as a 'lie detector' test.
A recent study published in Pain Management Nursing found that nurse staffing is a key contributor to patient satisfaction with pain control. The research highlights the need for adequate numbers of nursing staff and effective collaboration among medical trainees, hospitalists, and nurses to achieve optimal patient satisfaction.
Researchers have discovered a potent pain reliever, UKH-1114, that targets the sigma 2 receptor to alleviate neuropathic pain. The compound is as effective as gabapentin but works at a lower dose and longer duration, offering a potential alternative to opioids.
The scientific evidence on cannabis for chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is inconclusive, with only low-strength evidence suggesting potential benefits. However, researchers found significant risks associated with cannabis use, including increased risk of motor vehicle accidents and psychotic symptoms.
A recent study published in Pain investigated widespread pain and its relation to the brain. Researchers found that individuals with widespread pain had increased gray matter and brain connectivity in sensory and motor cortical areas, similar to those with fibromyalgia.
Scientists at McGill University have discovered a new biological pathway involved in pain processing, which could lead to the use of existing cancer drugs as alternatives to opioids. The researchers found that EGFR blockers were as potent analgesics as morphine in mouse models of inflammatory and chronic pain.
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Health System are conducting a five-year study to test whether medical marijuana reduces opioid use among adults with chronic pain. The study will enroll 250 HIV-positive and HIV-negative adults who use opioids and have received certification for medical marijuana use.
Researchers found that mindfulness and hypnotic suggestion significantly reduced acute pain levels in hospital patients, with patients experiencing a 29% and 23% reduction in pain respectively. These brief mind-body therapies also led to a significant decrease in the perceived need for opioid medication.
Dose reduction in long-term opioid therapy for chronic pain improves pain, function, and quality of life. Multidisciplinary pain programs incorporating behavioral interventions can enhance patient outcomes.
A significant proportion of nursing home residents suffer from chronic pain during their final six months, according to a recent study. Researchers analyzed data from over 960 seniors and found that 60% reported consistent low or mild pain, while around 34% experienced moderate or severe pain, with little improvement as death approached.
Researchers at Cleveland Clinic conducted the first randomized controlled trial of DBS for neuropathic pain, targeting brain structures related to emotion and behavior. The study showed significant improvements in indices of depression, anxiety, and quality of life, suggesting a potential shift away from analgesia-based treatments.
A world's largest randomized controlled trial found acupuncture as effective as pain medicine in providing long-term relief for patients with considerable pain. Despite initial pain persistence, acupuncture was deemed a viable treatment option for those unable to take standard drugs due to medical conditions.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy significantly reduced self-reported depression and anxiety among chronic pain patients participating in a pain rehabilitation program. The treatment also improved self-efficacy, activity engagement, and pain acceptance.
A study by the American Society of Anesthesiologists found that women who catastrophize, or exaggerate pain, are more likely to take prescribed opioids than men. The study suggests that early treatment for pain catastrophizing may reduce opioid prescriptions for both sexes.
A new review investigates the relationship between pain and opioid misuse, revealing that pain can drastically change the brain's natural opioid system. The study aims to understand how pain affects addiction treatment, with the ultimate goal of developing more effective treatments for chronic pain.
A recent analysis found that individuals with debilitating pain had a higher risk of dying during the study. Those with severe pain interference reported significantly increased risks of mortality.
Researchers at SLU have identified a key molecular pathway driving cancer-related bone pain and discovered a potential solution with an existing drug. A new study provides hope for patients suffering from this debilitating condition.
Researchers at UCSF found a significant association between chronic pain and faster declines in memory function and increased risk of dementia in older adults. The study suggests that chronic pain could be related to changes in the brain contributing to cognitive decline.
New research suggests that breastfeeding for over 2 months reduces the risk of chronic post-C-section pain. Mothers who breastfed longer had lower rates of persistent pain compared to those who breastfed for less time. The study also found a significant association between anxiety during breastfeeding and increased risk of chronic pain.
New research finds that older patients can tolerate more post-operative pain, despite reduced functional impairment. However, age may influence how much pain is reported due to social reasons or increased pain perception.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have found that a small RNA molecule in sensory neurons regulates how touch is perceived, leading to increased pain sensitivity after nerve damage. The study's results suggest that microRNA-based drugs could be a promising treatment option for chronic nerve pain.
The AI system uses machine learning techniques to estimate pain levels in sheep based on five distinct facial expressions. It can detect conditions such as foot rot and mastitis with high accuracy, enabling early treatment and pain relief.
Researchers have developed a new drug delivery strategy to block pain within nerve cells, offering a major breakthrough in treating chronic pain. The target protein, NK1 receptor, is controlled once it enters the cell, allowing for more effective pain suppression.
A study led by Columbia University Medical Center has shown that chronic pain may occur when pain receptors migrate from the nerve cell's surface to the cell's inner chambers. This discovery may lead to the development of a new class of medications for chronic pain that is more potent and less prone to side effects.
Research suggests that vitamin D levels combined with good sleep quality can effectively manage conditions like arthritis, menstrual cramps, and chronic back pain. This review highlights the potential benefits of vitamin D supplementation in pain management, offering a new approach to alleviate suffering.
Researchers found that chronic pain distorts the intensity of pain perception in other body parts by rewiring circuits in the anterior cingulate cortex. This causes a greater reaction to painful stimuli throughout the body, with far-reaching consequences for mental health and disease treatment.
A recent study published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery found that preoperative opioid use is associated with less pain reduction after total knee replacement surgery. Patients who used opioids before their procedure experienced about 9 percent less pain relief at six months following surgery compared to those who did not.
A new guideline aims to reduce opioid use for chronic non-cancer pain by optimizing non-opioid therapy, restricting dosing, and tapering opioids. The guideline is focused on preventing harm and reducing addiction, with the goal of addressing Canada's opioid crisis.
A new study published in Anesthesiology found that methadone significantly reduces the need for opioids after spinal fusion surgery. Patients treated with methadone required less intravenous and oral opioids to manage postoperative pain, reported lower pain scores, and had improved global satisfaction.
A new study published in JOSPT found that dry needling is as effective as cortisone injection in reducing pain and improving movement problems caused by greater trochanteric pain syndrome. Researchers treated patients with chronic hip pain, finding that both treatments resulted in decreased pain and improved function.
Researchers developed the Behavior Pain Assessment Tool (BPAT) to evaluate pain in critically ill patients unable to communicate verbally. The tool, based on eight observable behaviors, was validated in 28 countries and found to be reliable and valid for use in clinical practice.
Researchers have identified a key mechanism driving the emotional response to painful inflammation, highlighting potential therapeutic targets for managing chronic pain. Prostaglandins in brainstem serotonin-producing neurons play a crucial role in this process.
Researchers at UC Davis Health found that doctors and patients often have differing priorities for pain treatment, with patients seeking to reduce pain intensity and physicians focusing on improving physical function. The study recommends pain-focused communication training to improve doctor-patient agreements.
A recent study by Georgia State University researchers found that female brains have more active immune cells in pain processing regions. This leads to improved response to opioid pain medication, often less effective in females.
A new study published in the BMJ Journal for Medical Humanities found that shared reading can be a useful therapy for chronic pain sufferers. The study compared shared reading to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and found that shared reading provided a more comprehensive approach to managing emotional pain.
A novel non-pharmacological approach using green LED has shown promising results in treating neuropathic pain in rats with no side effects observed. The therapy may work by increasing levels of endogenous opioids, which inhibit pain and decrease inflammation.
A study published in PAIN found that physically active older adults have lower pain perception and better ability to block responses to painful stimuli. This suggests that low levels of sedentary behavior and greater light physical activity may be critical in maintaining effective endogenous pain inhibitory function.
Research at the University of Sydney found that back pain is linked to a 13% increased risk of death in older Australians. The study controlled for shared genetic factors and suggests that spinal pain may be part of a pattern of poor health, increasing mortality risk.
Researchers found that itch and mild pain signals can be transmitted through the same spinal cord neurons, with GRP neurons acting as a 'braking system' to mitigate intense pain. In mice without these neurons, pain responses were increased and scratching behaviors were altered.
A study by Ohio State University researchers found that a Mediterranean diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods such as seafood and plant-based proteins can help reduce pain associated with obesity. The study also highlights the importance of diet quality over quantity in managing weight-related pain.
A Saint Louis University researcher is using a $363,000 grant to test two molecules as potential biomarkers for four debilitating health conditions: chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, and vulvodynia. The goal is to develop new painkillers that target these pathways.
Researchers at CU Boulder have developed a functional MRI-based model that identifies brain activity patterns involved in varied pain experiences. The model, called SIIPS1, maps positively correlated and negatively correlated brain sub-regions, including regions not traditionally considered important for pain assessment.
The American College of Physicians issues a guideline for treating nonradicular low back pain, recommending non-drug therapies such as superficial heat, massage, and acupuncture. For chronic low back pain, the ACP suggests exercise, multidisciplinary rehabilitation, and mindfulness-based stress reduction as initial treatment options.
A new study reveals that poorer and less-educated older Americans are more likely to experience severe chronic pain, even after accounting for age. The research also shows that people with lower levels of education and wealth are more likely to experience pain-related disability.
School-aged children experience low back pain due to musculoskeletal overuse or trauma, with a correlation between competition level and risk. Preventive measures include pre-season sports conditioning programs and rest, helping reduce injuries and long-term risk of low back pain.
A study found that brain responses to rewards are a significant predictor of pain symptoms in adolescents, with patterns of reward processing at age 14-15 predicting pain complaints at age 16-17. Genetic variants affecting pain sensitivity may also play a role.
Researchers found that RGS9-2 promotes addiction to oxycodone in both pain-free and chronic pain states. The protein also plays a protective role against oxycodone tolerance. Understanding the mechanisms of oxycodone action can help develop new, less addictive pain management strategies.
Research reveals weather plays no part in the symptoms associated with back pain and osteoarthritis, contrary to long-held beliefs. Higher temperatures slightly increase lower back pain risk but not clinically important.
A Washington State University-led study explores the relationship between sleep and chronic pain, with the goal of developing new treatments. The research aims to understand which comes first: pain or poor sleep, and whether improving sleep can alleviate pain symptoms.
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have developed a novel treatment for phantom limb pain, reducing symptoms by 50% in over a dozen amputees. The new approach uses augmented reality and machine learning to control virtual environments with muscle signals from the missing limb.
A cross-sectional study found that HIV-positive patients with chronic pain did not experience significant functional interference, maintaining high activity levels. This contradicts previous assumptions and highlights the complex relationship between HIV-related pain and physical activity.
Researchers found that CRPS patients' brains activate similarly to normal pain when observing movements, suggesting a connection between pain processing and motor control. The study may help develop diagnostics and therapeutic strategies for CRPS patients.
Researchers used brain-machine interface training to investigate phantom limb pain and found that changes in cortical plasticity, rather than motor function, are key to reducing pain. This approach shows promise for treating chronic pain conditions, including phantom limb pain and residual surgery pain.
A new study published in Journal of Pain Research found that implementation of the Stepped Care Model for Pain Management resulted in clinically significant improvements in quality of pain care outcomes, including increased provider knowledge and referrals to behavioral health providers. The model's individualized approach has the pote...
A recent study published in Science Advances found that over 85% of pain-sensing neurons are sensitive to one specific type of painful stimulus. This challenges previous findings suggesting most neurons respond to all types of pain.
Researchers at The University of Manchester have discovered a potential therapy for alleviating chronic pain by tuning the brain's frequency. This new approach uses visual and auditory stimulation to reduce pain intensity in patients.
A new high-frequency spinal cord stimulation technique, HF10, offers superior clinical outcomes for patients with severe, chronic back and leg pain. After a trial period, patients were randomly assigned to receive either HF10 or traditional low-frequency SCS, with lasting reductions in back and leg pain reported at two years' follow-up.
Researchers pinpoint unique brain region for placebo response in pain relief, enabling targeted pain therapy and more accurate clinical trials. This finding could lead to personalized medicine for the 100 million Americans with chronic pain.
A study by researchers at Osaka University and the University of Cambridge found that a 'reorganisation' of the brain's wiring causes phantom limb pain in amputees. They developed an AI-based treatment using brain-machine interfaces to decrease pain levels.
ERAS programs employ various methods to ease postoperative pain and fast track patient recovery. Research suggests that treating pain is a key aspect of ERAS, with combination therapy showing promise in controlling pain levels. Patient education classes are also shown to empower patients and improve outcomes.