Research on pain and how to relieve it. Covers chemotherapy nerve injury, music and pain, migraine patterns, and back-pain treatments.
A new study found that middle-aged Americans without a college degree report higher levels of pain than older Americans. The research team analyzed data from over 2.5 million adults and found that each generation of less-educated Americans experiences more pain throughout their lives.
A US study found that middle-aged individuals without a bachelor's degree reported more pain than elderly individuals, unlike in other wealthy countries where pain rises with age. The finding suggests that pain prevalence will continue to increase for less-educated adults in the US, with significant implications for healthcare.
Researchers from the University of Queensland have discovered two pain-blocking peptides in the Venezuelan Pinkfoot Goliath tarantula's venom, showing great potential as treatments for chronic intestinal pain. The peptides inhibit the most important ion channels underlying pain and nearly stopped chronic visceral pain in a model of IBS.
Future healthcare professionals lack training to address opioid use disorder and pain; a new 14-week course aims to bridge this gap. The course, 'Opioids: From Receptors to Epidemic,' provides a clinical understanding of pain and substance use disorders, as well as knowledge about public health and opioid policy interventions.
Researchers at the University of Queensland have found a new family of toxins, gympietides, in the Gympie-Gympie stinging tree that can cause long-lasting pain similar to spider and cone snail venom. The toxins permanently change sodium channels in sensory neurons, suggesting potential for developing new painkillers.
A randomized, double-blind trial found that turmeric supplements were more effective in reducing knee pain in patients with osteoarthritis compared to a placebo. The study also showed no adverse events and reduced medication usage, but highlighted the need for larger, longer-term trials.
A study analyzing opioid prescriptions after outpatient knee surgeries found significant variation in prescription strength and number of tablets across the US. States like Oklahoma prescribed more opioids than necessary, while others like Vermont had lower rates.
Researchers investigate transvaginal ultrasound as an alternative to invasive laparoscopic surgery for diagnosing deep infiltrating endometriosis. The study finds TVUS to be highly accurate in detecting the condition, reducing diagnostic delays and improving patient outcomes.
Researchers identified a potential underlying mechanism in the nervous system responsible for varying pain patterns with knee osteoarthritis. People with more pain sensitization were more likely to suffer from constant and unpredictable pain.
Researchers at RMIT University have developed electronic artificial skin that senses pain instantly, mimicking the body's near-instant feedback response. The prototype device combines three technologies to deliver key features of the skin's sensing capability in electronic form.
Researchers from Arizona State University have made significant progress in understanding TRPV1's thermosensing mechanism. The study provides a framework for distinguishing specific activation mechanisms that can be targeted to develop new non-addictive pain therapies.
A study by Mayo Clinic researchers found that online searches for 'chest pain' increased by at least 34% during the COVID-19 pandemic, while emergency visits for heart attacks dropped. This suggests that people may be misconstruing chest pain as an infectious symptom or avoiding medical care due to pandemic concerns.
New research suggests that Black patients experience less pain and anxiety when treated by a physician of their own race. Racial/ethnic concordance between doctor and patient influences physical responses to pain, with Black patients showing reduced bodily responses when paired with same-race doctors.
A new study found that follow-up calls made the evening after Mohs micrographic surgery best identified patients with active pain. However, no single group was able to identify bleeding complications or highest pain levels. The study suggests that standard phone calls may not strongly contribute to overall patient satisfaction.
A new study from Lund University in Sweden found that app-based osteoarthritis treatment can halve patients' pain levels within six months and improve physical mobility. The digital program costs approximately 25% of conventional treatment, making it a cost-effective option.
Researchers found that patients who received daily text messages from an automated chatbot experienced a significant decrease in opioid use, averaging 26 pills compared to 41 for non-participants. This low-effort approach aims to reduce opioid dependence and is potentially transferable to other patient populations.
A new molecule called TPPU has been shown to suppress the inflammatory process, reducing inflammation and joint tissue wear and tear in mice with genetically induced arthritis. Arthritic mice treated with TPPU displayed less pain and swelling and had lower clinical scores.
The new guidelines offer additional recommendations for photobiomodulation therapy and benzydamine, as well as a stronger guideline statement for cryotherapy. Researchers also found that natural honey may help prevent mucositis in head and neck cancer patients, although long-term effects are unclear.
A new study from Harvard Medical School found that Black former NFL players experience significant health disparities, including more pain, physical impairment, mood disorders, and cognitive problems compared to white peers. Other nonwhite athletes also face similar challenges.
A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that young adults and adolescents prescribed opioids for the first time are at a slightly greater risk of developing a substance-related problem, but not as high as previously thought. The risk was found to be around 1-2% higher than those who were not prescribed an opioid.
Researchers found a significant decrease in opioid prescribing rates and improved pain control following hip and knee replacement surgeries in the US between 2014 and 2017.
A pilot study of a combination of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection and home-based exercise program showed encouraging results in reducing shoulder pain in wheelchair users with spinal cord injury. Participants reported decreased pain levels, with three describing their pain as 'much improved', after the treatment.
A study discovered that some people in Europe and South America carry a Neandertal variant of an ion channel gene, leading to increased pain sensitivity. The gene's variant is associated with a lower pain threshold compared to the modern human version.
A study found that women with a rare genetic variant in the KCNG4 gene have a higher pain threshold, allowing them to experience less pain during childbirth. The researchers believe this variant acts like a natural epidural, requiring stronger contractions to switch on pain signals.
A new study found that training doctors in anaesthetic skills using Lego bricks can improve their performance. The study used a simple task where participants copied shapes using bricks to see in a mirror, and found that this improved their ability to perform ultrasound-guided regional anaesthesia tasks.
A study published in Neurology found that training with a brain-computer-interface can significantly reduce phantom-limb pain in amputees. After just three days of training, patients experienced a 30% reduction in pain intensity, and the effect lasted up to five days after training was complete.
A researcher at the University of Oklahoma is using a $1.3 million grant to study why women with irritable bowel syndrome experience more severe abdominal pain than men under stress. Her goal is to identify epigenetic changes in specific brain nuclei that make females more vulnerable to abdominal pain.
The NETOIMS method effectively alleviates postoperative pain by inserting a needle in the muscle and electrically eliciting twitch responses, targeting strained muscle fibers. This technique results in improved circulation, relaxing the muscle and reducing postoperative complications after open abdominal surgery.
A new study by Ben-Gurion University researchers found that interacting with a plush, seal-like social robot reduced pain and increased happiness. Lower oxytocin levels were observed in those who interacted with the robot compared to the control group.
Researchers found that 45% of patients had low levels of pain effectively managed by a non-opioid regimen, with no reported side effects. Patients who required opioids were more likely to have anxiety/depression and higher pain scores, highlighting the potential for reduced opioid use in surgical settings.
Using regional anaesthesia instead of general anaesthesia for hip and knee replacement procedures can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By eliminating volatile halogenated agents, regional anaesthesia decreases atmospheric pollution, contributing to a potential solution to global warming.
A new nonsurgical treatment decreases errant blood flow in the shoulder to quickly reduce pain and improve function in patients with adhesive capsulitis, also known as 'frozen shoulder'. The treatment was successfully completed in 16 patients whose symptoms had not responded to conservative treatment over 30 days.
Researchers discovered Plasmodium parasites use internal clocks to regulate gene expression and cell cycle activities in response to host signals. The finding of a genetic metronome and SR10 receptor protein could lead to novel drug targets for combating malaria.
Researchers are developing a patient-friendly smartphone sensor to measure tooth pain and provide accurate care. The grant aims to test a novel way to quantify tooth pain using a commercially available device and miniaturize it for smartphone use.
Research reveals that positive anticipation leads to impatience, while negative anticipation elicits dread, influencing task prioritization. The study's findings have practical applications for personal finance and long-term planning.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine found that CBD significantly reduces inflammatory molecules and immune cells associated with arthritis in dogs. The study showed that CBD treatment improved quality of life in 90% of the dogs, supporting future scientific evaluation of CBD for human arthritis.
Research found that most people at high risk of overdose in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside who use cannabis do so for pain relief and other therapeutic reasons. Cannabis users in this group had lower odds of experiencing a recent non-fatal opioid overdose, indicating a possible reduction in opioid reliance.
A new study analyzed four years' worth of data from two million patients and found that those having dental procedures on Fridays or before holidays were more likely to fill opioid prescriptions. Non-opioid painkillers are equally effective at controlling pain with lower risks.
This study compared early postoperative pain in patients undergoing bilateral scheduled staged TKA, finding no significant differences between the first and second surgeries. The frequency and number of analgesic requests were also similar, but showed a positive correlation at 24 hours after the second surgery.
Researchers at Duke University found a single brain area, the CeAga neurons, which can profoundly control pain by turning off dozens of other pain-promotion centers. By activating this center, they can alleviate pain behaviors in mice, suggesting potential future treatments for chronic pain.
A new bone-graft biomaterial supercooled before application could eliminate pain and improve smile outcomes for dental patients. The material, combining octacalcium phosphate with collagen, has shown superior bone regenerative properties compared to earlier substitutes.
A study comparing opioid-related deaths in cancer survivors to the general population found that opioid-associated deaths in cancer survivors have increased at a rate similar to that of the general population. The findings suggest that opioids may not be contributing to rising rates of overdose among cancer patients.
A new study published in Journal of the American Heart Association has found that women and men experience overlapping and distinct symptoms when presenting with acute coronary syndrome. Women are more likely to present with fatigue, pain between the shoulder blades, and shortness of breath, while both sexes often experience chest pain.
A study published in Pediatrics found racial disparities in pain management among children presenting to emergency departments with long-bone fractures. Minority children were more likely to receive analgesics, but less likely to receive opioids and optimal pain reduction.
NYU Dentistry researcher Yi Ye has received a $2.2 million NIH grant to investigate how oral cancer cells invade nerves and cause pain. Her study aims to understand the role of Schwann cells in this process and identify potential targets for treating oral cancer-related pain.
A new 12-week clinical trial found that heat-inactivated Bifidobacterium bifidum MIMBb75 improved IBS symptoms by at least 30% in 34% of patients compared to 19% on placebo. The treatment was also associated with a strong placebo effect, but the dead bacterial cells were still significantly better than placebo.
A new study published in eLife found that people who have survived a suicide attempt are less sensitive to bodily signals related to their heart and breath. The researchers suggest that this 'interoceptive numbing' may be linked to lower brain activity in the insular cortex, a region that closely tracks the internal state of the body.
A new scale measures individuals' preferences for obtaining or avoiding information in various areas of life, including personal health and finances. Most people prefer to remain uninformed in certain domains, while others consistently choose to face the truth.
A new study suggests that snake venom did not evolve primarily as a defense mechanism, but rather to overpower and kill prey. Researchers surveyed nearly 400 people who work with snakes and found that only a minority of bites cause immediate pain, implying that the venom's composition has not been optimized for defensive purposes.
A study of 865 sports students found that over half experience pain in two or more regions of the body, with frequent depressions, anxiety, and low self-compassion. The lack of attention to physical limitations can lead to chronic pain, emphasizing the need for early discussion and consideration of athletes' health.
A systematic review and meta-analysis found that cannabinoid treatment reduced subjective pain scores compared to placebo in patients with acute pain. Intramuscular cannabinoids were more effective than oral cannabinoids in reducing pain relative to placebo.
A new study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence reveals that experiencing opioid withdrawal increases the likelihood of needle sharing and non-fatal overdose among individuals who inject drugs. The research also highlights the urgent need for medication-assisted treatment to address this public health issue.
Women with coronary artery disease experience more chest pain due to plaque build-up, but have less extensive disease compared to men. The study highlights the need for more research and clinicians to adopt a dual focus to prevent cardiovascular events and improve patients' quality of life.
A new study highlights that appendicitis is often missed in emergency department visits, with a diagnosis rate of 3.8% to 15% in children and 5.9% to 23.5% in adults. The study found factors such as symptoms mislabeling, patient demographics, and diagnostic tests played a role in the missed diagnoses.
Researchers found that patients prescribed opioids after tooth extraction reported worse pain, and half of prescribed opioids remained unused. The study suggests that alternatives such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or acetaminophen control pain better and improve patient satisfaction.
Researchers found that patients' Facebook posts showed a shift to more formal language and descriptions of physical pain before their ED visit, reliably predicting hospital visits. The study provides evidence that social media can be an unseen signal of medical distress and could potentially be used to trigger health care interventions.
Researchers have introduced a novel total synthesis method for tetrodotoxin, a strong nerve toxin with potential as a pain reliever for cancer treatment. The new route enables easy and reliable production of the compound.
A new mobile app has been shown to reduce osteoarthritis pain and improve physical function in patients by an average of 43% over six months. The study, published in PLOS ONE, used a mobile app to track daily exercises and provide information on the disease, with results exceeding expectations.
In a study published in Current Biology, researchers found that rats exhibit harm aversion, stopping use of their preferred lever when it would cause pain to a neighboring rat. This phenomenon is linked to the same brain region associated with empathy in humans, suggesting that harm aversion is deeply ingrained in our biology.
A new study estimates that Americans spent an estimated $380 billion on low back and neck pain in 2016, combined with other musculoskeletal disorders. This accounts for 14.1% of the total $2.7 trillion in healthcare spending that year.