Research on pain and how to relieve it. Covers chemotherapy nerve injury, music and pain, migraine patterns, and back-pain treatments.
A study published in JAMA Surgery found that more than two-thirds of patients reported unused prescription opioids after surgery, highlighting an important source for nonmedical use. The study also revealed low rates of safe storage and disposal practices, contributing to opioid-related injuries and deaths.
Researchers found that self-efficacy positively affects physical activity in osteoarthritis patients, even controlling for pain and mood. Boosting confidence can increase daily steps and moderate-intensity activity.
A new study has found that an alternative method of pain relief for knee replacement surgery reduces the need for powerful painkillers like morphine. The new approach involves injecting anaesthetic agents around the knee joint, administered by the surgeon without specialist equipment.
A new study from UMass Medical School found that obese patients who underwent knee or hip replacement surgery reported similar pain relief and improved function as normal-weight patients. The study suggests that obesity is not a barrier to joint replacement surgery, which can provide long-term relief from joint pain.
A widely used drug screening tool has been found to be seriously flawed, incorrectly flagging many active compounds as potential PAINS. The University of North Carolina study analyzed thousands of compounds and found that majority do not exhibit interference with drug-candidate screening technology.
A Georgia State University study found that early-life inflammatory pain increases sucrose intake and decreases memory-related protein expression in adult rats, with female rats showing more pronounced effects. The study suggests that preventing pain in premature infants may reduce the risk of obesity.
A recent study found no association between opioid intake and disability, satisfaction with surgery, or pain management at 5-8 months post-surgery. However, patients using opioids reported more pain with activity and catastrophic thinking, leading to anxiety and limited mobility.
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.
A minimally invasive approach to treating chronic pancreas disease resulted in fewer complications, shorter hospital stays, and less need for opioids. The procedure also showed promising results in reducing pain scores and opioid therapy needs.
Researchers discovered that pain neurons produce CGRP, a neuropeptide that inhibits osteoclast and cytokine production, to suppress fungal inflammation. The study found that Jdp2 transcription factor is necessary for this immunosuppression and that pain neurons are more potent at producing CGRP in response to β-glucan than LPS.
A study by University of Sydney researchers found that yoga can cause musculoskeletal pain in 10% of participants and exacerbate existing injuries up to 21%. The study's findings suggest that yoga is not as safe as previously thought, with an injury rate comparable to other sports.
A study of 4,162 emergency department patients with chest pain found that certain symptoms are more predictive of heart attack in different racial and gender groups. Symptoms varied significantly among white males, black females, and others, highlighting the need for tailored diagnosis approaches.
A study of 48 university students found intensive users experienced wrist/hand pain and median nerve effects, leading to numbness and pain. The findings suggest caution when using handheld devices to minimize the risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome.
A study found that empathetic touch can synchronize heart rates and breathing between partners, reducing pain during childbirth. The researchers recruited 22 couples to participate in a series of tests, where they were subjected to mild heat pain on their forearm while holding hands or not.
Studies highlight limitations in current PsA treatment, with self-reported pain being common despite biologic therapies. Comorbidities like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and depression negatively impact PsA treatment adherence and response.
A study analyzing PROMISE trial data found that CT angiography better predicts future cardiovascular events than functional testing, especially in identifying nonobstructive coronary artery disease. This improvement in risk prediction enables a more informed choice of testing for patients with stable chest 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.
A Phase 1/2 clinical trial of an experimental Chikungunya vaccine, MV-CHIKV, is underway in the US. The trial aims to assess the safety and immune response of the vaccine in healthy adults.
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.
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.
A recent study published in The Lancet found that ketamine does not prevent delirium and does not reduce post-surgical pain, contradicting widespread medical practices. However, higher doses of ketamine were associated with increased negative effects such as hallucinations and nightmares.
Researchers have developed a new tool called SEAT to measure software-induced ergonomic risks, which can help prevent debilitating hand and wrist problems in office workers. The tool uses self-reported surveys to identify stressors and strain, allowing developers to remove stressors from software and prevent injuries.
A large-scale registry study found that high-sensitivity troponin T assay is associated with a lower incidence of cardiovascular events in patients with unspecified chest pain. The percentage of serious events dropped from 0.9% to 0.6% after introducing the new method.
A new Finnish research reveals how brain's opioids modulate responses to others' pain. The less opioid receptors the participants had, the stronger their emotion and pain circuits' response to seeing others in distress.
A study from Karolinska Institutet shows that observing others' pain or anxiety activates the same regions in the brain involved in self-perceived pain. This sensitivity can lead to anxiety syndrome and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in some individuals.
A study from researchers at University of Wisconsin-Madison and UCSF found that mindfulness training during pregnancy can reduce depression symptoms in new mothers. The study showed a decrease in opioid-based pain medication use during labor among the mindfulness group, suggesting a potential benefit for infant health.
Two large US studies found a significant association between high fiber intake and reduced risk of symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. High cereal fiber intake was also linked to lower worsening knee pain.
A study published in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery found that patients who previously took prescription opioids had a higher average pain score six months after knee replacement surgery. This suggests that preoperative opioid use may be problematic due to its negative effects on subsequent total knee arthroplasty outcomes.
A study published in JAMA found that steroid injections did not improve symptoms or reduce cartilage damage in patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. The treatment resulted in significant cartilage volume loss, but no significant difference in knee pain compared to a placebo injection.
A study found that using smartphones to deliver lab results to attending physicians reduced discharge time by 26 minutes for chest pain patients. This innovation could improve emergency department flow and reduce waiting times.
A growing number of cases in Western countries have been linked to the consumption of raw or undercooked fish, specifically sushi. Anisakiasis is caused by eating infected fish and can lead to symptoms such as upper gut pain, vomiting, fever, bowel obstruction, and bleeding.
A panel of international experts recommends against knee arthroscopy for almost all patients with degenerative knee disease, citing limited evidence of long-term pain relief and function improvement. Non-use of knee arthroscopy can be used as a performance measure to reduce unnecessary surgery.
Researchers found that severe foot pain and flat feet were associated with a higher risk of recurrent falls. The study suggests that targeting foot pain may help reduce hospitalizations and loss of independence for older adults.
A study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) assessment is accurate, timely, and associated with low pain levels and high caregiver satisfaction. POCUS was compared to X-ray for diagnosing distal forearm fractures in children, yielding a sensitivity of 94.7% and specificity of 93.5%.
A new Canadian clinical guideline recommends reducing opioid medication use for patients with chronic non-cancer pain, prioritizing harm reduction and optimizing non-opioid treatment. The guideline also proposes strict dose limits and trial tapers to minimize risks associated with opioids.
A study found that incidental findings from routine imaging scans generated longer hospital stays in over half of patients, with only 7% being medically significant. Researchers urge hospitals to better assess these findings and explore ways to safely reduce added costly days.
A new study found that simple calf muscle stretching can improve blood flow and reduce leg pain in people with peripheral artery disease. After four weeks of daily stretches, participants were able to walk half a city block farther and their leg discomfort was prolonged.
A new study links knee osteoarthritis to noisy knees in high-risk individuals. Approximately 75% of those who developed OA within a year had x-ray signs but no frequent pain.
A new study by Dr. Elizabeth Losin suggests that clinician-patient similarity and trust can significantly reduce pain during medical procedures. Patients who trusted their doctor and felt similar to them reported less pain, with those experiencing higher anxiety levels showing greater reductions in pain.
Research by Dr Richard Stephens found that swearing aloud improves anaerobic power and isometric handgrip strength in participants. The study suggests that swearing stimulates the body's sympathetic nervous system, but further investigation is needed to understand its effects.
A UCL-led study found that the brain responds weaker to money gained through immoral actions compared to those earned morally. The research identified a neural process that dampens the appeal of profiting at others' expense.
Two papers challenge the UK's National Institute for Healthcare Excellence (NICE) guidelines for excluding acupuncture in treating osteoarthritis of the knee and low-back pain. The authors argue that NICE applies a higher evidentiary standard to acupuncture than other modalities, which may diminish its effectiveness.
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 recent CU Boulder study found that the placebo effect can significantly reduce emotional pain and brain activity associated with social rejection. The study used fMRI to track brain responses in volunteers who had recently experienced a breakup, finding that placebos reduced physical pain and emotional distress.
A new study reveals a rising trend in hospitalizations for hypertensive emergency but a decrease in hospital mortality rates over the last decade. The presence of acute cardiorespiratory failure, chest pain, stroke, and aortic dissection were key predictors of higher hospital mortality.
A study published in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery found that women are more likely to experience hypersensitivity to metals used in joint replacements, leading to increased pain and complications. Women accounted for 60% of patients with unexplained pain after joint replacement, with higher average pain scores than men.
Researchers have found that pain relief medication can ease the discomfort of zebrafish larvae, offering a potential replacement for adult fish used in scientific research. This breakthrough reduces animal suffering and paves the way for more humane testing methods.
A study published in JAMA Surgery found that approximately 6% of patients continued to use opioids more than three months after surgery. Risk factors for persistent opioid use included preoperative tobacco use, alcohol and substance abuse disorders, mood disorders, anxiety, and preoperative pain disorders.
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 found that fang blenny venom contains a neuropeptide, lipase, and opioid peptide, which cause a sudden drop in blood pressure in predators. This leads to disorientation and can help the fish escape. The venom's unique components have also inspired mimicry among other fish.
A team of psychologists developed new tests to capture automatic moral and empathetic judgments. The studies found that certain situations trigger instant moral assessments, even when participants are instructed to counteract those feelings. These measures could help criminologists and psychologists understand pathological behavior.
A new study published in JMIR Mental Health found that virtual reality therapy significantly reduced pain scores in hospitalized patients. Patients who wore VR goggles experienced a 24% drop in pain, while those who viewed standard video content saw a 13.2% decrease.
A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that consumers will pay big money for painful experiences like obstacle races and ultra-marathons. Through extensive interviews with Mudders, researchers learned that pain helps individuals cope with reduced physicality and create a story of a fulfilled life.
Researchers used cold pressor tests to assess the relationship between pain threshold and tolerance, and the associated hemodynamic response in the cerebral cortex. The study found no gender difference in hemodynamic responses to pain but sheds light on hidden differences in biological variables in the human brain.
A Chicagoan has become the first adult patient to be cured of congenital dyserythropoietic anemia with a novel stem cell transplant protocol. The patient, David Levy, underwent the procedure in 2014 and is now free from pain and independent.
A recent study suggests that surgical approaches to treating tennis elbow may not provide additional benefits compared to a placebo procedure. Patients who underwent surgery experienced significant improvements in pain measures within 26 weeks, with no significant difference between the two groups at any point.
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 successfully created a synthetic receptor that recognizes signals involved in pain relief and can be switched on and off using chemical messengers. The breakthrough could hold the key to altering the way cells respond to pain and other sensations by adding or bypassing natural communication pathways.
A recent analysis found that only 31.8% of newborns were assessed for prolonged, continuous pain in European neonatal intensive care units. Intensive care units with specific support systems performed assessments more frequently, highlighting the need for better pain monitoring in newborns.
Researchers at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin have discovered a new mechanism of action for painkillers that produces substantial pain relief in inflamed tissues without causing severe side effects. The prototype, NFEPP-prototype, binds to opioid receptors only in acidic environments, avoiding respiratory depression and dependency.