Bill Schu

Pain is widely considered the "fifth vital sign" – and for good reason. By some estimates, pain accounts for as much as 4 out of every 5 doctor visits in the US. Thus, learning more about the correlates and determinants of pain is particularly important.

Physical therapy and exercise regimens have been found by many studies to be beneficial to patients with fibromyalgia. But what types of exercise are appropriate for patients who experience persistent, widespread pain, and who may be suffering sleep disturbance, joint stiffness, and many other interrelated symptoms?

Chronic pain may not be as immediately urgent or life-threatening as cancer, a cardiac event, or kidney disease. But as pain management specialists and pain patients see every day, the long-term effects of chronic pain on patients' lives can be nothing short of debilitating.

One of the lead characters in the HBO smash hit Game of Thrones has been told by several characters: "You know nothing, Jon Snow." Unfortunately, a similar quote could be used to describe patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). At the very least, the quote could be modified to, "You know very little."

A promising study published online by Molecular Cell has found that a high level of a protein called H2A.Z.2 can activate growth-promoting genes in melanoma cells. Blocking the body's production of H2A.Z.2, either alone or in combination with medications, can not only block tumor growth, it can also kill melanoma cells.

Effective clinical research into the causes and treatments associated with large vessel vasculitis can be a challenge. The rarity of the disease limits the potential for randomized, controlled trials and the paucity of generally accepted outcome measures makes it difficult to assess treatments. A study in The Journal of Rheumatology outlined a concerted effort to tackle both of these challenges.

Although some studies have hinted at a possible role for metformin in pain management, a recent investigation found no difference in pain scores among diabetic patients who used metformin and those who did not

Although folic acid counteracts some of the negative side effects experienced by patients taking MTX to treat their rheumatoid arthritis, researchers have posited it may also reduce the effectiveness of MTX therapy. Several studies have suggested that this is indeed a possibility. A new study in Arthritis Research and Therapy sheds some light on this question.

The vast majority of oncology research is dedicated to finding medications that either cure or more effectively manage the disease. But what about cancer patients in later life or those who are suffering from late-stage cancer, for whom a cure is unlikely? A study recently published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management provides several interesting insights into patient attitudes toward symptom control for late-stage cancer and the potential impacts of such treatment.

A study that used data from the Danish Melanoma Group database shows the incidence of malignant melanoma has doubled during the past 25 years, despite targeted awareness campaigns and a focus within the dermatology community on early detection and treatment.

Spend any appreciable time on PubMed, Medline, or Embase, and you can begin to think that there aren't many untapped areas of clinical exploration. Nothing could be further from the truth, of course, and a recent clinical review in Arthritis Research and Therapy outlines some of the uncharted territory even in a condition as prevalent as osteoarthritis of the knee.

Pain management research goes far beyond identifying drug development and new uses for existing medication. One particularly interesting but neglected area of study involves prism adaptation, a non-invasive, non-medication procedure that sounds like something straight out of a science fiction novel.

Vitamin D insufficiency can be like the slippery suspect in a network procedural: It's probably up to no good on any number of counts, but pinning the crime on it with airtight evidence can still prove elusive.

Medical treatments and who pays for them-and how much they pay for them-are obviously widely divergent depending on the country's healthcare system. But whether a nation has universal coverage or a third-party payer system such as the one in the US, all systems try to draw some correlation between the cost and benefit of a given procedure or prescription therapy.

One of the many difficulties in treating migraine is that many of those suffering from them don't recognize the symptoms or seek treatment. Chronic migraine in particular is underdiagnosed and undertreated. One way to address underdiagnosis is to put an accurate self-administered tool in the hands of migraine sufferers.

A number of studies have shown that gabapentin, developed to treat epilepsy, is effective in treating postherpetic neuralgia and painful diabetic neuropathy. Now, a study has revealed that gabapentin may hold promise for treating fibromyalgia as well.

Minimally invasive intervention is an effective alternative to current regional anesthetic techniques for the management of post-operative thoracotomy pain.

General physical activity is often part of the prescription for pain patients. But a new secondary analysis published in The European Journal of Pain shows that for patients with whiplash-associated disorders, neck-specific exercises can be effective and well-tolerated as well.

Data from the CDC show that only 14.3 percent of men and 29.9 percent of women report they regularly use sunscreen, even when they are outside in the sun for more than an hour.

A recent study compared patient education efforts using traditional websites with offerings that included automated online counseling for adolescent acne sufferers.

Tea Party politician brings a physician's mindset – and a bombastic style – to new role as lawmaker

Knowing your patient is always the best way to the right treatment --particularly for military patients, who bring unique clinical challenges.

Giordano highlights issues in pain medicine that leave patient populations vulnerable.

Geralyn Datz, PhD, discusses strategies for optimizing medical adherence.

Philip Getson, DO, takes an in-depth look at a condition that is as difficult to treat as it is to diagnose, tackling many myths about CRPS along the way.

This session provided insight into Acceptance and Commitment Therapy while challenging the audience to achieve a state of mindfulness for patients & themselves.

Session covered the wide range of methods drug seekers use and ways that pain management professionals can combat diversion, one patient at a time.

Mary Lynn McPherson gave attendees some poignant reminders about methadone treatment in a lively, entertaining, and informative session.

"Unrecognized health care problem" presents complex challenges for both surgeons and primary care physicians seeing patients after surgery.

Attendees retired early Tuesday evening judging by the standing-room only attendance at "Pain Mechanisms," one of five concurrent sessions to open PAINWeek.