Neuropathic Pain

Medication selection should be driven by rational polypharmacy and take into account such factors as pain type, underlying symptoms, comorbidities, patient preference, and medication side effects.

Study results show that pain associated with osteoarthritis of the knee often exhibits neuropathic pain characteristics.

Researchers say it may be possible to diagnose and monitor peripheral neuropathy induced by HIV, replacing more invasive methods of testing such as skin biopsy.

Literature review by the AAN shows that oral and oral spray forms of medical marijuana effectively treat some symptoms of MS, but there is little evidence to support efficacy in treating other neurologic diseases such as Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, and Tourette syndrome.

Do National Prescription Drug Takeback Programs really make an impact on opioid misuse and diversion? Why doesn't the DEA go after people who overdose on opioids that were probably diverted?

Up to one-quarter of the 1.6 million amputees in the United States develop painful neuromas that can interfere with even the most carefully fitted prosthetic devices.

Following the approval of Zohydro last year, attorneys general across the country requested the FDA reconsider its decision until the medication could be reformulated to include abuse-deterrent properties. Now, two states have moved to reduce access to Zohydro. Will the courts uphold these decisions, or will other states follow in their wake?

Noting the management and treatment of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) are currently subpar in the primary care setting, 2 researchers recently reviewed and outlined key clinical considerations for the chronic neuropathic pain syndrome.

Patients who also responded positively to preoperative non-invasive transcranial stimulation analgesic effect were more likely to experience long-term benefit from MCS.

The newly approved naloxone auto-injector has the potential to save many lives, but should not be viewed as the Holy Grail of the ongoing fight to prevent overdose deaths from opioid abuse and misuse.

For patients suffering from hip bursitis, platelet-rich plasma treatment is more effective than steroids, according to a study presented at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Scientists are able to predict the body's response to neuropathic pain treatment, according to a study presented at the 30th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Pain Medicine.

While the peak of the opioid epidemic may now have been reached (according to some), we are not out of the woods. Every decision to start or continue opioid therapy must be careful, deliberate, and weigh benefit against risk, while keeping in mind that risk is not constant/static, but dynamic and evolves through time.

Osteoarthritis (OA) patients who experienced pain had brain mechanisms similar to fibromyalgia (FM) patients, according to a study published in the European Journal of Neuroscience.

Purdue Pharma L.P. has developed an abuse-resistant drug to treat chronic low back pain.

According to a recent systematic review, the prescient and short-term use of NSAIDs and opioids with pharmacological sensitivity to an individual's comorbidities may result in pain relief, improved functioning, and reduced vocational and avocational absenteeism.

Although they have all participated in the development of treatment guidelines for a variety of pain conditions, 3 comprehensive pain experts openly acknowledged and discussed the practical limitations of published evidence-based recommendations during the closing session of the American Academy of Pain Medicine 2014 Annual Meeting.

Sometimes, chronic pain patients intentionally magnify or downplay their physical and mental symptoms during office visits. Despite that fact, little attention in the clinical setting is paid to underlying motives for positively or negatively biased self-reports.

Researchers have identified a component of particular nociceptors associated with neuropathic pain that may act to naturally limit the severity of pain.

Results from a small study show that adding donepezil may provide additional analgesic relief for neuropathic pain patients who do not receive sufficient pain relief from gabapentin.

Meta-analysis of clinical trial data on the use of antidepressants and anticonvulsants for the treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy indicates gabapentin is the most efficacious agent for this condition, while the side effects associated with amitriptyline make it the least tolerable treatment option evaluated in the study.

A review of the cardiovascular safety and potential benefits of incretin-based therapies for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

A small study found that patients with severe pain and fibromyalgia syndrome reported a marked reduction in pain with the cholecalciferol supplementation.

Acetaminophen toxicity is the second most common cause of liver failure requiring transplantation in the US.

An experimental combination treatment for central neuropathic pain (CNP) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients failed to show superiority to placebo in a phase 2 study.

According to the authors of a recent study, almost 50% of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) say they have chronic pain, and over 75% of them rate it as being moderate to severe.

A recent study suggests that dialysis patients' use of opioid analgesics (OAs) is widespread and exceeding historical limits, and that the patients who use opioids are staying on them longer.

Will the approval of Zohydro benefit patients and physicians by providing another option for pain relief for patients with legitimate chronic pain needs, or will it spark a new wave of abuse, misuse, and diversion?

This resource describes several measures that patients with diabetes can take to prevent or control diabetic neuropathy, including peripheral neuropathy.

Study results show that a structured educational intervention for staff aimed at improving knowledge of pain assessment and treatment has little effect on outcomes as measured by pain scores.