Pain

A naloxone nasal spray device widely used in homes and by 911 providers was recalled due to a faulty part that turns the drug into a stream instead of a spray.

Researchers from the UK say they have developed a blood test that can detect osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis long before painful symptoms become noticeable.

Acupuncture has been used and studied as an alternative pain management method, and although it appears to offer some benefit as a treatment for some forms of chronic pain, the evidence supporting its positive effect on other health conditions is uneven at best.

Brought to you by Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc.: OpioidIQ offers downloadable tools to help you identify unintentional opioid misuse, enhance patient communication, and optimize treatment management.

The number of hospitalizations for opioid poisonings in adolescents and teens has skyrocketed in about 16 years. So why would it slow down now?

The MD Magazine editors rounded up the 10 best stories from October – did you read them all?

From fish oil to acupuncture, a new study assesses the application and efficacy of popular alternative treatments.

Brave women who forego epidural anesthesia might not be doing themselves any favors when it comes to their risk of postpartum depression.

Many patients with a variety of chronic pain conditions think negatively about how it will affect their sleep – which ends up leading to worse sleep outcomes. A study from the University of Warwick in England shows just how powerful these negative thoughts are.

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but so could regular cannabis use, according to a study from The University of Edinburgh.

Many studies compare a pain drug to a placebo in order to identify potential analgesic effects; however, typically these studies are blinded. But a study out of Portugal went against the grain.

Fibromyalgia is notoriously difficult to diagnose. But a new study from the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) may have found a brain signature that red flags the disease.

Patients experiencing pain from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) might find relief from an unlikely source.

There are many challenges that confront pain specialists on a daily basis. Despite those challenges, seeing their patients recover and live a better quality of life is reward enough to keep them optimistic for the future of the field.

Injectable medications are being used for everything from chronic pain to cancer related pain. While doctors are working to help their patients manage their symptoms they are also keeping a close eye on potential abuse and illegal activity with the medication.

Ketamine is not a new tool in the arsenal of pain medication but doctors are finding new ways to use it in order to provide relief for patients. As an infusion ketamine is being used to treat chronic pain syndromes.

In an effort to avoid prescribing opioids except in cases where they are needed doctors are finding new ways to provide relief for their patients. This can include newly developed implantable medications which can help reduce pain and increase quality of life.

When opioids first hit the market they were specifically promoted for their non-addictive traits. Over the past few decades that has been disproven as doctors look for the best way to treat patients and avoid the risk of unwanted addiction and other issues.

As the main treatment in pain medication opioids are widely prescribed for patients who need them. Balancing that with the risk of addiction and abuse is something providers deal with on a regular basis.

Scott Sigman, MD, discusses recent study results that show more people become dependent on prescription drugs following surgery than previously thought – which is why his involvement in the Choices Matter program is so important.

Scientists from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are adding to the opioid epidemic conversation with a review highlighting the benefits of toga, tai chi, and acupuncture.

Veterans who misuse painkillers often next turn to heroin, according to a study conducted over 10 years that included nearly 3,400 military veterans. Soldiers, due to their unique experiences, are at particular risk for addiction.

Do you suffer from migraines? Cluster headaches? Tension headaches? Other kinds of headaches? All of them are related to a thyroid disorder, according to new research from the University of Cincinnati (UC).

While the idea of developing vaccines to combat health risks like smoking and drug abuse sounds like a solid theory there are legitimate concerns to be addressed in the process.

For close to two decades researchers have been working to develop vaccines to prevent people from health hazards like smoking and drug use. Despite these efforts work remains to find ways to make these effective for a large number of people at risk.

As one of the most popular movie franchises in history, Star Wars has reached a wide range of people across the globe. Some have seen ways to apply lessons from the movies to help in the diagnosis of mental health patients.

Recent research from the Duquesne University School of Nursing has shown that a relatively low-intensity intervention delivered in community settings led to significant improvements in diet, activity and general health among participants. This type of intervention approach can play a key role in promoting aging in place and preventing transition to a higher level of care.

While rates of overall use of prescription opioid use among young people for nonmedical reasons either dropped or remained relatively unchanged between 2002 and 2014, the development of use disorders later in life increased dramatically.

The MD Magazine editors rounded up the 10 best stories from September – did you read them all?

The body’s inflammatory response to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is one reason why patients with HIV can experience chronic pain.