Pain

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.

Administering 2 so-called pregnancy hormones simultaneously in patients suffering from intractable pain may significantly reduce their opioid use, pain, and flare intensity.

Rheumatoid arthritis patients have a 1-in-4 chance of developing chronic kidney disease, according to research published in the American Journal of Kidney Disease.

When a patient's presenting complaint is chest pain, consider plain radiographs directed to the area of pain and do not forget to look at the bones.

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

A study published in BMJ explains the long-term risks of opioid treatment in the postoperative setting.

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.

The US Food and Drug Administration approved the first naloxone treatment specifically designed to be given by family members or caregivers to treat a person known or suspected of an opioid overdose.

The National Psoriasis Foundation and other groups are working to raise awareness of the condition among physicians as part of an effort to support earlier diagnosis and treatment.

Among Medicare beneficiaries with 4 or more pain medicine providers, concurrent opioid prescribing is common and significantly associated with increased rates of hospital admission related to narcotic use.

As many as 20% of orthopedic trauma patients are "doctor shopping" for narcotic prescriptions, according to a study released at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) annual meeting.

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has become a popular and generally successful surgery with increasing importance as Baby Boomers enter their golden years expecting to remain active and pain-free. However, straightening the knee from a fully bent position creates a clunk or crackle for up to 18% of TKA patients.

Morbidly or severely obese individuals develop migraine disorders significantly more often than patients who carry less weight.

Patients with unreasonable or uninformed expectations are often unprepared for the postoperative period and dissatisfied with their outcomes. As a result, healthcare professionals are dedicating more time to studying and managing patient expectations, including making sure all involved have a clear understanding of what to expect in terms of risks and benefits.

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.

Scientists are developing an oral chronic pain suppressant derived from the venom of cone snails.

Many adhesions are asymptomatic, but in some patients, they can cause pain, small bowel obstruction and other postoperative issues, as well as increase cost and complicate surgical suite workload.

In a recent pilot study, primary care providers (PCPs) who regularly consulted with pain management specialists through telehealth technology wrote fewer prescriptions for the high-dose, short-acting opioid analgesics that are widely associated with greater rates of addiction and overdose.

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.

Inconsistencies between ClinicalTrials.gov and medical journals' reporting are raising questions about the editing and disseminating process.

Since family physicians are more likely to adhere to a patient-centered biopsychosocial model than specialist physicians who treat chronic pain, primary care seems to be the logical "home" for its treatment.

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.

Study results show that treatment with apremilast improves symptoms and physical function in patients with psoriatic arthritis, regardless of prior biologic experience or current DMARD use.

Prescribing systematic corticosteroids is generally not advised as treatment for psoriasis, however they were the second most prescribed medication from 1989-2010 for patients with this condition.

Since pain typically presents before bone lesions are displayed on radiographs, a true diagnosis may be overlooked and the early stages can be easily missed.

New genetic treatment options are being explored using mice models of psoriasis in two studies, including inhibiting genes and proteins.

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.

Researchers have identified cannabinoid receptors in the region of the brain that regulates anxiety and the flight-or-fight response.