Most Clicked American Pain Society SmartBrief Stories
1. Study links psychological factors to post-trauma chronic pain
American Pain Society SmartBrief | May 08, 2013
Responses to stress and other psychological factors may contribute more to chronic pain after a traumatic event than a lingering injury itself, University of North Carolina researchers reported in the journal Pain. Study author Dr. Samuel McLean said the study suggests "something goes wrong with the body's 'fight or flight' response" or its recovery after a traumatic event. American News Report (05/07)
2. Depressive symptoms ease with opioid detoxification
American Pain Society SmartBrief | May 15, 2013
Signs of depression can be alleviated with a weeklong, multidisciplinary opioid-detoxification program, and the gains may last for several months, according to a study presented at APS' 32nd Annual Scientific Meeting. The small study involved 15 patients with long-term pain and severe functional impairments. Medscape (free registration) (05/13)
3. Study links ACC area in brain to pain perception
American Pain Society SmartBrief | Apr 24, 2013
The brain's dorsal anterior cingulate cortex plays a specific role in cognitive acute pain and could be a target for future research into modifying pain perception, Stanford University researchers reported during the American Academy of Pain Medicine's annual meeting. Researcher Heather Chapin said the ACC was known to be linked to cognitive modulation of pain, but this study showed the specific area involved in the perception of pain during pain modulation. Medscape (free registration) (04/18)
4. Study: Marijuana pill offers effective, long-lasting pain relief
American Pain Society SmartBrief | Apr 24, 2013
HealthDay News (04/22)
5. Fillingim: Pain imaging is key topic at APS annual meeting
American Pain Society SmartBrief | May 08, 2013
New technologies and research involving pain imaging are a key topic for the American Pain Society's annual meeting this week, says APS President Roger Fillingim. While it is not yet part of routine practice, "there is a compelling case" for using imaging in the future, he said. Keynote speaker Story Landis, director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, is to talk about how NIH supports pain research and advances in the field. MedPage Today (free registration) (05/06)
6. Marathoners participate in study of breast pain
American Pain Society SmartBrief | May 01, 2013
Researchers are studying breast pain experienced by women who exercise and its consequences using surveys of female runners, including participants in last year's London Marathon. Their study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found exercise significantly affects breast pain and pain affects exercise, regardless of breast size. New York Times (tiered subscription model), The (05/01)
7. Calcium in neurons is linked to chronic pain
American Pain Society SmartBrief | Apr 24, 2013
German researchers reported in the journal Neuron that high levels of calcium in neurons may ensure cells have stronger links with other pain-conducting neurons and become more sensitive to painful stimuli. A team from Heidelberg University Hospital examined changes in the spinal cord and said the findings show how pain memory is formed, offering insight into efforts to control chronic pain. Innovations-Report.com (04/22)
8. Opioid drug conversion guidelines vary and conflict, study says
American Pain Society SmartBrief | May 15, 2013
Guidelines for opioid drug conversion vary and sometimes conflict, and are based on single-dose studies that lack long-term data, according to a Purdue Pharma study presented at APS' 32nd Annual Scientific Meeting. The biggest variation was found in recommendations for hydromorphone and oxycodone. Dr. John Peppin of the Palliative Care Center in Lexington, Ky., agreed there is a problem, and said physicians are aware of it. MedPage Today (free registration) (05/12)
9. Antibiotics reduce back pain linked to bacteria, study says
American Pain Society SmartBrief | May 08, 2013
A study in the European Spine Journal linked Proprione acne bacteria to chronic back pain. Up to 80% of patients with back pain after a herniated disc and swelling in the spine saw symptom improvements after taking antibiotics for 100 days, according to researchers at the University of Southern Denmark. Bloomberg (05/07)
10. Study: Pain patients on opioids get suboptimal ED treatment
American Pain Society SmartBrief | May 15, 2013
Almost all patients on long-term opioid drugs who used a hospital emergency department for primary care were treated using suboptimal prescribing practices and often left with no change in therapy, according to research from Southern Illinois University presented at the APS 32nd Annual Scientific Meeting. Researcher Chris Herndon said the next step is to develop interventions to ensure that patients coming to the ED are not discharged with an inappropriate opioid regimen. The records of 379,000 patients, including 9,956 with chronic pain and recent opioid treatment, were analyzed. Medscape (free registration) (05/09)
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