Pain Management

Novartis' calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) inhibitor for prevention of migraine, erenumab, showed positive results in a phase 3b study in episodic migraine patients who have failed multiple prior preventive treatments.

Patients having total knee arthroplasty treated with liposomal bupivacaine were discharged to their homes sooner and had a significantly shorter hospital stay compared with patients who did not receive the drug during surgery, according to a recently published study looking at the value and cost effectiveness of the drug.

An inquiry by 10 Democrats on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs into whether or not the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) would research medical marijuana in veterans suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic pain was met with denial.

A recent study from Australia found that the presence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms was associated with an increased risk of persisting neck pain and disability in motor vehicle crash survivors with whiplash injuries.

Dry eye was found to be a comorbid pain condition among US veterans, raising the suggestion that pain specialists screen for this disorder in their chronic pain patients, researchers reported recently.

Researchers have made a key discovery that could pave the way to designing an improved opioid to relieve pain without the risk of addiction and side effects.

Topical analgesics were safe and effective at reducing chronic pain, according to a study that also looked at whether or not a subgroup of patients were able to stop using opioids a few months after treatment. About 50% of patients were able to discontinue use of opioids after 3 or 6 months of treatment with pain-relieving analgesics applied directly to the skin, a study reported.

A recent study found patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) have a higher rate of co-occurring adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Scientists from King’s College London uncovered a new mechanism of cellular communication, between neurons and immune cells, in a discovery that could lead to new treatment targets for neuropathic pain.

Opioids are commonly precribed for the treatment of both acute and chronic pain.

Examining insurance claims from millions of doctors' visits with daily rainfall totals from thousands of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather stations showed that there is no relationship between rainy weather and joint pain or an achy back, according to new research from Harvard Medical School.

The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) is seeking public comment on its review of 3 calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) inhibitors for prevention of migraine, as well as an update to its 2016 report on treatments for plaque psoriasis.

The use of healthcare services, with the exception of physiotherapy and psychotherapy, in patients with chronic back pain was lower 6 months after rehabilitation in Germany than before rehabilitation, according to a study published in BMC Health Services Research.

Patients are significantly overestimating the pain they will feel after surgery, indicating that providers can do a better job of educating patients on what they can expect.

Most US adults would prefer to find other ways to manage their pain, such as neck or back pain, before taking prescribed pain medication, a Gallup research brief found.

Most studies on the potential of marijuana, classic hallucinogens, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, and ketamine have been small with methodological flaws, but the promising results from existing studies suggest that larger studies are warranted, said William M. Suavé, MD, medical director, Greenbrook TMS NeuroHealth Centers, during a presentation on the therapeutic potential of illicit drugs.

A review of some of the presentations at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 2017 Annual Meeting, in San Diego, California, where the discussions ranged from clinical progress witnessed in 2017 for the treatment of inflammatory conditions to reimbursement models in the rheumatology space.

Mind-body practices have increased in popularity,but the challenge of variation between teachers and classes has been a barrier to payer reimbursement.

Hydromorphone is commonly used in hospital emergency rooms to treat patients with migraines; however, the drug is less effective than the drug prochlorperazine used with diphenhydramine, according to research.

When patients are directly involved in research, the results better reflect a patient's perspective and clinicians can make more informed decisions. Researchers recently found that crowdsourcing platforms are effective in efficiently reaching groups of individuals to receive input on prevalent conditions, including back pain.

Palliative care and pain relief services are needed in health systems worldwide in order to address the high levels of health-related suffering.

Relieving pain and improving sleep may be key factors in decreasing the severity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to a recent study’s findings.

Patients who feel they have little control over their health are more likely to report being depressed as a result of pain they experience. Targeting a patient’s sense of control can improve outcomes and remove barriers to recovery for patients with pain.

The FDA has rejected an abuse-deterrent opioid citing the need for further evidence. Rexista, an Oxycodone Hydrochloride Extended-Release tablet (Oxycodone ER), was developed by Intellipharmaceutics International Inc as an abuse- and alcohol-deterrent controlled-release oral formulation of oxycodone hydrochloride for pain relief.

The increasing trend in long-term prescription opioid use in the United States calls for further research on the potential benefits and harm, according to a study.