ScienceDaily: Pain Control News

Physically abused children report higher levels of psychosomatic symptoms

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:53:53 EST

Children who display multiple psychosomatic symptoms, such as regular aches and pains and sleep and appetite problems, are more than twice as likely to be experiencing physical abuse at home than children who do not display symptoms. Researchers who studied 2,510 children found a strong association between reported physical abuse and three or more psychosomatic symptoms. The association was highest in children who were physically abused and also witnessed intimate partner violence.

As Valentine's day approaches, cardiologist describes broken heart syndrome

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:19:19 EST

People who have been unlucky in love are said to suffer from a "broken heart." A broken heart is an actual medical condition. Broken heart syndrome occurs during highly stressful or emotional times, such as a painful breakup, the death of a spouse or the loss of a job.

Placebos and distraction: New study shows how to boost the power of pain relief, without drugs

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:15:15 EST

Placebos reduce pain by creating an expectation of relief. Distraction -- say, doing a puzzle -- relieves it by keeping the brain busy. But do they use the same brain processes? Neuromaging suggests they do. When applying a placebo, scientists see activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. That's the part of the brain that controls high-level cognitive functions like working memory and attention -- which is what you use to do that distracting puzzle.

Massage is promising for muscle recovery: Researchers find 10 minutes reduces inflammation

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:32:32 EST

Researchers have discovered a brief 10-minute massage helps reduce inflammation in muscle. As a non-drug therapy, massage holds the potential to help not just bone-weary athletes but those with inflammation-related chronic conditions, such as arthritis or muscular dystrophy. While massage is well accepted as a therapy for relieving muscle tension and pain, the researchers delved deeper to find it also triggers biochemical sensors that can send inflammation-reducing signals to muscle cells.

Massage reduces inflammation and promotes growth of new mitochondria following strenuous exercise, study finds

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:17:17 EST

About 18 million individuals undergo massage therapy annually in the U.S. Despite several reports that long-term massage therapy reduces chronic pain and improves range of motion in clinical trials, the biological effects of massage on skeletal tissue have remained unclear -- until now.

Local anesthetic stops pain at the source after hip replacement surgery

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:12:12 EST

In patients undergoing hip replacement surgery, using a special wound catheter to infuse local anesthetic directly into the hip joint provides significant and lasting improvements in postoperative pain control, according to a new study.

Obesity and pain linked, study of one million Americans shows

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:29:29 EST

A clear association between obesity and pain -- with higher rates of pain identified in the heaviest individuals -- was found in a study of more than one million Americans.

Women report feeling pain more intensely than men, says study of electronic medical records

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:55:55 EST

Women report more intense pain than men in virtually every disease category, according to researchers who mined a huge collection of electronic medical records to establish the broad gender difference to a high level of statistical significance.

New understanding of chronic pain

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:24:24 EST

Millions of people worldwide suffer from a type of chronic pain called neuropathic pain, which is triggered by nerve damage. Precisely how this pain persists has been a mystery, and current treatments are largely ineffective. But scientists, using a new approach known as metabolomics, have now discovered a major clue: dimethylsphingosine (DMS), a small-molecule byproduct of cellular membranes in the nervous system. In their new study, the scientists found that DMS is produced at abnormally high levels in the spinal cords of rats with neuropathic pain and appears to cause pain when injected. The findings suggest inhibiting this molecule may be a fruitful target for drug development.

Contact lenses provide extended pain relief to laser eye surgery patients

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:20:20 EST

Scientists are reporting development of contact lenses that could provide a continuous supply of anesthetic medication to the eyes of patients who undergo laser eye surgery -- an advance that could relieve patients of the burden of repeatedly placing drops of medicine into their eyes every few hours for several days.

Combined oral contraceptive pill helps painful periods

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:15:15 EST

A large Scandinavian study that has been running for 30 years has finally provided convincing evidence that the combined oral contraceptive pill does, indeed, alleviate the symptoms of painful menstrual periods – dysmenorrhoea.

Opioids erase memory traces of pain

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:49:49 EST

Medical researchers have discovered a previously unknown effect of opioids. The study shows that opioids not only temporarily relieve pain, but at the right dose can also erase memory traces of pain in the spinal cord and therefore eliminate a key cause of chronic pain.

Listening to music can be effective for reducing pain in high-anxiety persons

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:17:17 EST

Distraction is an effective pain reliever, and a new study concludes that listening to music can be effective for reducing pain in high-anxiety persons who can easily become absorbed in cognitive activities.

Ten gynecologic cancer symptoms women shouldn’t ignore

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:17:17 EST

Pelvic pain and abnormal bleeding aren’t the only signs of gynecologic cancer. Researchers share other symptoms that often are overlooked.

How can Lyme disease be prevented and controlled?

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:48:48 EST

A new article assesses the potential reasons for the continued lack of success in prevention and control of Lyme disease and identifies areas where additional knowledge could be used to improve Lyme disease prevention and control strategies.

Tests for biomarker may help determine diagnosis of heart attack within hours

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 21:07:07 EST

For patients admitted to an emergency department with chest pain, use of a contemporary or highly sensitive test for levels of troponin I may help rule-out a diagnosis of heart attack, while changes in the measured levels of this biomarker at three hours after admission may be useful to confirm a diagnosis of heart attack, according to a new study.

MRI scan 'better' for heart patients

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:50:50 EST

A magnetic resonance imaging scan for coronary heart disease is better than the most commonly-used alternative, a major UK trial of heart disease patients has shown.

What makes anesthetics work

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:31:31 EST

Researchers have uncovered what cells respond to anesthesia in an organism known as the C. elegans, according to a new study.

New method of infant pain assessment

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 10:58:58 EST

Recently, the accuracy of current methods of pain assessment in babies have been called into question. New research measures brain activity in infants to better understand their pain response.

Acupuncture reduces protein linked to stress in first of its kind animal study

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:09:09 EST

Acupuncture significantly reduces levels of a protein in rats linked to chronic stress, researchers have found. They say their animal study may help explain the sense of well-being that many people receive from this ancient Chinese therapy.

Knee pain common complaint in middle-aged and mature women

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:20:20 EST

New research shows 63 percent of women age 50 and older reported persistent, incident, or intermittent knee pain during a 12-year study period. Predictors for persistent pain included higher body mass index, previous knee injury, and radiographic osteoarthritis.

First aid after tick bites

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:18:18 EST

They come out in the spring, and each year they spread further – the ticks. Thirty percent of them transmit borrelia pathogens, the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis that can damage joints and organs. The disease often goes undetected. In the future, a new type of gel is intended to prevent an infection – if applied after a tick bite.

Walking skills program improves physical function following hip replacement surgery

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:52:52 EST

Researchers in Norway report that patients who receive walking skills training following total hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis show improved physical function. The physical therapy program displayed a positive effect on walking distance and stair climbing which continued 12 months following hip replacement surgery.

Model to foster new drug development to treat pain and epilepsy developed

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:31:31 EST

Drawing on X-ray crystallography and experimental data, as well as a software suite for predicting and designing protein structures, a researcher has developed an algorithm that predicts what has been impossible to generate in the laboratory: the conformational changes in voltage-gated sodium channels when they are at rest or actively transmitting a signal in muscle and nerve cells.

Why women quit breast cancer drugs early: Side effects are so bad women end treatment and risk return of cancer, study finds

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:19:19 EST

Why do so many postmenopausal women who are treated for estrogen-sensitive breast cancer quit using drugs that help prevent the disease from recurring? The first study to ask the women themselves reports 36 percent of women quit early because of the medications' side effects, which are more severe and widespread than previously known. The research also reveals a big gap between what women tell their doctors about side effects and what they actually experience.

Chronic pain in children and adolescents becoming more common

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 10:51:51 EST

Children who suffer from persistent or recurring chronic pain may miss school, withdraw from social activities, and are at risk of developing internalizing symptoms such as anxiety, in response to their pain. In the first comprehensive review of chronic pain in children and adolescents in 20 years, a group of researchers found that more children now are suffering from chronic pain and that girls suffer more frequently from chronic pain than boys.

Addressing pain and disease on the fly: How fruit flies can teach us about curing chronic pain and halting mosquito-borne diseases

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:15:15 EST

Studies of a protein that fruit flies use to sense heat and chemicals may someday provide solutions to human pain and the control of disease-spreading mosquitoes. Researchers have discovered how fruit flies distinguish the warmth of a summer day from the pungency of wasabi by using TRPA1, a protein whose human relative is critical for pain and inflammation.

Medical marijuana could help patients reduce pain with opiates

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:14:14 EST

A UCSF study suggests patients with chronic pain may experience greater relief if their doctors add cannabinoids – the main ingredient in cannabis or medical marijuana – to an opiates-only treatment. The findings, from a small-scale study, also suggest that a combined therapy could result in reduced opiate dosages.

Acupuncture may ease severe nerve pain associated with cancer treatment, study suggests

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:17:17 EST

Acupuncture may help ease the severe nerve pain associated with certain cancer drugs, suggests a small preliminary study.

Engineered botulism toxins could have broader role in medicine

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 10:04:04 EST

The most poisonous substance on Earth -- already used medically in small doses to treat certain nerve disorders and facial wrinkles -- could be re-engineered for an expanded role in helping millions of people with rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, psoriasis and other diseases, scientists are reporting.

Head and neck cancer: Study identifies factors associated with increased risk of death among two-year survivors

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:55:55 EST

Among patients with head and neck cancer, poor overall quality of life, pain, and continued tobacco use appear to be associated with poorer outcomes and higher mortality rate two years after diagnosis, according to a new study.

First study to reveal how paracetamol works could lead to less harmful pain relief medicines

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:32:32 EST

Researchers have discovered how one of the most common household painkillers works, which could pave the way for less harmful pain relief medications to be developed in the future.

Psychological intervention reduces disability and depression in adolescents with fibromyalgia

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:30:30 EST

A recent trial shows cognitive-behavioral therapy reduces functional disability and depressive symptoms in adolescents with juvenile fibromyalgia. The psychological intervention was found to be safe and effective, and proved to be superior to disease management education.

New way to boost potency of natural pain relief chemical in body

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:25:25 EST

Researchers have discovered a new means of enhancing the effects of anandamide -- a natural, marijuana-like chemical in the body that provides pain relief.

Mycophenolate is superior to azathioprine as treatment for lupus nephritis, study finds

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:47:47 EST

A new large, international study finds that the immunosuppressant drug mycophenolate mofetil is superior to azathioprine, an older immunosuppressant, as a maintenance therapy for lupus nephritis.

The leading edge of stress: New genomic, optogenetic and epigenetic findings

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:58:58 EST

New research uses the latest genetic tools to explore how stress alters brain function, leading to anxiety, depression, and other stress-related mood disorders.

Telephone-based therapy and exercise appear effective for reducing chronic widespread pain

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 17:39:39 EST

Telephone-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy and an exercise program, both separately and combined, are associated with short-term positive outcomes for patients with chronic widespread pain, and may offer benefits for patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia, according to a new report.

Poor sleep habits linked to increased risk of fibromyalgia in women

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 09:57:57 EST

Researchers from Norway have uncovered an association between sleep problems and increased risk of fibromyalgia in women. The risk of fibromyalgia increased with severity of sleep problems, and the association was stronger among middle-aged and older women than among younger women.

Elderly emergency patients less likely to receive pain medication than middle-aged patients

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:22:22 EST

A new study finds that people 75 years old or older are less likely to receive any pain medication in hospital emergency departments than people between 35 and 54 years old.

Study helps eliminate causes for joint pain linked to commonly used breast cancer drugs

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 09:55:55 EST

Researchers exploring why some women who take a common breast cancer drug develop serious joint pain have eliminated two possible causes: Inflammatory arthritis and autoimmune disease. Because of these findings, researchers say women should be encouraged to continue taking the medication to gain its full benefit.

First large-scale study of pain reveals risk factors

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 12:59:59 EST

Researchers have developed a comprehensive set of clinical characteristics that they say will lead to the ability to identify individuals at risk for developing painful jaw conditions.

Tear drops may rival blood drops in testing blood sugar in diabetes

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:15:15 EST

Scientists are reporting development and successful laboratory testing of an electrochemical sensor device that has the potential to measure blood sugar levels from tears instead of blood -- an advance that could save the world's 350 million diabetes patients the discomfort of pricking their fingers for droplets of blood used in traditional blood sugar tests.

Most lupus nephritis patients with end-stage renal disease opt for hemodialysis therapy

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 03:39:39 EST

Newly published research shows that more patients with end-stage renal disease caused by lupus nephritis choose hemodialysis as their initial kidney replacement therapy over peritoneal dialysis and preemptive kidney transplantation. Results of the study also found that African-Americans, Medicaid recipients, those without health insurance, and the unemployed had significantly reduced initiation of peritoneal dialysis.

Rheumatoid arthritis patients have low expectations after knee replacement surgery

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 15:12:12 EST

Compared with osteoarthritis patients, individuals with rheumatoid arthritis who undergo total knee replacement surgery have lower expectations about their post-surgical outcomes, according to a new study. These reduced expectations, which may be unnecessary, could cause some patients to slack on their post-surgical rehabilitation leading to worse outcomes, say doctors.

Life challenges prevent those with lupus from keeping doctors' appointments

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 15:11:11 EST

The first step towards successful medical care is to see a physician, but for some patients this isn't as simple or easy as it may sound. A new study finds that many lupus patients with low socioeconomic status are unable to attend scheduled appointments with physicians due to daily obstacles.

Most women with lupus can have successful pregnancy outcomes, study finds

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 15:11:11 EST

Promising research may offer hope for women with lupus who once thought that pregnancy was too risky.

Continuous use of nitroglycerin increases severity of heart attacks, study shows

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:11:11 EDT

When given for hours as a continuous dose, the heart medication nitroglycerin backfires -- increasing the severity of subsequent heart attacks, according to a study of the compound in rats.

More radionuclide therapy is better for prostate cancer patients, study suggests

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:58:58 EDT

For prostate cancer patients with bone metastases, repeated administrations of radionuclide therapy with 188Re-HEDP are shown to improve overall survival rates and reduce pain, according to new research.

Yoga aids chronic back pain sufferers, study suggests

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 22:02:02 EDT

Yoga can provide more effective treatment for chronic lower back pain than more conventional methods, according to the UK's largest ever study into the benefits of yoga. The study found that people offered a specially-designed 12-week yoga program experienced greater improvements in back function and more confidence in performing everyday tasks than those offered conventional forms of care.

New way to rate severity of colitis, a common cause of diarrhea

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:22:22 EDT

Researchers have developed a new way to assess a common cause of chronic diarrhea, microscopic colitis, using the Microscopic Colitis Disease Activity Index. The index provides a consistent way to assess the condition's severity.

Children suffer unnecessarily from chronic postoperative pain

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:02:02 EDT

Are children suffering needlessly after surgery? Anesthesiologists who specialize in pediatric care believe so.

Statin therapy fails to slow progression of atherosclerosis in pediatric lupus patients, study finds

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 08:30:30 EDT

Atorvastatin therapy was found to be ineffective in reducing atherosclerosis progression in children and adolescents with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Results of the Atherosclerosis Prevention in Pediatric Lupus Erythematosus Trial show that the statin therapy did trend toward positive effect of treatment and may benefit patients with more severe SLE who were not included in the trial.

Lower dose of corticosteroids just as effective as higher for shoulder pain, study finds

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 08:30:30 EDT

Researchers report on the first comparative study of the two most commonly corticosteroid doses administered for shoulder pain. They found that lower doses were just as effective as higher doses in terms of reduction of pain, improved range of motion and duration of efficacy.

Surgical treatment within six months of lumbar disc herniation symptoms associated with improved outcomes

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 13:59:59 EDT

A new study has found that patients with herniated lumbar disc symptoms were significantly worse if the patients had symptoms for more than six months prior to treatment, compared to those who had symptoms for six months or less.

Quality-of-life for women an issue: In some matters of the heart, women do not fare as well as men

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 09:16:16 EDT

A new study has found that women under age 55 fare worse than their male counterparts following a heart attack -- and their health status declines more than that of their male counterparts after one month.

Yoga and stretching exercises beneficial for chronic low back pain, study finds

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 16:47:47 EDT

Yoga classes were found to be more effective than a self-care book for patients with chronic low back pain at reducing symptoms and improving function, but they were not more effective than stretching classes, according to a new study.

Yoga eases back pain in largest U.S. yoga study to date

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 16:47:47 EDT

Yoga classes were linked to better back-related function and diminished symptoms from chronic low back pain in the largest U.S. randomized controlled trial of yoga to date.

Inflammation is controlled differently in brain and other tissues

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 08:48:48 EDT

Scientists have identified a new metabolic pathway for controlling brain inflammation, suggesting strategies for treating it.

Can breastfeeding reduce pain in preterm infants?

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 10:49:49 EDT

Poorly managed pain in the neonatal intensive care unit has serious short- and long-term consequences, causing physiological and behavioral instability in preterm infants and long-term changes in their pain sensitivity, stress arousal systems, and developing brains. Researchers report that breastfeeding during minor procedures mitigated pain in preterm neonates with mature breastfeeding behaviors.

Researchers block morphine's itchy side effect

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 12:15:15 EDT

Itching is one of the most prevalent side effects of powerful, pain-killing drugs like morphine, oxycodone and other opioids. Now in mice, researchers have shown they can control opioid-induced itching without interfering with a drug's ability to relieve pain.

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