Anesthesia May Increase Post-Surgical Pain

The June 23 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) carries the paradoxical findings of a report on the effects of certain general anesthesia drugs, including how they decrease feelings of pain during surgery but cause pain afterward. A research team from Georgetown University Medical Center conducted the study, funded by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the National Institutes of Health. Read more

New Thinking on Whether Adult Pain Stems from Childhood Trauma

Do you think you’re sick today because of trauma you suffered during childhood? Or does the very idea of that get your blood boiling because it ties fibromyalgia (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS) to psychological causes? Read more

Chronic Pain Meds Unlikely to Cause Addiction

The general population and many in the medical community alike harbor the popular opinion that using strong pain medications, including opioids, for long-term, chronic pain puts the patient at high risk of developing an addiction to the pain medications. A report presented recently at the annual meeting of the American Pain Society (APS) reveals evidence to the contrary. Read more

Fibromyalgia Cure Eludes Medical Professionals

Fibromyalgia, a condition which causes exhaustion, sleep disturbances and widespread muscle pain, is still something of a mystery to physicians and to the patients who suffer from it. The condition may affect as much as 3-6 percent of the U.S. population and is more common in women than in men. Read more

Aromatherapy Has Little Health Benefits

Even though lemon and lavender might smell good to some people, they do not improve immune status, wound healing or pain control according to a study on aromatherapy.
According to the study, lemon did appear to enhance moods positively among study subjects, but lavender had no effect on reported mood, based on three half day-long testing sessions. Read more

Pool Exercises May Help Fibromyalgia Sufferers

Researchers in Europe report an exercise regimen that includes regular workouts in a heated pool provided significant relief from pain and associated symptoms for patients suffering from fibromyalgia. The randomized controlled study involved 33 female patients, 17 of whom took part in the exercise regimen and 16 who did not. Read more

Expert Says Chronic Pain is a Disease

The idea that chronic pain should be considered a disease and be specifically treated as such is what a pain management expert in Australia is proposing. Read more

Defects in Fentanyl Patch Lead to a Recall

Patches containing the painkiller fentanyl have been recalled because they may contain manufacturer defects that can cause leaks, which can lead to overdoses and death. The Duragesic patches, made by Johnson & Johnson’s Alza Corp., may have a cut along the drug reservoir, exposing users directly to the fentanyl gel inside, the New Brunswick, New Jersey-based company said in a statement. Fentanyl is mostly used to treat cancer pain. Duragesic patches contain fentanyl in a pouch between two membranes.
The recall covers patches in the U.S. and Canada that release 25 micrograms of fentanyl in an hour, Johnson & Johnson said. The expiration dates are on or before December 2009.

The company has been plagued by problems with versions of these patches since their creation in 1994. Manufacturing problems also caused recalls of versions of these patches in 1994, 1996, and 2004.
In July 2005 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an alert about the patches after 120 patients taking the drug died. The FDA issued safety warning in December over the patches, saying improper use can cause breathing difficulties and death. Johnson & Johnson said in November that it faced 72 lawsuits over the patches.

Texas and Florida juries found that defective patches caused the deaths of Michaelynn Thompson and Adam Hendelson. A Texas state court jury awarded Thompson’s family more than $772,000 in damages, and a federal jury in Florida ordered the company to pay Hendelson’s family $5.5 million.

Spinal Problems a Pain in the Pocketbook

The cost of treating back and neck pains and other ailments associated with the spine has risen dramatically in recent years although patients report little relief from pain. Read more

Flector - Anti-inflammatory Patch Now Available

MedHeadlines - Alpharma Inc has announced the availability of FLECTOR® Patch (diclofenac epolamine topical patch) 1.3%, the first anti-inflammatory pain relief patch in the US.

Read more

Next Page »