Pain Care Blog

August 25, 2008
New York Times

  Borrowing and sharing of prescription drugs among friends and family is common, particularly among younger women, a new report shows.

Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveyed more than 25,000 adults and found that sharing of prescription drugs is common, with 29 percent of women and 27 percent of men engaging in the practice.

But drug-sharing rates were highest among younger women ages 18 to 44, raising special concerns about side effects and health risks of unchecked prescription drug use among women who might become pregnant. Among the 7,500 women of reproductive age in the survey, more than one in three shared prescription drugs with friends or used medication offered by friends, according to the report, published in The Journal of Women’s Health. Among women of reproductive age, about 37 percent shared drugs, compared to 20 percent of women in other age groups.
Allergy medicines and pain pills were the types of drugs most commonly borrowed or shared by women. More...

PainCareMD

Natural Health

By: Lara Endreszl
Friday, 22 August 2008

...The study Acupuncture Reduces Pain and Dysfunction in Head and Neck Cancer Patients after Neck Dissection done by Dr. David Pfister of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center picked 70 random patients to research over a period of four weeks. All the patients had been recovered from radiation and surgery for three months prior to the study. They were put into two groups: acupuncture and usual care (physical therapy and/or anti-inflammatory drugs). The acupuncture group had a 39 percent improvement in dry mouth, pain and movement dysfunction over the usual care group which had only a 7 percent improvement.

Even though the acupuncture group percentage is significantly higher, it seems that the major symptoms improved were dry mouth and dysfunction as well as general pain. While this is a great advancement in the CM world, the work isn't over yet. Dr. Pfister comments, "Chronic pain and shoulder mobility problems are common after such surgery, adversely affecting quality of life as well as employability for certain occupations, unfortunately, available conventional methods of treatment for pain and dysfunction following neck surgery often have limited benefits, leaving much room for improvement."

Dr. Cassileth, another doctor on the team at Sloane-Kettering, reminds readers that acupuncture doesn't always work for everyone, but if a patient plans to go, make sure to go to a certified acupuncturist from a national agency or by one that specializes in specific cancer and cancer treatments.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) also recently reported in a study of over 4,000 survivors of ten different types of cancer, that acupuncture is being used as an alternative to pain medication. Co-author Ted Gansler of the ACS and CANCER peer journal reports, "Surprisingly, other methods such as acupuncture...were used by fewer than 2% of cancer survivors, even though recent studies found them to be useful in relieving some cancer-related symptoms, such as pain." More...

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BostonHerald.com Blogs.

In his book Ultimate Back Fitness and Performance, Dr. Stuart McGill notes that when referring to low back stability, one needs to place an emphasis on endurance rather than strength training. As counterintuitive as it may sound, most people with chronic lower back pain, do in fact, have strong lower backs. The reason why they’re so jacked up all the time is because they use their lumbar spine too much, and lack the proper spinal stability to control end range of motion. More...

PainCareMD

A good report but one exception I have is the suggestion that 'when one sees marketing reps in a doctor's office, it automatically suggests that the doctor will likely be influenced by the company being represented'. The fact is, doctors' offices obtain samples of new medications through the drug representatives for their patients to try. Unless the doctor does not offer sample medications for patients, the drug rep usually will need to be in the doctor's office to obtain signature from the doctor for samples.

Most serious concerns are when doctors are paid to travel to exotic locations and at high fees to give lectures and teach workshops on behalf of manufacturers to other doctors. When in doubt, ask your doctor... clearly, directly and unapologetically.

Doctors should avoid any financial dealing with any hospital, device or drug company that places them in a position of conflict of interest. When a relationship does exist, it should be disclosed to the patient whenever a product of question is being prescribed.

I am surprised that 'most of the doctors have financial relationship with medical manufacturers'. Sometimes doctors are asked to participate in panel discussions or surveys regarding treatments or products where the 'subjects' are not revealed to them - "blinded", such as discussing 'Treatment A' vs. 'Treatment B' vs. 'Treatment C' etc. - In which case, the potential for conflict of interest does not exist.

Larry Ho, MD
PainCareMD

Study Shows Physical Therapy Method Is Useful for Chronic Back Pain
By Caroline Wilbert
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Aug. 19, 2008 -- The Alexander technique, a little-known type of physical therapy designed to reduce chronic pain, is more effective at reducing back pain than exercise alone or massage therapy, according to a new study.

The study, published in the journal BMJ, tested different back pain treatments using patients from 64 general practices in England. A total of 579 patients with chronic pain or recurrent low back pain participated; 144 were given "normal care," 147 had massages, 144 took six Alexander technique lessons, and 144 took 24 Alexander technique lessons. Half of each group was also prescribed an aerobic exercise plan, primarily walking.

The basic idea for the Alexander technique, according to the study, is to "reduce back pain by limiting muscle spasm, strengthening postural muscles, improving coordination and flexibility and decompressing the spine." More...

PainCareMD

By Verena Dollinger, MD; Alois A. Obwegeser, MD, MSc, MAS; Michael Gabl, MD; Peter Lackner, MD; Michael Koller, MD; Klaus Galiano, MD

ORTHOPEDICS 2008; 31:756

August 2008

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate to what extent patients could resume physical activity following surgery for herniated lumbar disks...

Conclusion

Single-level lumbar disk surgery does not limit sport participation in young patients. More...

PainCareMD

Promising New Drug Developed by UC San Diego Medical Center Reseacher
Provides Hope for Sufferers of Painful Bladder Syndrome

News Release
Date: August 19, 2008

For the millions of sufferers of a bladder condition called painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis, hope is on the way, developed by urologic surgeon and researcher Lowell Parsons, M.D. of the University of California, San Diego Medical Center.

“What our team has identified is an experimental drug therapy that can provide pain relief to patients within 20 minutes,” said Parsons, professor of surgery at UC San Diego School of Medicine. “Depending on the individual, in my experience, one dose can last from 6 to 40 hours. The ability of the therapy to provide immediate relief is something entirely new for sufferers of interstitial cystitis.”

“Women who suffer from this condition may find themselves having to urinate ten or more times per day, usually have pain or symptom flares after sexual intercourse, and frequently have chronic pelvic pain,” said Parsons. “Fortunately, given the right diagnosis, it’s treatable.”

The drug therapy, with positive results in a recent Phase 2 study, is a combination of an anesthetic and heparin delivered directly into the bladder via a catheter. The anesthetic provides rapid pain relief while heparin restores the protective mucus layer of the bladder. More...

PainCareMD

8/18/2008

Tribune Media Services

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I have been diagnosed with interstitial cystitis. Could you explain the condition? Is there any hope for complete recovery?

Cystitis is the medical term for inflammation of the bladder. Most of the time, the inflammation is caused by a bacterial infection. But interstitial cystitis, also called painful bladder syndrome, is different. It is a disease that causes pressure or pain in the bladder and pelvis that is associated with trying to hold urine. Symptoms can range from mild burning or discomfort to severe pain and a persistent, urgent need to urinate. People with severe interstitial cystitis may urinate as often as 60 times a day. Interstitial cystitis is a chronic condition that can be very difficult to treat. Currently, there's no known cure. More...

PainCareMD
 

By Elizabeth Lopatto and Michelle Fay Cortez
Bloomberg.com

Aug. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Merck & Co.'s marketing department devised a study on the painkiller Vioxx to persuade 600 doctors involved in the trial to prescribe the drug and recommend it to their peers, researchers say.

Their conclusions are based on 100 internal company memos and reports about the study known as Advantage obtained from lawsuits against Whitehouse Station, New Jersey-based Merck over heart risks tied to Vioxx, now withdrawn. The trial of 5,557 patients started in 1999, just as Vioxx was cleared for sale, according to the Annals of Internal Medicine report.

The study, which tested the drug's safety in the stomach, was primarily crafted by Merck's marketing department to get doctors to prescribe Vioxx, the researchers wrote. The report provides some of the first evidence of what is thought to be a widespread practice: recruiting doctors for a study to boost their confidence in a new drug and get them to promote it to colleagues, they said. More...

PainCareMD
 

By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter
Washington Post

Tuesday, August 12, 2008; 12:00 AM

TUESDAY, Aug. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Epidural anesthesia may not only be the best way to control pain after major surgery, it may also improve post-operative survival, Canadian researchers report.

The use of epidural anesthetics for major surgery has been somewhat controversial. There doesn't seem to be much question that it effectively reduces pain, but its safety has caused some concern.

"Using an epidural for pain control after a major operation was safe and actually caused a slightly improved survival for patients who received an epidural," said lead researcher Dr. Duminda Wijeysundera, from Ontario's Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, department of anesthesia, at Toronto General Hospital and the University of Toronto. More...

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by Connie Midey - Aug. 12, 2008 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

Baby Boomers feel the pain of staying active
The last thing Manuela Canada, 56, wanted to hear from her doctor was that knee problems would mean the end of tennis.

Fortunately, "don't do it if it hurts" is last on the list of advice sports-medicine physician John Kearney would give to the Phoenix woman. Nor would he give it to Mike Riggs, 49, of Phoenix, whose pain threatened to keep him off the golf course.

"A lot of patients think they have to rest if something hurts," said Kearney, of the CORE Institute (Center for Orthopedic Research and Education) in Sun City. "But often it's just the opposite, even with knee arthritis. The more you exercise - in the right way - the better your symptoms become. That's very counterintuitive to most people." More...

PainCareMD

Fox Business, Tuesday, August 12, 2008

SAN MATEO, Calif. and BRISTOL, Tenn., Aug 12, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ ----Pain Therapeutics, Inc. and King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the New Drug Application (NDA) for REMOXY(r) was accepted and granted Priority Review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA typically grants Priority Review to drug candidates that have the potential to demonstrate significant improvements compared to marketed products. The FDA goal for completing review of a drug with Priority Review status is six months from the date the application was submitted. The REMOXY NDA was submitted to the FDA on June 10, 2008.

REMOXY, an investigational drug, is a unique, abuse-resistant, controlled-release oxycodone for moderate-to-severe chronic pain. REMOXY's high viscosity, liquid formulation in a hard gelatin capsule is designed to resist common methods of prescription drug misuse and abuse. If approved, the Companies believe REMOXY could be the first oxycodone on the market that is designed to reduce the risk of misuse and abuse. More...

PainCareMD

Wear it the right way
U.S. News & World Report, August 13, 2008

(HealthDay News) -- Backpacks can cause back pain and injury if they are too heavy or don't offer enough support.

Keep these guidelines in mind when choosing and wearing a backpack, courtesy of the National Safety Council:

* Always wear both straps, so that the weight is distributed across both shoulders and evenly across the back.
* A backpack should always be centered across the middle of the back.
* Try not to overload the backpack. Keep it from getting too heavy.
* Place the heaviest items closest to the back.
* When lifting the backpack, bend at the knees and lift with your legs.
More...

PainCareMD

By Kate Rope
CNN.com/health
August 13, 2008

Good chronic pain treatment can be hard to find. A chronic pain patient has every right to believe that his or her doctor will listen sympathetically and prescribe the appropriate treatment, but that is not always the reality.
People who experience chronic pain should be specific when describing it to their doctors, experts say.

People who experience chronic pain should be specific when describing it to their doctors, experts say.

Truth is, many doctors have not been trained to deal with the complex, changing area of chronic pain treatment. One 2001 survey of primary care physicians' attitudes toward prescribing certain medications found that only 15 percent said they enjoyed working with patients who have chronic pain.

This can lead to frustrating encounters at the primary-care level, especially if your doctor is rushed. More...

PainCareMD

SpineUniverse survey found that 88% of travelers have back or neck pain after a typical flight.

2008Aug 14, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- In a survey conducted by SpineUniverse.com during the summer of 2008, 88% of people who had flown in North America in the last year reported that they had back or neck pain--or both--after a typical flight on United, American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, or any of the other major carriers.
With a margin of error at +/-5%, the study reveals that a typical traveler is willing to go out of pocket for a more spine-friendly seat. 74% said they'd pay an extra fee for a special seat that doesn't give them back or neck pain.
And how much more are almost three-fourths of all airlines travelers willing to pay for the extra comfort? SpineUniverse says these travelers who suffer the most are willing to pay up to $50 more; 20% would pay up to $100 more. More...

PainCareMD
 

By ERIK ECKHOLM and OLGA PIERCE
The New York Times, August 16, 2008

... Methadone, once used mainly in addiction treatment centers to replace heroin, is today being given out by family doctors, osteopaths and nurse practitioners for throbbing backs, joint injuries and a host of other severe pains.

A synthetic form of opium, it is cheap and long lasting, a powerful pain reliever that has helped millions. But because it is also abused by thrill seekers and badly prescribed by doctors unfamiliar with its risks, methadone is now the fastest growing cause of narcotic deaths. It is implicated in more than twice as many deaths as heroin, and is rivaling or surpassing the tolls of painkillers like OxyContin and Vicodin. More...

PainCareMD
 

Tony Smith and two Chinese acupuncturists.

By Zhang Qi
 

China Daily Staff Writer
2008-08-10

Canadian gymnastics team coach Tony Smith was amazed yesterday when his back pain vanished after just one acupuncture session at the Olympic Village clinic.

"It really does work," he said. "I will definitely recommend it to my athletes."

Smith, who has long suffered from lower back pain, had just about given up hope after none of the various treatments he tried made any difference.

"I thought I should give Chinese acupuncture a try, and found it really relieves the pain," he said. More...

PainCareMD

Wed, 08/06/2008 - 1:00pm by FitSugar

For some women, running hurts their knees, shins, or chest, but another common complaint is back pain. Your back can either hurt during a run, directly afterward, or even the next day. Back pain can make it hard to sleep, walk, work, or sit at a desk, and it will definitely make you never want to run again. Here are some tips to help prevent back pain while running:

* Check your posture. Make sure your shoulders aren't way forward over your toes, or way back past your heels. Your shoulders should be directly over your hips, which will help prevent back pain, and will also ensure that your lungs can expand and contract fully without any restriction. More...

PainCareMD

Psychological treatments can be combined with conventional methods to reduce pain.

Pain is typically the sign of a broken body part. But often it has a life of its own — flaring up when you least expect it, spreading to other areas and even persisting once the offending source is fully healed. In the end, it’s in your head. Which means pain can play mind games with you — but also that you can fight back once you know its tricks.

A new view

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of several arrows in your quiver that can help you outsmart persistent pain. Researchers have dramatically shown that CBT can be as effective in treating chronic lower back pain as lumbar spinal fusion, a major surgical procedure. More...

PainCareMD

SeattlePI.com
August 3, 2008 9:56 a.m. PT

"CSI" fans (and NASCAR nuts), take note: Prolonged sagging and slumping on the sofa while you watch your favorite show may be almost as bad for your back muscles as an injury. When muscles aren't used (they're not holding you up; the sofa is), they can actually waste away, setting you up for low-back pain. Yes, you: Eight out of 10 people will have back pain at some point in their lives. More...

PainCareMD

sundaymirror.co.uk 3/08/2008


Youngsters have been being urged to turn off their computers and take up traditional games like skipping to beat back pain.

Nearly half of 16- to 24-year-olds (44 per cent) have back problems, say the British Chiropractic Association, who believe much of it is caused by hunching over screens.

Experts say that old fashioned games like skipping, hula hoops, space-hoppers and ball games would be much healthier.

Chiropractor Tim Hutchful said: "We are concerned that back pain has grown so dramatically among young people."

PainCareMD

Athletes getting hurt at higher rate than men, research finds
Sharon Kirkey, Canwest News Service
Published: Saturday, August 02, 2008
The Windsor Star

An ACL is a tiny ligament the size of a pinky that stabilizes the knee. When it ruptures or tears -- and Michael Sokolove prefers the word rupture "because it just sort of disintegrates and turns into mush" -- it is about the worst orthopedic injury short of being in a car crash, he says.

There is usually pain, sometimes a lot, and a sound of a "pop" so loud others on the field can sometimes hear it. It requires complicated reconstructive surgery and six to nine months, or more, of rehab. More...