New UBCO Study Examines Pain Tolerance Among Cannabis Users
A recent study examining pain among cannabis users suggests that—unlike long-term opioid use—regular cannabis use does not appear to increase pain sensitivity. Full story.
Chatbots Delivering Psychotherapy Help Decrease Opioid Use After Surgery
Patients who need surgery to fix major bone fractures use fewer opioid pills after their procedure if they're reminded of six "core principles" that include: values, acceptance, present moment awareness, self-as-context, committed action, and diffusion. [...]
Impaired Alcohol-Induced Dopamine Release in the Nucleus Accumbens in an Inflammatory Pain Model: Behavioral Implications in Male Rats
Recent studies have drawn the attention to the link between alcohol use disorder and the presence of pain. Indeed, the correct management of pain in patients with a previous history of alcohol use disorder has [...]
Comparison of Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System and Legacy Instruments in Multiple Domains Among Older Veterans With Chronic Back Pain
Chronic low back pain (cLBP) results in significant physical, psycho-social and socioeconomic burden. Identifying efficient and reliable patient reported outcome measures is critical for research and clinical purposes. The NIH's Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information [...]
A Pain Reliever that Alters Perceptions of Risk
A new study in the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience found that people who took acetaminophen rated activities like "bungee jumping off a tall bridge" and "speaking your mind about an unpopular issue in [...]
Electronic Skin That ‘Feels’ Pain Could Lead to Smarter Prosthetics and Robots
The artificial skin was developed by scientists from RMIT University in Australia, who claim it reacts to painful sensations as quickly as it takes nerve signals to reach the brain. Full Story.
How Should Medical Education Better Prepare Physicians for Opioid Prescribing?
Opioid overprescribing is a key contributor to the current crisis. Changing how ethics is taught in connection with opioid prescribing is one area for improvement. In US medical schools, current training in ethics and opioid [...]
Nonpharmacologic and Pharmacologic Management of Acute Pain From Non–Low Back, Musculoskeletal Injuries in Adults: A Clinical Guideline From the American College of Physicians and American Academy of Family Physicians.
The American College of Physicians (ACP) and American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) developed this guideline to provide clinical recommendations on nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic management of acute pain from non–low back, musculoskeletal injuries in adults [...]
Patients Taking Opioids Produce Antibodies That May Hinder Anti-Opioid Vaccine
University of Wisconsin–Madison scientists have discovered that a majority of people they tested who were taking opioid painkillers for chronic back pain produced antibodies against the drugs that may contribute to some of the negative [...]
Spinal Stimulators for Pain Relief Repurposed to Restore Touch in a Lost Limb
A new study from the University of Pittsburgh's Rehab Neural Engineering Labs finds spinal cord stimulators commonly used to relieve chronic pain could provide a straightforward and universal method for adding sensory feedback to a [...]