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American Pain Foundation
http://www.painfoundation.org/
PAIN MONITOR
July 2007
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THE NEWS
FDA Approves First Drug for Treating Fibromyalgia
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Lyrica (pregabalin), the first drug to treat fibromyalgia, a disorder characterized by pain, fatigue and sleep problems.
FDA Announces New Advisory Committee to Address Risk Communication
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced a new advisory committee designed to counsel the agency on how to strengthen the communication of risks and benefits of FDA-regulated products to the public.
Natural-Born Pain Killers
Neuroscientists are discovering amazing new ways your brain can outwit your pain.
Seattle Times Report on Washington State Opioid Dosing Guideline for Non-cancer Pain
In March, Washington became the first state in the nation to adopt a suggested daily limit on opioid doses. Critics worry that the guidelines will further spook doctors who already are rattled by the prosecutions of dozens of physicians around the country in overprescribing narcotics. Click here to read our Position Statement.
‘Memory Traces’ May Help Spur Chronic Pain
Even after their injuries have healed, some people continue to suffer chronic pain that can’t be totally relieved through traditional analgesic drugs, such as aspirin and morphine derivatives.
Childhood Ailments Linked to Adult Chronic Pain
Children who suffer from stomach pain, headaches, and vomiting are more likely than their peers who don’t report such symptoms to go on to develop chronic widespread pain as adults, UK researchers report.
Taking Pain Meds in the Morning Helps Patients Sleep Better at Night
When arthritis patients took extended release morphine sulfate (Avinza) on awakening, they got to sleep more easily at night and slept better and longer, researchers found.
Simple Tips for Traveling Safely with Back Pain
Back pain is a common problem that affects millions of Americans each year. But back pain shouldn’t prevent people from taking a vacation, whether it’s a short car ride away or in the Himalayans.
The Best New Pain Cures, with a Focus on Women
Until recently, experts hadn’t actually studied women’s pain specifically, and most research wasn’t conducted with a woman’s hormones and physique in mind. All that’s changing, though.
Fibromyalgia: The Misunderstood Disease
Ongoing research is demonstrating that fibromyalgia may affect millions of Americans, and research using sophisticated imaging techniques is helping the medical community better understand this disease.
Gabapentin (Neurontin) Eases Chronic Pain in Fibromyalgia
For treating the chronic pain and other symptoms of fibromyalgia, the anticonvulsant gabapentin (Neurontin) proved safe and effective, researchers here reported.
Pelvic Health Awareness: What’s Going on Down There?
The National Women’s Health Resource Center has launched a new educational campaign, “Pelvic Health Awareness: What’s Going on Down There?” Pelvic health conditions can be difficult to talk about and even harder to live with. Visit the website to learn more about symptoms and treatment options.
Alcohol Injections for Common Cause of Foot Pain Highly Successful
Sonographically-guided alcohol injections has a high success rate and is well tolerated by patients with Morton’s neuroma, a common cause of foot pain, according to a recent study.
When Is a Pain Doctor a Drug Pusher? (Requires Free Subscription)
Proper pain management will always take time, but the D.E.A. can at least ensure that honest doctors need not fear prison. It should use the standard it claims to follow: for a criminal prosecution to occur, a doctor must have broken the link between the opioid and the medical condition.
The Medical Minute: Migraines
Current understanding of migraine pathophysiology suggests that this is a much more complex syndrome than what was appreciated years ago.
New Migraine Drug Promising
New migraine pain relief may be on the way for the 28 million American sufferers, shows a promising new study.
Migraines May Ease With Age
Good news for most migraine sufferers: With age, you can expect to get fewer, less painful migraine attacks that don’t last as long, a new study from Sweden suggests.
Herb Shows Potential to Reduce Cancer-Related Fatigue
Researchers have generated preliminary data suggesting that a form of American ginseng provides greater improvements in fatigue and vitality in patients who receive the highest doses tested, compared to lower doses or no treatment.