Pain Management

Novel Opioid Receptor Agonist Effective for Chronic Low Back Pain

By

Amit Akirov, MD

NKTR-181 was found to be a safe, effective, and well tolerated treatment over the long term in patients with moderate to severe chronic low back pain.

Opioid Addiction Treatment Usage Higher in US States With Expanded Medicaid

The use of the opioid addiction medication buprenorphine is much higher in states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act than in those that did not expand the program.

Opioid Epidemic: Is Overdose More Likely if a Family Member Has a Prescription?

By

Tom Greenhalgh

Investigators examined whether opioid overdose is more likely if a family member has a prescription. We review their findings.

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Jaw Pain: What Your Patients Need to Know

By

Tom Greenhalgh

We examine rheumatoid arthritis and jaw pain: prevalence, symptoms, and tips for your patients to manage their pain.

Pain Catastrophizing Scores May Improve After Total Knee Replacement for Osteoarthritis

By

Gary Rothbard

Pain was found to improve with pain catastrophizing in patients with osteoarthritis after unilateral total knee replacement surgery.

Chronic Joint Pain May Persist for Years After Chikungunya Infection

This is the first study to describe persistent joint pain and stiffness many months after infection with the chikungunya virus.

Musculoskeletal Pain Intensity Associated With Greater Healthcare Utilization

Higher pain intensity may be associated with more condition-specific healthcare utilization and the use of opioids in patients with musculoskeletal pain.

Survey Reveals Gaps in Opioid Rx Patterns of Orthopedic Surgeons

The vast majority of orthopedic surgeons recommend prescribing a nine-day supply of around-the-clock oxycodone doses following commonly performed orthopedic surgeries.

DOJ Asks Congress to Permanently Classify Fentanyl-Like Drugs

A temporary order classifying fentanyl-like drugs as controlled substances should be enacted into law, the US Department of Justice is telling Congress.

Bone-Anchored Implants Used to Repair Annular Defects During Diskectomies

For the first time in the United States, titanium bone-anchored implants were used to repair large annular defects during diskectomies.

App to Screen for Low Back Pain Contributors Well-Received by Older Adults

An iPad application developed to screen for conditions that may contribute to low back pain and pain interference and deliver adapted educational materials to older adults with chronic low back pain during a clinical visit has received high utility and usability ratings.

Examining Low Back Pain in Workers Living in the United States

Diagnosing an occupational cause of low back pain may improve the chances of recovery.

AI Model Based on Deep Learning Detects ACL Tears on Knee MRI

An artifical intelligence system based on deep learning is feasible for detecting full-thickness anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears within the knee joint on magnetic resonance (MR) images.

Literacy-Adapted CBT May Be Superior to Psychoeducation for Chronic Pain

Group cognitive behavioral therapy was found to benefit patients with chronic pain with low levels of literacy, education, and cognitive memory more than pain psychoeducation.

Opioid Use and Improvements in Chronic Low Back Pain After Basivertebral Nerve Ablation

Patients who decreased opioid use while undergoing basivertebral nerve ablation were found to experience greater relief of chronic low back pain than those who increased opioid use.