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Welcome to Pain-Topics.org...

Helping you to make the most of your time on the Internet.

The mission of Pain Treatment Topics is to serve as a noncommercial resource for healthcare professionals & their patients, providing open access to clinical news, information, research, and education for a better understanding of evidence-based pain-management practices.

Visit the Site Overview for an explanation of the various tabs and sections.

StarSee the Announcements Box below for special updates and news of importance.

  Pain-Topics Exclusive = Pain-Topics.org exclusive offering.

   New = Newly added during this past week.

 

Newest Additions/Updates

 

Pain-Topics ExclusiveLatest Pain-Topics News/Research UPDATES

News/Research Updates

New Early Care for Low-Back Pain is Essential

Although nonspecific low-back pain is a highly prevalent condition, its clinical course over time remains uncertain. A large-scale meta-analysis of available research suggests that seeking treatment sooner rather than later can be important for pain relief and reduced disability; however, residual effects still may linger for a year or longer.  Learn more>

New Do Short-Acting Opioids Affect Sex Hormones Less?

Sex hormone deficiencies, or hypogonadism, can be a common side effect of ongoing opioid use in both men and women. A new study found that this problem was less prevalent in men taking short-acting rather than long-acting opioid analgesics for pain. However, study limitations must be taken into account.  Read details>

New Neuropathy Inadequately Diagnosed & Treated

A recent poll found that persons with neuropathy face delayed diagnoses, inadequate pain care, and distressing life changes due to their painful disorders. The many types of neuropathy pose challenges for patients, their families, and healthcare providers, yet relatively few resources are devoted to research and treatment of these disorders.  See more here>

 

Pain-Topics Exclusive Other Recent Pain-Topics UPDATES of Interest...

> Is Misuse of Meds by Pain Patients Rampant?

> Sad News: American Pain Foundation Closes Down

> Fallacies of Evidence in Pain Research

> New Survey: Half of U.S. Adults Have Chronic Pain

> May 2012 – Pain Product Announcements & Warnings

> Mixed Results in Review of Botox for Headaches

See Table of Contents for ALL UPDATES>

Stay Updated on UPDATES, Register for e-Notifications>

RSS Feed View & Subscribe to UPDATES RSS Feed>

 

 

NEW Pain Treatment GUIDELINES/REPORTS

Pain Tx Guidelines

New Guidelines for Pain Management by Pharmacotherapy in Inflammatory Arthritis

From: Multinational 3e Initiative, 2012.
Guidelines include 11 graded recommendations for pain assessment, drug treatment plans, and strategies for managing inflammatory arthritis. Discussions of pharmacotherapy include appropriate use of NSAIDs, cautious use of glucocorticoids, and effective adjuvant agents. See details>

Guidelines Update: Episodic Migraine in Adults

From: AAN and American Headache Society; 2012.

> Pharmacologic Treatment for Episodic Migraine See details>
> NSAIDs & Complementary Treatments for Episodic Migraine See details>

 

 

Latest Continuing Education (CME) Postings

CME Courses

New Opioids for Persistent & Breakthru Cancer Pain

From: PAINClinician.com, 2012.
This 4-part activity addresses the complexities of evaluating and treating patients with persistent and breakthrough cancer pain. Tailor-made opioid-treatment strategies are based on pathophysiology and patient response, as well as opioid pharmacology, routes of administration, formulations, and rotation. See details>

Chronic Pain in Primary Care: Low Back Pain

Reviews pathophysiologic processes and potential "red flags" of serious spinal pathology. Discusses testing, physical maneuvers to identify symptom origins, and individualized multimodal therapy. See details>

 

 

Opioid Rx & Safety

Opioid Rx

PCSS-O (Prescribers’ Clinical Support System for Opioid Therapies)

Project sponsored by the U.S. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment/Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (CSAT/SAMHSA), offers training in the safe and effective treatment of patients receiving opioid medications, as well as a Peer Support Program. See details>

Online Opioid Conversion Calculator

Comprehensive and accurate tool for calculating appropriate opioid doses for either opioid-naïve patients or when switching from one agent to another, including difficult calculations for methadone. See details>

 

 

Pain & Disability Assessment Tools to Note

Assessment Tools

Spanish Versions of Opioid-Risk Assessment Tools Available

Now available in Spanish: Screener and Opioid Assessment for Patients with Pain Revised (SOAPP-R) and the Current Opioid Misuse Measure (COMM). See details>

Pain Assessment in Nonverbal Patients

Paper updates an earlier version from 2006, on pain assessment in those unable to self-report, including children and adults with cognitive impairments or other conditions limiting verbal communication. See details>

 

 

NEW Resources for Patients

Patient Resources

Patient Resource Guide: Reducing Your Pain

Reviews the challenges of managing chronic pain and offers useful definitions and tools. Pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic pain treatments are described, along with safety considerations. (Supported by an educational grant from Endo Pharmaceuticals.)  See details>

Spotlight on Fibromyalgia

Articles and resources on fibromyalgia,including the need for an accurate diagnosis. See details>

 

 

Managing Opioid Risks

Opioid Risks

New Resources Feature Naloxone for At-Home Opioid Overdose Rescue

A new website and a short video tell everything you -- and your patients -- need to know about the use of naloxone at home to reverse opioid overdose. There are instructions sheets for healthcare providers, including where to get naloxone and how to bill for related services, instructions for patients/caregivers, medicolegal information, and other helpful resources. Access resources here>

 

 

NEW in Pain Disorders

Pain Spotlight

Loosening the Grip of Migraine Attacks

Educational monograph addresses migraine assessment and educating patients on the best use of over-the-counter products, the importance of therapy timing, and drug dosing information. Stresses that 'stratified care' is recommended therapeutic approach, replacing 'step care' in migraine treatment.  See details>

Pain Management in Cancer: Focus on Opioid Analgesics

Reviews opioid drugs alone or with adjuvant analgesics. See details>

 

 

Pain Disorders Section: Shingles/PHN

Shingles/PHN

Shingles, or acute herpes zoster infection, is a complication of reactivated varicella zoster virus (chicken pox). In turn, this may foster development of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). This section explore all aspects of shingles/PHN, including diagnosis and treatment strategies. See listings>

 

 

Pain-Topics Exclusive Making Sense of Pain Research [Series]

  

Pain ResearchImproving pain practice requires better research. However, healthcare professionals, and certainly patients, usually have had little specific training in evaluating research. This UPDATES series on “Making Sense of Pain Research” helps to close the education gap, teaching readers how to understand and interpret the often mysterious and complex language of research to assess its quality and validity. See listings>

 

 

Pain-Topics Exclusive Opioids911-Safety!

Help for Safely Using Opioid Pain Relievers

Opioids911-SafetyExtensive, REMS-compliant, educational activity for patients and their caregivers focusing on the proper and safe use of opioid pain relievers. Pprovides an understanding of opioids and their risks. Vital instruction is provided on recognizing opioid problems and on being prepared for what to do during an emergency. Go to Opioids911.org>

 

 

Announcements SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS RedStar

 

Where Did APF Go?

APFAfter 15 years, and without warning, the American Pain Foundation closed-down operations. And so, the lights went out on the largest national advocacy organization serving people living with pain, their caregivers and healthcare providers, and allied organizations. Who will fill the void? Learn more here>


 

NEW Resource on Opioid Risk Management

PERFORMPERFORM™ (Patient Evaluation Resources for Opioid Risk Management) is a free resource from Purdue Pharma L.P. featuring a journal-sized binder and interactive CD-ROM. It is designed to provide healthcare professionals with information and tools to assess the risk of medication misuse in patients who require opioid therapy. Features include patient screening tools, education tips, and links to other resources for both healthcare providers and patients. See more info here>


 

Register for e-NotificationsPlease bookmark this site for ongoing reference. And, as we continually update Pain-Topics.org, let us keep you posted by e-mail of when this site is changed or there is important news to announce — Register for e-Notifications.

 

Become a Pain-Topics.org Supporter/Sponsor

Become a SupporterPain Treatment Topics provides non-commercial information and education on the causes and effective management of pain. To do this, we rely on support in the form of annual educational grants and, through these, we are able to provide all offerings absolutely free and without restriction to site visitors. Learn how your organization can participate in helping to support this website. See information>

 

Thank you, for visiting, and we hope to see you here often.
Stewart B. Leavitt, MA, PhD, Executive Director

Bulletins

Editor's Notebook

Understanding Research

Opioids911-Safety

 

Affiliates

Click logos for info.
 

American Academy of Pain Management
American Academy
of Pain Management


American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence

American Association
for the Treatment of
Opioid Dependence


American Chronic Pain Association

American Chronic Pain
Association


American College of Apothecaries

American College
of Apothecaries


American Society of Pain Educators

American Society of
Pain Educators


European Opiate Addition Treatment Association

European Opiate
Addiction Treatment
Association


NfmCPA

National Fibromyalgia &
Chronic Pain Association


National Fibromyalgia Association

National Fibromyalgia
Association


Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Association

Reflex Sympathetic
Dystrophy Syndrome
Association


TNA-The Facial Pain Association

TNA-The Facial Pain
Association


US Pain Foundation

U.S. Pain Foundation

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This page was last updated 5/19/12