      
View the Read the News/Research
Follow Pain-Topics on
We comply with the WMA Certified
Click images to verify.
Pain-Topics.org
Click logos for info. Become a Supporter |
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.
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>
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>
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>
> 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>
NEW Pain Treatment GUIDELINES/REPORTS
From: Multinational 3e Initiative, 2012. Guidelines Update: Episodic Migraine in Adults From: AAN and American Headache Society; 2012. > Pharmacologic Treatment for Episodic Migraine See details>
Latest Continuing Education (CME) Postings
From: PAINClinician.com, 2012. 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
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 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 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
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
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, 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>
Help for Safely Using Opioid Pain Relievers
Become a Pain-Topics.org Supporter/Sponsor
Thank you, for visiting, and we hope to see you here often. Stewart B. Leavitt, MA, PhD, Executive Director |
Click logos for info.
|
|
| If there are problems using this site, contact: Info2@Pain-Topics.org Pain Treatment Topics is produced by SBL Ltd.; Glenview, Illinois, USA © , all rights reserved. |
This page was last updated 5/19/12 |
See the 
= Newly added during this past week. 
View & Subscribe to 
Improving 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. 
Extensive, 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. 
After 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? 
PERFORM™ (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.
Pain 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. 
