PAIN MONITOR
February 2008
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The Pain Monitor is a monthly electronic publication of the American Pain Foundation. We want to keep you abreast of recent media attention given to topics that are related to pain care or living with pain. Below are links to news articles, feature stories and timely information that have come to our attention. Please pass them along to others who might benefit. We encourage you to send any comments you may have to the authors or publisher directly. Every voice counts when working towards improving pain care in our nation.
THE NEWS
ABC News: "What Is Pain?"
ABC News has aired three interviews in their online On Call + Pain Management Center, featuring pain management experts including two APF board members. In the first segment, "What Is Pain?," APF Board member and PCAC co-chair Andrea Cooper and her daughter, Maura Hollister, speak about living with chronic pain. APF board member Russell Portenoy, MD and Woodson C. Merrell, M.D., Sc.D. from the Beth Israel Medical Center discuss pain management practice and issues.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Morning Cortisol Response
People who suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) often endure months of persistent fatigue, muscle pain, and impaired memory and concentration. A new study reveals that abnormally low morning concentrations of the hormone cortisol may be correlated with more severe fatigue in CFS patients, especially in women.
Sickle Cell Patients in More Pain Than Thought
In adults with sickle cell disease, pain can occur daily and is much more severe than previously believed, U.S. researchers report.
Chronic Pain Can Alter the Brain
Brain scans of people in chronic pain show a state of constant activity in areas that should be at rest, U.S. researchers said, a finding that could help explain why pain patients have higher rates of depression, anxiety and other disorders.
New Insights Into Genital Pain in Women
Studies have shown that sexual phobias are rarely the explanation for a condition known as vulvodynia, a chronic discomfort of the vulva that can result in searing or shooting pain when any amount of pressure is placed on the sensitized tissues.
Abuse History Affects Pain Regulation in Women with Irritable Bowel Syndrome
UCLA and University of North Carolina researchers have found that women with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) who have experienced sexual and/or physical abuse may have a heightened brain response to pain that makes them more sensitive to abdominal discomfort.
New Survey Finds Majority of Americans in Pain; Acute Pain Sufferers Reluctant to Treat
While the majority of Americans in a national survey reported experiencing pain in the past 12 months, many, especially acute pain sufferers, are reluctant to seek professional help or take prescription pills.
African Americans Less Likely to Choose Epidurals for Post-Operative Pain Relief
Minority and low-income patients are less likely than those who are white or more well off to agree to post-surgery epidural pain relief, according to new research from physicians at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. The study, published recently in the journal Anesthesia and Analgesia, examined how race, economic and educational status may influence health care choices when access to care isn't a factor.
Celebrities Feel Pain Too
For celebrities, chronic pain presents an additional burden. Even stars sometimes don't know when it's time to get treatment for serious pain.
Strength Training Eases Chronic Neck Pain
Strength training exercises can help relieve chronic neck pain, says a Danish study in the January issue of Arthritis Care & Research.
NSAIDs No Better for Low Back Pain
When it comes to treating low back pain, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as naproxen and ibuprofen are no more effective than acetaminophen.
Low-Back Pain Affects Four Out of Five People
Back problems are the leading reason that people use CAM. Two researchers discuss, at a NCCAM symposium, their work relating to CAM and low-back pain.
Intensive Education Helps Back Pain Sufferers Get Back to Work
People who suffer from short-term lower back pain might be able to return to work sooner if given an intensive individual patient education session from their health care provider, according to a new review from researchers in the Netherlands.
Strange Creature Immune to Pain
As vulnerable as naked mole rats seem, researchers now find the hairless, bucktoothed rodents are invulnerable to the pain of acid and the sting of chili peppers. A better understanding of pain resistance in these creatures could lead to new drugs for people with chronic pain.
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Swiss Study in Mice May Lead to New Pain Drugs
Enhancing a natural pain-filtering mechanism in the spine helped relieve chronic pain in mice without the unwanted side effects of current pain relievers, Swiss researchers said.
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APF NEWS
Power Over Pain Action Network:
Leaders in the News
Dionetta Hudzinski, RN, MN, WA POP Action Network Leader and incoming president of the Washington-Alaska Pain Initiative, has taken a lead in challenging WA state guidelines to physicians for prescribing opioids for non-cancer pain. She was recently featured in the article "Issue of drugs and pain strikes a nerve" in the Yakima Herald and with fellow leader Brenda Sutherland in the Puyallup Herald article "Has the war on drugs gone too far?"
Penny Ruth Njoroge, an oncology chaplain and POP Action Network Leader from Alabama, was recently interviewed by the Birmingham News. She discussed key issues surrounding pain management, including the dangers of untreated pain and the barriers that exist to effective pain treatment.
Looking Forward
Cindy Steinberg, Massachusetts state leader and chapter president of the American Chronic Pain Association was interviewed by ABCNews.com with her local support group about living with chronic pain, treatment options and specific disorders, such as fibromyalgia and RSD.
Likewise, Missouri state leader Rebecca Rengo, was interviewed by Time, Inc., specifically regarding fibromyalgia and the challenges of its treatment. This will be available for viewing soon on their new health website, link will be available soon.
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POLICY & ADVOCACY
DEA Issues Advisory Statement on Methadone
Effective January 1, 2008, methadone 40mg dispersible tablets will be limited to detoxification and maintenance treatment. Methadone manufacturers agreed to restrict distribution of the methadone 40mg dispersible tablets to those facilities authorized for detoxification and maintenance treatment and hospitals. This means the 40mg tablet will no longer be available through a prescription for pain management.
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SPOTLIGHT ON PAIN
Cancer Pain
Vitamins May Help Cancer-Related Pain
High-potency vitamins, melatonin supplements, and other complementary remedies may help to relieve the debilitating pain and fatigue experienced by most people with advanced pancreatic cancer, a new study suggests.
Military/Veterans
Battle Concussions Tied to Stress Disorder
About one in six combat troops returning from Iraq have suffered at least one concussion in the war, injuries that, while temporary, could heighten their risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder, researchers are reporting.
Pain at the End of Life
Challenges in Pain Management at the End of Life
Effective pain management in patients at the end of their lives requires an understanding of pain control strategies.
Shingles
Shingles Sends 1 million to U.S. Doctors Each Year
Shingles sends nearly 1 million Americans to their doctors every year seeking relief from the painful symptoms the virus causes, according to U.S. government statistics released on Wednesday.
Yoga
Yoga Antidote for Migraines
Causes vary, but migraines-whose symptoms include head pain, nausea, dizziness, lethargy, weakness, and difficulty breathing-often result from tension.
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SCIENCE & MEDICINE
Managing Chronic Pain: When Does Morphine Become Less Effective?
Opioids such as morphine are effective and widely used drugs for the control of pain. Tolerance can develop with repeated administration, but there is some evidence to suggest that tolerance to opioids does not develop when they are used to treat individuals with diseases that are accompanied by inflammation.
Should Opioid Abusers Be Discharged From Opioid-Analgesic Therapy?
The clinical practice of discharging patients from opioid therapy when there are concerns about substance abuse or addiction can do significant harm; not just at the level of the individual, but also affecting families, the healthcare system, and society at large.
Gene Therapy May Be the Basis for Chronic Pain Relief in the Future, Study Finds
The new technique is known as Adeno-Associated Virus vector-based gene therapy and it allows using a virus a vector to deliver a specific gene into the primary sensory neurons to activate the system that alleviates pain in patients. The system mimics the pain-killing effect of opiate drugs, at least in the animal model used by these researchers.
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COMPLEMENTARY/ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
Materials Can Help You Discuss Complementary/Alternative Medicine
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) offers a free toolkit containing educational materials for physicians, their staff members and their patients. The kit includes a backgrounder; posters; tips for discussing CAM; and a patient wallet card for tracking medications, including CAM therapies. A "patient packet" is available as well. Both items may be ordered online or from the NCCAM Clearinghouse at (888) 644-6226. When ordering by phone, use reference code D392 for the health care professional toolkit; use code D393 when ordering the patient packet.
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EN ESPANOL
Qué es la Vulvodinia
Hechos Rápidos Para su Salud, una publicación del National Women's Health Resource Center incluye información básica, opciones de tratamiento, preguntas para el médico y recoursos sobre vulvodinia
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WEBSITE OF THE MONTH
Pain Treatment Topics
The mission of Pain Treatment Topics is to serve as a noncommercial resource for healthcare professionals, providing open access to clinical news, information, research, and education for a better understanding of evidence-based pain-management practices.
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RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITIES
Lawful Prescribing & Prevention of Diversion: A Balanced Approach to Controlled Substances
A monograph that discusses the importance for physicians to know when opioids might be useful, know how to prescribe them safely and understand the regulatory structure that surrounds the controlled substances that are being prescribed.
The Assessment of Pain in Older People
This concise, 17-page guideline was developed in conjunction with the Royal College of Physicians, the British Pain Society, and the British Geriatrics Society. They reviewed current evidence in the literature to produce sound guidance for all practitioners in assessing the presence of pain in the elderly. Numerous pain rating scales and other tools especially applicable to this population of patients are provided.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
February 20-21, 2008
ELNEC Super Core Course
American Association of Nursing & City of Hope
Newport Beach, CA
February 27-29, 2008
Initiative for Pediatric Palliative Care Regional Education Retreat
Children's Hospice and Palliative Care Coalition & Southern California Pediatric Palliative Care Network
Lake Arrowhead, CA
March 7-9, 2008
Miami Headache Symposium
Miami, FL
March 15, 2008
Emerging Issues in the Art and Science of Pain & Symptom Management
Department of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care, Beth Israel Medical Center
New York, NY
April 3-6, 2008
Intercultural Cancer Council 11th Biennial Symposium on
Minorities, the Medically Underserved and Cancer
Washington, DC
May 7-9, 2008
Association of Oncology Social Work Annual Conference
Louisville, KY
May 13-18, 2008
Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback Conference
Daytona Beach, FL
May 2-June 20, 2008 (Fridays only)
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program for Chronic Pain
Silver Spring, MD
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VOICES OF PEOPLE WITH PAIN
Barbara's Story: I AM . . . Chronic Pelvic Pain
I am the mask of the chronic pelvic pain patient. I have the smile that never quite reaches my eyes. I am the quiet weeping that you hear in the early morning hours out your bedroom window. I am the lady in the car next to you wiping tears rolling down her face with a balled up tissue. I am the patient in your E.R. that hears your nurse quietly tell you that there's another "seeker" in bed two. I am the employee that you bullied and picked on because of time missed going to the doctor that was unacceptable to you even as the pain took over my life. Read more...
PainAid Online Support
Join our vibrant community and share discussion and your personal stories with others affected by pain. Here you will find: Conference Rooms (regularly scheduled chats on a range of issues); Discussion Boards (threaded message boards on a broad range of topics); and Ask the Expert feature (pose questions to licensed healthcare professionals). PainAid is staffed by highly qualified volunteers with a range of backgrounds, all of whom either live with chronic pain or care for people who do. Visit PainAid!
Be sure to check out the VOICES section of our website! New personal stories are added weekly!
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Thank you to our medical/science editor, Peter J. Vicente Ph.D., ABPP.
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Share with us how you'd like to get involved and ways you might be able to contribute your voice and skills to our joint efforts by completing our online Advocacy Survey. We welcome your participation and look forward to working with you!
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