The Grief of the Chronic Pain Patient

Individuals with chronic pain may lack awareness that they are feeling grief. People who suffer from chronic pain may experience losses in several areas: comfort, sexual function, career, income, self-efficacy, cognitive function, intimacy, pride, joy, self-esteem, self-control, independence, mental...

TBI and Chronic Allostatic Overload or Stress Increase Pain

Newswise — Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability. Post-injury distress is common, with many individuals experiencing chronic anxiety and depressive symptoms as well as chronic pain. In this collection of articles in the journal NeuroRehabilitation, experts report on...

Sharing the Pain: A Household Problem

The burden of chronic pain on the person who experiences it daily is evident. What about the partner or caregiver of the patient? In a study in the European Journal of Pain, new insights are offered into household partnerships. What is needed is additional information that “might provide empirical...

Opioid Side Effects: From One’s Own Immune System?

In research presented today by the American Chemical Society (ACS), it is stated that long term opioid use can lead to chronic inflammation and heightened pain sensitivity. Why? Study leader Cody J. Wenthur, PharmD, PhD, commented, “…we started thinking that the patient’s own immune system could be...

Chronic Pain Treatment: An Algorithm

A chronic pain patient may see many doctors, from general practitioner to pain specialist. But what comes between those visits? What’s the process?

Usually:

• The patient is managed conservatively by the primary care doctor or practitioner, which may entail certain medication therapies or...

Causalytics – You’re in Pain, and it’s All Your Fault

Assessment, diagnosis, treatment plan formulation, implementation, and follow-up are processes familiar to clinicians and are the main drivers of safe and effective chronic pain treatment. However, many other things influence our clinical decision-making, including the continuing controversies about...

Sickle Cell Disease: Pain, Mental Health, and Substance Use

In a recent issue of the journal of Substance Use & Misuse, a study of sickle cell disease patients was discussed. It is well known that, in the sickle cell disease population, chronic pain rates are high. Perhaps less well known are the levels of mental health issues. Even less known? Levels of...

Chronic Pain Treatment in the UK: Fewer Meds?

England’s NICE—the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence—is advising that other types of pain management/treatment should be utilized before common pain medications. Nonpharmacologic suggestions include exercise, psychotherapy, acupuncture, and electrical modalities. In its draft...

PLOS ONE Independent Study: Coaching for Chronic Pain and Beyond

A study in a recently published article in PLOS ONE sought to answer questions such as what affect does health and wellness coaching (HWC) have on individuals with chronic pain? As some patients and practitioners seek nonpharmacologic chronic pain treatment, often involving an interdisciplinary...

Early Physical Therapy Shows Improvement for Lower Back Pain

From the Mental Health Clinician journal.

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic lower back pain is a leading cause of disability in US adults. Opioid use continues to be controversial despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance on chronic pain management to use nonpharmacologic...