Early intervention may fight chronic pain without opioids

Knowing who will benefit from early intervention for chronic pain after an injury or surgery may be as simple as a short 2-question survey.

Sarah Avery-Duke • futurity
March 20, 2024 ~5 min

Weather-based pain forecast could influence daily plans

Most people with chronic pain say they would change their plans for the day based on a weather-based pain forecast.

Erica Techo-U. Georgia • futurity
Jan. 12, 2024 ~5 min


Headache or sore all over after bad night’s sleep?

Sleep loss heightens pain; pain can cause sleep loss. But why one begets the other has been largely clouded in uncertainty — until now.

Caitlin McDermott-Murphy • harvard
Nov. 28, 2023 ~7 min

Understanding that chronic back pain originates from within the brain could lead to quicker recovery, a new study finds

An intriguing therapy that shifts what people perceive as the source of their pain could aid in pain management.

Yoni Ashar, Assistant Professor of General Internal Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus • conversation
Nov. 3, 2023 ~5 min

Endometriosis afflicts millions of women, but few people feel comfortable talking about it

Health care providers often dismiss endometriosis pain as ‘all in your head’ − which can delay a correct diagnosis and treatment for years.

Kristina S. Brown, Professor and Chair of Couple and Family Therapy, Adler University • conversation
Nov. 1, 2023 ~8 min

White patients are more likely than Black patients to be given opioid medication for pain in US emergency departments

Undertreated pain can result in unnecessary suffering and a greater likelihood of long-term chronic pain.

Sofia Stathi, Professor of Social Psychology, University of Greenwich • conversation
Oct. 27, 2023 ~5 min

Chronic pain can be objectively measured using brain signals – new research

Pain has long been subjectively measured, leading to frustrations for patients and doctors alike. Identifying neural biomarkers of pain could improve diagnosis and lead to better treatments of chronic pain conditions.

Prasad Shirvalkar, Associate Professor of Anesthesia, University of California, San Francisco • conversation
May 22, 2023 ~6 min

Simple test predicts if a steroid shot will ease neck pain

Epidural steroid injections are a common treatment for neck pain, but they don't help everyone. A new test can predict who will get relief.

Kristen Crocker-Johns Hopkins • futurity
Feb. 15, 2023 ~7 min


Use of psychedelics to treat PTSD, OCD, depression and chronic pain – a researcher discusses recent trials, possible risks

The early research suggests the drugs might be effective for some conditions. But scientists have safety concerns.

Jennifer Mitchell, Professor of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco • conversation
Feb. 10, 2023 ~6 min

CBD is not a cure-all – here's what science says about its real health benefits

CBD isn’t a miracle cure for everything that ails a person – but science shows that it has the potential to help treat a number of health conditions.

Kent E Vrana, Professor and Chair of Pharmacology, Penn State • conversation
Feb. 9, 2023 ~10 min

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