Health Diaries > Health News > Chronic Pain News > March 2005

March 31, 2005

Doctors Find Way to Measure Pain

"Doctors at the University of New Mexico have discovered that a noticeable amount of two chemicals is released by the brain when it senses pain. They say this knowledge could turn what has been a subjective problem for patients into an objective science in which pain is measurable."

Posted by news editor at 10:58 AM | Comments (0)

Heat Wrap Therapy for Knee Pain

Results of a new study released today suggest that continuous low-level heat wrap therapy may be an effective option to manage pain and stiffness associated with osteoarthritis of the knee. According to researchers, patients treated with a continuous low-level heat wrap for eight hours reported significant benefits in pain reduction and improved flexibility of the knee, as compared to placebo and common oral pain medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen.

Posted by news editor at 01:11 AM | Comments (0)

March 29, 2005

Pain Drug for Endometriosis

"Pfizer Inc. said on Tuesday it has received U.S. regulatory approval to sell a drug to treat the pain associated with endometriosis, a condition in which tissue from the uterus migrates and implants in other areas of the body."

Posted by news editor at 09:07 PM | Comments (0)

Smaller SCS System for Pain

"Boston Scientific Corporation today announced the nationwide release of the Precision Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) System and says it is the world's smallest and first rechargeable SCS. Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Precision SCS System treats chronic pain by precisely delivering tiny electrical signals to the spinal cord that mask pain signals as they travel to the brain, creating instead a tingling sensation called paresthesia."

Posted by news editor at 11:09 AM | Comments (0)

March 28, 2005

Improvements in Labor Pain Relief

"Great strides have been made in the way we presently treat various medical conditions. However, 10 or 15 years from now, many present day treatments will be outmoded ... A good example of how treatments change with time is the medical management of labor pain."

Posted by news editor at 10:46 PM | Comments (0)

March 23, 2005

Botox for Back Pain

Researchers at Yale University have found that injections of Botox "can relieve low-back pain in at least some people who haven't responded to other therapies." Botox has been used for years to treat muscle spasms and has become popular in recent years for its ability to smooth facial wrinkles.

Posted by news editor at 01:28 AM | Comments (0)

March 10, 2005

Mobic and Heart Problems

Referring to Mobic and diclofenac, University of Pennsylvania pharmacologist Garrett FitzGerald said they would likely turn out to be "Celebrex in sheep's clothing." FitzGerald, also a cardiologist, is an expert on COX-2 inhibitors and heart disease.

Posted by news editor at 03:22 AM | Comments (0)