Scientists examine how neuropathic pain responds to Metformin

Scientists seeking an effective treatment for one type of chronic pain believe a ubiquitous, generic diabetes medication might solve both the discomfort and the mental deficits that go with the pain. “People who are in constant pain have problems thinking straight sometimes. The longer you’re in pain, the more entrenched the impairment becomes,” said Stephanie Shiers, a fourth-year cognition and […]

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‘Mindful people’ feel less pain; MRI imaging pinpoints supporting brain activity

Ever wonder why some people seem to feel less pain than others? A study conducted at Wake Forest School of Medicine may have found one of the answers—mindfulness. “Mindfulness is related to being aware of the present moment without too much emotional reaction or judgment,” said the study’s lead author, Fadel Zeidan, Ph.D., assistant professor of neurobiology and anatomy at […]

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Break the pain cycle—relax, sleep and recover

Extreme pain is highly destructive, often accompanied by fatigue, sleep disturbance, decreased appetite and mood changes. A novel nerve activity modulator technology addresses the pain and welcome sleep follows. A motor accident left Richard Hanbury, founder and CEO of Sana Health UK Ltd, a paraplegic in excruciating pain. Doctors gave him five years to live due to severe pain from […]

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Diaphragm linked to chronic low back pain, study shows

Researchers of the Physical Therapy and Medicine departments of the CEU Cardenal Herrera University recently published a study on patients with chronic, non-specific low back pain, in which they conducted the first clinical trial of the effectiveness of osteopathic manual therapy with or without specific techniques on the diaphragm. The results have been published in Archives of Physical Medicine and […]

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Conflicting guidance on opioid prescribing can jeopardize pain management for patients with cancer

Persistent pain and recurrent episodes of pain are common for those who are living with cancer, or for those undergoing cancer treatment. When used properly, prescription opioids have long been known to help combat pain experienced by people with cancer. In the face of the worsening opioid epidemic, clinical guidelines have been published by multiple agencies to improve the way […]

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The brain’s frontal lobe could be involved in chronic pain, according to research

A University of Toronto scientist has discovered the brain’s frontal lobe is involved in pain transmission to the spine. If his findings in animals bear out in people, the discovery could lead to a new class of non-addictive painkillers. For 20 years, Min Zhuo, a professor of physiology in the Faculty of Medicine, has been intrigued by invisible pain, in particular chronic […]

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Four questions—chronic pain and how it affects the brain

Chronic pain affects an estimated 100 million Americans, and its impact goes beyond physical discomfort. New research, led by University of Arizona psychologist Stephen Cowen, illustrates how chronic pain may impact cognitive abilities, such as decision making, as well. Cowen and UA professor of pharmacology Frank Porreca, along with their collaborators at Eli Lilly, investigated how pain impacts cognitive flexibility, […]

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