Advertisement

Pain Management

Home Pain Management
For older adults presenting to their primary care providers with a new visit for back pain

Earlier Physical Therapy May Help Older Patients With Back Pain

Extent of improvement in symptoms may be greater among those referred for early PT
About 10 percent of cases where a drug does serious harm are not reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration within the required 15-day period

Delays Noted in the Reporting of Serious Patient Harms to FDA

Analysis found roughly 10 percent of cases were filed after 15-day deadline passed
As a result of the increasing popularity of high-deductible health care plans

Expansion of High-Deductible Plans to Impact Physician Care

Physicians must be able to balance provision of good clinical care with ability to limit costs
A small trial shows a dose-dependent reduction in peripheral neuropathic pain in patients with diabetes

Cannabis Alleviates Peripheral Neuropathic Pain in Diabetes

Dose-dependent reduction in pain with inhaled cannabis in trial of 16 patients
Ginger is effective for reducing pain in individuals with primary dysmenorrhea

Ginger May Be Effective for Relieving Primary Dysmenorrhea

Meta-analysis shows reduction in pain visual analog score with ginger during days three to four of cycle
For patients undergoing robotic cardiac valve surgery

Lidocaine Patches Don’t Cut Pain After Robotic Cardiac Valve Sx

Lidocaine 5 percent patches had no impact on measures of acute or persistent pain
Many Americans with chronic pain who use alternative therapies -- such as acupuncture -- don't discuss these treatments with their doctors

Patients Not Talking About Using Alternative Therapies for Pain

Although most said they'd let their physician know if asked, survey finds
A proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services would implement physicians' calls to pay for end-of-life counseling

CMS May Adopt Doctors’ Calls for End-of-Life Counseling

Two new codes would be established; would be used for conversations about care options
Clinicians may be biased when it comes to the sexual orientation of patients

Clinicians May Harbor Biases About Sexual Orientation

Findings show need for sensitivity training, expert suggests
Strategies should be adopted to help with implementation of the Choosing Wisely program

Choosing Wisely: How to Implement in Clinical Practice

Strategies to improve chance of success include familiarization with evidence behind recs