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Pain Management

News, opinions and meeting coverage in pain management.

Medtronic Infusion Pump Recalled

Battery problems with two of Medtronic's SynchroMed II implantable infusion pumps have forced the company to recall them, according to the FDA, although the recall only affects products not yet implanted.

Knee Pain Eased With Combo Treatment

Combination treatment using ibuprofen plus acetaminophen provided better relief of chronic knee pain than acetaminophen alone -- but at the cost of increased side effects, a British randomized study found.

No More Infant Dose of OTC Acetaminophen

Over-the-counter drug makers have announced that they will no longer produce acetaminophen in concentrated infant drops; liquid acetaminophen products for children under 12 will be sold only in a 160 mg/5 mL concentration.

AAPM: 'Focused Factories' on Healthcare Horizon

WASHINGTON -- The next big thing in healthcare won't be large, all-purpose healthcare organizations -- it will be 'focused factories' for treating specific problems, a Harvard economist says.

Diagnostic Nerve Blocks Costly -- and Controversial

While some guidelines recommend two diagnostic nerve blocks before radiofrequency treatment for chronic low back pain, a randomized trial showed greater success without use of the prior blocks.

Drug Combo Brings Better Pain Relief

For people with neuropathic pain, a combination of two commonly used drugs works better than either alone, researchers said.

Herniated Disc Surgery Found Cost-Effective

HANOVER, N.H. -- For patients with a herniated disc, surgery proved a cost-effective alternative to nonsurgical treatment over the course of two years, an observational study found.

Oral Prednisolone and Naproxen (Aleve) Equal for Gout Pain

NIJMEGEN, The Netherlands, May 29 -- For the acute pain of monoarticular gout over four days, it's a tossup between oral prednisolone and naproxen (Aleve), a randomized trial found.

Chinese Herbs Ease Menstrual Cramps Better than NSAIDs

SYDNEY, Australia -- Traditional Chinese remedies may ease painful menstrual cramps better than nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) and other drugs, according to a Cochrane systematic review.

Scleroderma Patients Are Living Longer

WASHINGTON -- The lifespan for patients with scleroderma has increased significantly since the 1970s, in large measure because of a decline in deaths from renal disease.

Gabapentin (Neurontin) Eases Chronic Pain in Fibromyalgia

CINCINNATI -- For treating the chronic pain and other symptoms of fibromyalgia, the anticonvulsant gabapentin (Neurontin) proved safe and effective, researchers here reported.

Promising Outcomes in Spinal Disc Cadaver Allografts

HONG KONG -- Replacement of degenerative discs in the cervical spine with cadaver allografts shows early promise as an alternative to fusion or artificial discs, found researchers here.

After Meniscectomy, Thigh Muscle Weakness Impairs Knee Function

MALM脙鈥�, Sweden -- Four years after surgery to repair a non-traumatic meniscus tear, loss of muscle strength in the quadriceps left patients with a painful, unstable knee prone to future osteoarthritis, researchers here reported.

ACR: Humira Does Not Affect Flu Vaccination Efficacy

WASHINGTON -- Vaccination against influenza or pneumococcal disease is safe and effective in people with rheumatoid arthritis who are taking Humira (adalimumab), a researcher said here.

FDA Warns on Mixing Antidepressants with Migraine Drugs

ROCKVILLE, Md. -- Mixing common migraine drugs such as Imitrex (sumatriptan) with antidepressants like Prozac (fluoxetine) or Cymbalta (duloxetine) can trigger a life-threatening condition called serotonin-syndrome, the FDA has warned.

High-Dose Steroids Linked to Risk of Atrial Fibrillation

ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands 芒鈧€� High dose corticosteroid therapy may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation, researchers here reported.

Epidural Steroid Injection Not Useful for Chronic Shingles Pain

UTRECHT, The Netherlands - An epidural injection of steroids with a local anesthetic did not provide the long-term pain relief doctors anticipated for patients suffering from post-herpetic neuralgia, researchers here said.

Short-Term Use of High-Dose Ibuprofen Linked to GI Bleeding

HAMILTON, Ontario - Taking high doses of Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen) even for a few days can significantly increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, researchers reported today.

Botox Helps Patients Face Intractable Facial Pain

CURITIBA, Brazil - Everyone's favorite toxin appears to offer significant relief from intractable facial nerve pain.

Drugs That Lower Blood Pressure Also Prevent Headaches

LONDON - Four classes of drugs that lower blood pressure also prevent headaches, say researchers here who analyzed data from 94 randomized, placebo-controlled trials.

IBD Patients Prone to Other Autoimmune or Inflammatory Disorders

PHILADELPHIA-Patients with the inflammatory bowel disorders ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are significantly more likely to suffer from other conditions with an inflammatory or autoimmune basis, said researchers in two separate studies.

Bad News for Cox-2 Inhibitors Was Good News for Mobic

WASHINGTON-The departure of Vioxx (rofecoxib) from pharmacists' shelves last September triggered a boomlet for the NSAID Mobic (meloxicam), which then boosted its prices by 9%, according to a Consumers Union analysis.