Tuesday-Newsday #108

     We have finally moved in our new home! We are still madly unpacking (not to mention our second pod full of stuff hasn’t even come yet!) and I finally was able to get my computer up and connected to the internet.

     I apologize for the long delay... but here I am at last. I may not be able to get right back to the same consistency of blogging, but please have patience and I will do my best. I’m still trying to get a new medical team assembled to treat my pain and there’s just so much to do on every level. Moving is no fun.

     There’s so much pain news and information I have saved up since I last posted; I’m going forward with the best effort I can give. I hope you’ll continue to follow my blog, and please pass the word on to others who live with any chronic pain conditions. My goal is to provide education & inspiration to everyone who visits this site. If I can help just one single person... it will all be worth it! 

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Tuesday-Newsday #108

Time for Tuesday-Newsday! There are two Featured Blog Post this week both written by primary care doctor Rob Lamberts, MD. I found them extremely interesting and I think you will, too. The titles are: “A Doctor’s View of Patients with Chronic Disease” and “Looking from a different view.”

Let Me Know: If you’d like me to watch for articles on your pain condition, just drop me a note in the comments section below. 

WARNING:  My goal is to provide the most up-to-date news I can, which you can then take to your personal doctor and debate the merits of before you try it. I do not endorse any of the docs, treatments, info, and meds in anything I post nor can I guarantee they are all effective, especially not for everyone. As is the case with any health info, ALWAYS get your doctor's opinion first!

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~* ALERT: FDA Rx RECALL *~

Nationwide Recall of Aspirin That May Contain Acetaminophen: Rugby Laboratories enteric-coated aspirin tablets 

*MENINGITIS OUTBREAK and CONTAMINATION OF MEDICINES

Current Count: 745 Cases, 58 Deaths, Joint Infections 35

The last update was June 3 and the next will be on July 1

MRIs Spot 'Hidden' Fungal Infections From Tainted Steroid Shots; More Cases Predicted to Surface

Another Infection Outbreak Tied to a Compounding Pharmacy: 20 Patients Now Sick

*PAIN MEDICATION NEWS

If you take Opioids for your chronic pain condition, please learn about the National Pain Medication Survey and support your right to have access to pain medication

The Innocent Victims of America's Painkiller Panic

"...while only 1% of legitimate patients get hooked (on opioids), many doctors treat ailing patients like criminals while actual addicts get off scot-free."

Migraineurs: More Problems for Novartis at Excedrin Plant

Groups Petition FDA On Abuse-Deterrent Opioids

Abuse-Deterrent Labeling Approved for Reformulated OxyContin

Bill to regulate 'biosimilar' drugs: As some firms want to make and sell drugs similar to biological medicines made by the likes of Amgen and Genentech, a measure aims to regulate their use

Supreme Court Lets Regulators Sue Over Generic Drug Deals

Using Marijuana to Treat Pain? A Pill May Outlast a Puff: Study shows a pill containing THC lasts longer and may be safer than smoking pot

BMI Doesn't Seem to Dull Efficacy of Opioid Patch

Painkillers Increase Risk of Erectile Dysfunction

Testosterone Treatment May Ease Pain Perception for Men with chronic pain and opioid-induced androgen deficiency

Some Antidepressants Linked to Bleeding Risk With Surgery: It's not clear whether SSRI drugs should be stopped before procedures, study says

Fully Robotic Nerve Blocks on the Horizon

A Path to Personalized Pain Treatment? 

Shopping Around Brings Steep Prescription Drug Savings, Report Finds

Prices varied four-fold between pharmacies, and there are ways shoppers can save big bucks, experts say

*CHRONIC PAIN and SUICIDE RISK

Chronic pain difficult to treat, hard to control, and a threat for suicide

Migraine, Chronic Back Pain Tied to Higher Suicide Risk: Hopelessness, disability may play a role in feelings of despair, study finds

NASCAR Legend’s Chronic Pain Led to Him to Commit Suicide

*CHRONIC PAIN NEWS

Freezing Nerves Can Relieve Chronic Pain, Study Says

Most pain apps lack physician input

Stroke May Trigger Chronic Pain

DavaRay turns light into healing power for chronic pain

Chronic Pain After Traumatic Events May be Linked to Stress

Novel pain therapy system manages patients with chronic neuropathic pain

Targeting Mental Defeat Among Pain Patients Could Prevent Anxiety and Depression

New President Of American Academy Of Pain Medicine Plans Bold Advances In Pain Education, Research And Pain Care Delivery

Allergic to her hip implant, woman suffers migraines & pain

*PATIENT NEWS

Survey Finds Doctors Reluctant to Expand Nurse Practitioners' Role: But shortage of primary care physicians will change the look of U.S. health care

FDA, facing cybersecurity threats, tightens medical-device standards

   -What actions does the FDA recommend to manufacturers?

Say 'Cheese': Photos may avert X-ray mix-ups, study finds

When Different Providers Read Different Scans On Same Patient

Doctors Urged to Refrain from Social Media Contacts With Patients: Texting or 'friending' patients on Facebook frowned upon in new professional guidelines

How to handle medical bill problems

For those with confusing or huge hospital bills, experts advise knowing rights, getting written explanations, turning to the right places for help and filing complaints if necessary

Walgreens Becomes First Retail Chain to Diagnose, Treat Chronic Conditions Like Asthma, Diabetes and High Cholesterol

*STUDY SEEKING PREGANT WOMEN WITH AUTOIMMUNE ILLNESSES

Pregnant with an autoimmune disease? Ever been on a biologic?

     If you are pregnant and have an autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, you may be able to help scientists understand what happens during pregnancy for women who are on or have been on a biologic with the MotherToBaby research project.

     Run by two UCSD professors, MothertoBaby's OTIS Autoimmune Project is an effort to study the safety of medications used for the treatment of autoimmune disease during pregnancy. There are no experiments-this is just a study/registry. No one will ask you to take or stop taking your medications.

     For more information, click on the headline and see if you are eligible.

*FEATURED BLOG POST(s)

~A Doctor’s View of Patients with Chronic Disease

~Looking from a different view

 both by Rob Lamberts, MD