Tuesday-Newsday #142

Time for Tuesday-Newsday! The Featured Blog Posts this week are “How to Stop Believing You’re a Burden”, “Uninvited Guest: Pain” and “A 'Better' Face on ICU Pain?”

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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*MEDICATION NEWS

Obamacare plans bring hefty fees for certain drugs: "...experts say patients often spend more for their prescriptions in plans offered under the (new) health law because of the co-insurance..."

Feds Investigate Walgreens Over Privacy Concerns

The dilemma of prescription opioids: Shifting attitudes towards the pain patient

Abuse of painkillers hurts real patients

The FDA's Dilemma With The Opioid Pain Medication Zohydro

Drug Maker Blames ‘Misinformation’ for Zohydro Controversy

Cymbalta Lawsuit Filed Over Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS)

Study IDs New Drug Target for Chronic Pain

Advance toward developing an oral pain reliever derived from debilitating snail venom

Doctors and Patients Easily Swayed by Drug Advertising

Questions raised on safety issues and costs related to 'direct-to-consumer' advertising

Human Medicines Can Be Poisonous For Pets, Especially Ones Used for Pain: “Marijuana ingestion in pets is becoming one of the most common poisonings...”

Can 'Robotic' Pills replace injectable drugs for chronic conditions like diabetes?

The medicine in our minds

New microsite to bring awareness for silent victims of flawed drug policy -- legitimate pain patients

*CHRONIC PAIN NEWS

Researchers find link between chronic pain and heart disease

Chronic pain research delves into brain: New insight into how brain responds to pain

It's not just physical, the realm of chronic pain is a scary place

Harnessing the Herpes Virus To Better Target Chronic Pain

Can treatment over the Internet help chronic pain?

A Pained Life: Pain Contracts

This Computer Can Tell When People Are Faking Pain

Adhesion disorder patients suffer invisible pain

*CANCER PAIN

New Study Results: Calmare® Pain Device Therapy May Reduce Chemotherapy-Induced Pain Scores By About 30%

Dispelling Myths about Powerful Painkillers

Will I become addicted to the pain medications I may need during my cancer treatment?

"Expressive writing" can reduce cancer-related symptoms and improve physical functioning in patients

Music, art, and dance therapy may ease depression, anxiety, and pain among cancer patients, studies show

Beyond the Usual Pain Medications

Cancer Pain: Prevalent and Treatable

Joint pain may cause women with breast cancer to stop taking anastrozole

Exercise Might Ease Joint Pain Caused by Breast Cancer Drugs: Side effects, such as stiffness and pain, are common reasons patients stop taking medications

Acupuncture, Real or Sham, Eases Hot Flashes Due to Breast Cancer Chemo

NHS England: Emergency cancer drug fund 'runs out of cash' - Thousands face being denied life-extending medication

*FEATURED BLOG POSTS

How to Stop Believing You’re a Burden

by Helena at Chronic Marriage: Helping Couples with Chronic Illness Build Extraordinary Marriages

Uninvited Guest: Pain

by Jan Sadler of Pain Support UK

A 'Better' Face on ICU Pain?

by Crystal Phend

Tuesday-Newsday #141

*NOTE: TODAY IS A ABBREVIATED VERsion of Tuesday-Newsday. Next week I expect to be able to return to full length.*

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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*PAIN NEWS HEADLINES

House and Senate Bills Call for New Drug Zohydro To Be Banned

FDA Chief Defends Approval of Controversial Painkiller Zohydro

Company Developing Abuse-Deterrant Hydrocodone Drug to Rival Zohydro

Pharmacists Blame Patient Fears on DEA

Cymbalta Warning: Discontinuing May Result in Severe Withdrawal Symptom

Fibromyalgia Patients Sought for Online Survey: Tell Us What We Should Know

Tuesday-Newsday #140

Time for Tuesday-Newsday! The Featured Blog Posts this week are “Ace Young on Pain, Family and Caregiving”, “Living with Disability and Its Affect on Relationships” and “How to tackle the challenge of shame.”

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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*WARNING: DRUG RECALL*

Pfizer Recalls Some Antidepressants After Drug Mixup (Effexor)

*CHRONIC PAIN NEWS

Pain Physicians Say Insurance Coverage Often Falls Short

Spinal Cord Stimulators Work Best When Implanted Early

Hormones Might Offer Relief From Chronic Pain, Small Study Suggests

The patience of Jim: Former Bills QB endured heartbreaking loss and cancer yet says he's blessed

How Calmare Therapy Helped One Pain Patient

When It Comes To Chronic Illness, College Campuses Have A Lot To Learn

Ignoring pain can lead to problems, hasten death for elderly

Pain.com Unveils New Original Series, “Pain in Unique Work Places,” Documenting Causes, Symptoms, Treatments, Tips and Prevention Techniques from Unusual Professions

*MEDICATION NEWS

Poll article #1: Majority Of Chronic Pain Sufferers Feel Treated Like ‘Drug Addicts’ By Pharmacists

Poll article #2: Pain Physicians and Pharmacists Panned by Patients in Survey

Are Generic Medications Safe? The FDA is starting launching a new program to test them for quality after recent concerns

Experts Weigh in on Recent FDA Opioid Changes

Why are patients shut out of the debate over prescription pain medicine?

Leading Pain Specialists Warn of Overdose Danger if Methadone is “Preferred” for Pain Patients on Medicaid 

Study Finds Doctors Prescribing More Sedatives; Frequent Use of Them in Combination with Opioids May Explain More Medication Deaths

Opinion: How Did We Get Here? A past American Academy of Pain Medicine president gives his view of the Opioid Crisis

Topamax Lawsuit Over Birth Defects Results in $3 Million Dollar Verdict - See more 

Resource Guide Offers Consumers Overview Of Chronic Pain Medications & Treatments

Tarantula Venom Has Painkiller Potential: Spider toxins could be used to develop safe, effective medicines, researchers say

*TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA

Gamma Knife helps patients with painful facial nerve disorder

Girl Has 2nd Brain Surgery to Alleviate Painful 'Suicide Disease'

Research team studying genetic component of trigeminal neuralgia

Researchers say using ultrasound guidance for facial injection is highly effective in treating trigeminal neuralgia

Surgical Outcomes of Trigeminal Neuralgia in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

*OSTEOPOROSIS

Strontium should no longer be used for osteoporosis treatment

Novel Osteoporosis Drug Could Change Treatment: Study: Early results indicate romosozumab can rebuild bone

Osteoporosis drugs compared for side effects, efficacy

Research Could Lead to New Drugs for Osteoporosis

Marriage is good for the health of men's bones - but only if they marry when they're 25 or older

Scientists develop automated system that identifies high-risk osteoporosis patients

Hypertension 'increases risk of osteoporotic bone fractures'

Ovary removal might raise odds for bone loss, heart disease

Osteoporosis screening recommendations may miss two-thirds of women aged 50 to 64

Study provides guidance on drug holidays from popular osteoporosis treatments

Bone shapes links with disease, examined in new study

Cannabis May Help Protect Against Osteoporosis

*FEATURED BLOG POSTS

Ace Young on Pain, Family and Caregiving

from Pain Pathways magazine

Living with Disability and Its Affect on Relationships

By Tracy Rydzy

AWAP Wednesday: How to tackle the challenge of shame

by Jenni Prokopy, editrix of Chronic Babe

Tuesday-Newsday #139

Time for Tuesday-Newsday! The Featured Blog Posts this week are all about the struggle of pain patients to be believed by others, that our pain is real and not exaggerated. The first piece is by Jan Sadler and the other two are both written by Carol Levy.

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!

====++++====++++====++++====++++====++++===

*CHRONIC PAIN NEWS

Elaborate medical code overhaul set to launch, frustrates doctors

Use of Acetaminophen (Tylenol) in Pregnancy May Be Tied to Higher ADHD Risk in Child: Experts caution the finding needs verification

Endo to Pay $193 Million for Illegal Marketing of Pain Patch

FDA Marketing Clearance Granted for Wearable Ultrasound Therapy Device

Fibromyalgia: Are Lyrica Commercials Realistic?

FDA To Consider Shortening TV Commercials' Long Lists Of Drug Side Effects: Is All That Rambling Too Confusing?

Chronic Pain and Art Therapy

A Sweet Solution to Chronic Pain

video: A Nurse Uses His Special Gift To Help Patients Cope With Pain

Chronic Pain Sufferers in India Will Now Have Access to Pain Medication

*MEDICATION NEWS

Groups Push FDA to Revoke Approval of Highly Potent Painkiller

DEA Publishes Proposal to Reschedule Hydrocodone Products

Two physicians’ opinions on opioids, particularly on Zohydro’s release this week: 

#1 Zohydro, So Hydro, No Hydro; What do you think?

#2 Stop the attack on pain pills
#3 Patient opinion piece: "I Am Pro Zohydro"

FDA To Change How It Regulates OTC Products, Is Seeking Public Input

Cannabis can kill without the influence of other drugs

Patrick Kennedy Wages Fierce Anti-Pot Crusade: Calling it a public health nightmare, he broke ranks with Democrats and says modern marijuana is stronger and more dangerous

New Anesthetic Can Hold Off Pain For Days After Surgery

*PATIENT NEWS

More Patients Are Checking Doctor-Rating Websites, Study Finds: But just how trustworthy these reviews are isn't clear

Patients May Have to Compete With Computers for Doctors' Attention: Study finds a third of physicians' office visit spent with their eyes on the screen

Need to see a doctor? Be prepared to wait: A survey in 15 metropolitan areas ranked how long it may take

Transient electronics: New medical devices can safely disappear inside the body

Crowdfunding is all the rage, but can it work for medical research?

*BACK PAIN

Drug may reduce chronic pain for spinal cord injuries (Hydralazine)

Pain In The Back? Exercise May Help You Learn Not To Feel It

Medicare will not cover PILD for lumbar spinal stenosis; The treatment will only be covered for patients in clinical trials

Overtreated: Surgery too often fails for back pain

Quality of life improves with minimally invasive surgery for low back pain (Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion)

Timely Referrals to Pain Management Specialists Could Reduce Unnecessary Back Fusion Surgeries Says One Pain Management Specialist

Pain measures predict persistent chronic pain

Catastrophizing Can Predict Low Back Pain, Disability

Surgery vs. Non-invasive Treatment—Which is Better for Herniated Discs?

Stem Cell Injections Reduce Low Back Pain

Spinal Manipulative Therapy Lessens Central Pain Sensitization

Back Pain Worse When Accompanied by Anterior Trunk Pain

Link between back pain and obesity explored

Biacuplasty: A New Therapy for Low Back Pain

This is a radio interview with Dr. Leo Kapural of Wake Forest University Health Sciences and pain specialist Dr. Paul Christo at Johns Hopkins about this recently developed minimally invasive therapy

Innovative motion evaluation tool saves patients with back pain X-ray radiation exposure

*LYME DISEASE

New mathematical model shows that appearance of rash may determine how Lyme disease spreads through body

Tick test for persistent Lyme disease tried in humans

Recent study suggests Lyme disease can be sexually transmitted 

Canadian Parliament to debate National Lyme Disease Strategy Act

*FEATURED BLOG POSTS

Being Believed 

by Jan Sadler of Pain Support UK

A Pained Life: Disbelief

by Carol Levy

A Pained Life: Don’t Let My Smile Fool You
by Carol Levy