Tuesday-Newsday #138

[NOTE: Next week there will be no new Tuesday-Newsday post - I will be away from my computer to visit my newborn niece!]


Time for Tuesday-Newsday! The Featured Blog Posts this week are “Throw the Migraine Advocate off the Plane?”, “AWAP Wednesday: How do I deal with anger at my chronic illness?”, and “Recovering Your Hope.” 

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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*CHRONIC PAIN NEWS

Pain in Adults Worse Due to Poor Sleep

The National Pain Foundation Returns with Refocused Mission to Transform Pain Management on a Global Scale

Senators Warn About Zohydro as Painkiller Nears Launch

Making Acupuncture Even Safer: Researchers recommend improving needle quality

Sedation Before Nerve Block Increases Risks, Not Pain Relief

Fear of drug abuse, addiction may hurt Indiana pain patients

For Mice, and Maybe Men, Pain Is Gone in a Flash

Harnessing the Herpes Virus To Precisely Target Pain

Stanford Coordinated Care: A team approach to taming chronic illness

New Online Community Addresses the Challenges Associated with Chronic Pain

National Pain Foundation Asks Chronic Pain Patients to Take Part in Survey

*MEDICATION NEWS

Generic drug makers fight rule on health risk warnings: The proposed FDA regulation would close a legal loophole and allow patients to sue

FDA Chief Set to Visit India Amidst Heated Drug Patent Debate, Drug Safety Concerns

Drug Quality Concerns of Overseas Companies Spur New U.S. FDA Oversight Effort

Alabama Senate panel aprroves marijuana oil bill: Medical necessity could be used as defense by those facing prosecution

Medical middle ground between marijuana and pain pills

How to Properly Store Your Meds: These smart storage tips keep drugs safe and effective

*MILITARY VETERANS

Innovative surgery leaves retired soldier pain free, no need for pain pills

Soldiers Face Long-Term, Not Just Acute, Health Harm From IED Blasts: IOM Report

Veterans Affairs urged to set up database to measure long-term health effects of bomb blasts

Veterans with traumatic brain injuries, combat-related challenges (including pain)

USF team investigates eye-movement therapy for PTSD

Studies show yoga can alleviate stress, improve flexibility and boost sex life (and reduce pain)

Rescued Pit Bull Saves Veteran From Depression & Chronic Pain

*MIGRAINE

Vitamin D: No Help for Migraine

Blood Pressure Drug Candesartan Helps Prevent Migraine, According to New Research

Drug-free migraine treatment Cefaly®: Over Half of Migraine Patients Approve of Neurostimulator

New relief for migraine pain: Small incisions around the face and scalp release tension on nerves that cause migraines

Surgery Brings Relief for Chronic Migraines for One Patient

FDA Declines Approval of Versafilm Migraine Treatment

Longtime Sufferers of Cluster Headaches Find Relief in Psychedelics

A Breakthrough for Chronic Headache: Electrical peripheral nerve stimulation therapy

FDA Approves First Device to Treat Migraine Pain: Cerena Transcranial Magnetic Stimulator

Portable magnetic stimulation device 'effective' against migraines, now approved on NHS

Migraineurs Carry Twofold Risk for Depression

Migraine With Aura Associated With Incomplete Circle of Willis

Information as Important as Medication in Reducing Migraine Pain

They don't give you a headache - but 'silent migraines' can be even more shattering

Does Chewing Gum Make Migraine Headaches Worse For Teens?

How Wagner's operas held secrets of his disabling migraines and headaches

Chronic Migraine in America - results of a landmark study by Migraine.com

Wine-ding down your migraine

Woman Who Survived 4-Year Migraine To Share Photographic Journey

*FEATURED BLOG POSTS

Throw the Migraine Advocate off the Plane? 

by Ellen at Migraine.com

(Note: What happens when you are traveling with a carry-on bag of medical supplies you may need during your flight - but an airline employee says you can’t keep it with you? This is a must read piece.)

AWAP Wednesday: How do I deal with anger at my chronic illness?

by Jenni Prokopy, edtrix of Chronic Babe

Recovering your hope

by Dr. Laurie at Creaky Joints

Tuesday-Newsday #137

Time for Tuesday-Newsday! The Featured Blog Posts this week are all about living better as part of a couple, when one person has chronic 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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*CHRONIC PAIN NEWS

FDA Panel Sees No Heart-Safety Advantage With Naproxen as Compared to Other Pain Relievers

Calmare Therapy Gets Favorable Medicare Ruling

Groundbreaking Partnership Formed Between Government, Drug Companies, and Nonprofits To Develop New Treatments For Common Chronic Diseases

Chronic pain: Millions suffer, missing non-drug options

New Drug Shows Promise in Treating Neuropathic Pain

Pain threshold genes amplified by lifestyle

Scientists have identified the receptor in cells of the peripheral nervous system responsible for our ability to sense cold; it also illuminates a mechanism that mediates how the body experiences intense stimuli that can cause pain

Love in the Time of Chronic Illness: When should you disclose medical conditions to a date? When is illness too much for a relationship to survive?

A Resource Guide for College Students Living with Chronic Health Issues

video: Why we should change the way we look at chronic pain 

*JUVENILE ARTHRITIS (JRA / SJIA)

Biologic an Effective First Therapy for Systemic JIA: Anakinra shows promise for children with the most serious form of juvenile arthritis

Systemic JIA May Soon Get Fourth Biologic: Rilonacept found to be effective against this serious form of juvenile arthritis

Recent Advances in Medicine Lead to Better Health for Children With Juvenile Arthritis

Aggressive Combination Therapy Helps Children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Achieve Inactive Disease Faster

New Tools in Juvenile Arthritis Treatment Help Children, Their Families and Their Rheumatologists Share in Important Health Care Decision Making

Potential markers for severity of childhood arthritis

The Loneliness of Chronic Illness: My Battle With Arthritis and Depression (starting at age 10)

new site: Arthritis Introspective: Our mission is to improve lives through wellness education, empowerment & local support groups

*PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS

Psoriatic Arthritis Likely to Return Without Meds: Disease often recurs when people in remission stop their medications

Aggressive, early intervention with disease-modifying drugs improves outcomes for psoriatic arthritis patients

Infliximab dose escalation optimized durability in psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis patients

Organizations Announce Psoriasis Registry

The Psoriatic Arthritis Race: Otezla expected to get FDA approval in March

U.K. Psoriatic and Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Waiting “Unacceptable” Times for Referral in NHS

*LUPUS

New Genetic Clue to Lupus Is Found

Low Vitamin D Linked With Worse Lupus

New hope for lupus screening and treatment

Malaria drug combo could help prevent pregnancy complications in lupus patients

Epratuzumab decreased corticosteroid use and increased quality of life in lupus patients

Headaches in lupus patients were not linked to disease severity

*FEATURED BLOG POSTS

--13 Romantic At Home Date Ideas for Valentine’s Day

--Your Marriage is a Story  

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

--23 Tips For Men on Supporting a Partner with Chronic Pain
by Pete Beisner

Tuesday-Newsday #136

Time for Tuesday-Newsday! The Featured Blog Posts this week all are connected to building a relationship with your doctors and also not being intimidated by the white coat.

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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*CHRONIC PAIN NEWS

Excellent interview: A Nation in Pain: America’s Hidden Epidemic

More than 100 million American adults live with chronic pain—most of them women. What will it take to bring them relief?

Stanford chemist joins with radiologists to locate source of pain – with help from newts

Researcher studies pain pathways to migraine attack: Paves the way to discovering new interventions for those experiencing intense, chronic pain

*MEDICATION NEWS

Study Identifies Three Specific Painkiller Addiction Triggers

FDA: Aleve may be safer on heart than other NSAIDs

Ibuprofen, Aleve Won't Raise Miscarriage Risk: However, NSAIDs should not be taken in third trimester of pregnancy

FDA: Use Sicker Patients in Clinical Trials

Better Package Design Prevents Drug Errors

*PATIENT NEWS

Doctors' dress code aims to halt nasty germs

Healthy or TMI? The rise of the 'biometric selfie'

Make Your End-of-Life Decisions Now: at some point you might not be able to

New analysis suggests that most clinical studies on vitamins flawed by poor methodology

*OSTEOARTHRITIS

A high blood pressure pill (Spironolactone) could offer a cheap and safe way to ease osteoarthritis patients’ suffering without the dangerous side-effects of some painkillers 

New guidelines more cautious on Acetaminophen (Paracetamol) for OA

Osteoarthritis Medicine Delivered On-Demand

Marijuana for Arthritis Pain: New Animal Study Explains Why

Could a synthetic, cannabis-like compound soothe arthritis pain?

Acupuncture Reduces Knee Osteoarthritis Pain - New Study

Laser 'acupuncture' can slash the crippling pain of arthritis, study finds

The seven dimensions of osteoarthritis pain

Topical Diclofenac 2% (Pennsaid) for Knee OA Pain Clears FDA

Study: Ginger is better than drugs

Killing Knee Pain with Stem Cells   --  Research Summary   --  In-Depth Interview

Stem Cell Therapy Following Meniscus Knee Surgery May Reduce Pain, Restore Meniscus

Older men who ignore knee pain risk worse problems

Study Questions Value of Common Knee Surgery: Procedure to repair a torn meniscus worked no better than a fake one to ease lingering pain

Dorothy's Fight: Figure Skating Legend Facing Down Arthritis & Depression

--Read more: HERE

Football Legend Joe Montana Tackles Arthritis: The quarterback won four Super Bowls is now raising awareness about arthritis and life with the condition

10 Percent of U.S. Adults Physically Limited by Arthritis: CDC: Experts say obesity epidemic has widened the pool of disabled

Yoga 'can ease pain of arthritis': Studies finds exercise can provide physical relief and reduced depression linked to condition

'Chemical Signaling' Could Cure Osteoarthritis, Joint Pain By Simulating Exercise

Osteoarthritis May Raise Heart Disease Risk: But inactivity, obesity and inflammation could also be playing a role

Joint surgery 'can lower heart disease risk for osteoarthritis patients'

What Patients Need to Know About Revision Surgery After Hip or Knee Replacement

Osteoarthritis Patients Will Benefit from Exercise That Strengthens Bones

Effectiveness of joint protection education in management of osteoarthritis of the hand

*COMPLEX REGIONAL PAIN SYNDROME (CRPS) / RSD

Conference for Individuals with CRPS, friends, family, and caregivers - Integrated Solutions to CRPS

Researchers Continue To Look for Basic Understanding of CRPS Causes

Researchers Close in on Causes of CRPS

How to Apply for Disability Benefits with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

How a small injury released huge pain: one girl's story

*FEATURED BLOG POSTS

Doctors are people too! Here’s how to start building better relationships - AWAP Wednesday

by Jenni Prokopy at Chronic Babe

Building a Working Relationship with Your Doctor

by Laura at Chronically Positive

Don’t Be Intimidated in the Doctor’s Office: Six Strategies

by Toni Bernhard

Tuesday-Newsday #135

Time for Tuesday-Newsday! The Featured Blog Posts this week are “10 Strategies to Combat Patient Burnout”, “Pissed off? Now what? On Anger and Advocacy”,  and “’But You Look So Good’…A Choice to Live Transparently.”

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

ALERT: Pharmacists Report Delays in Getting Opioids

ALERT: Crack down on pain killers forcing shortage at pharmacies

Synthetic Pot Tied to Surge of Emergency Cases

Marijuana poisoning on the rise in pets

Patients Suffering from Chronic Pain Should Question Certain Tests, Treatments

Not all FDA-approved drugs get same level of testing: Evidence behind some drugs & devices often has major limitations

FDA Cracks Down on Illegitimate Online Pharmacies

Waiting Worthwhile When Gauging Transforaminal epidural steroid injection TFESI’s Effectiveness

New Medical Device That Could Change the Course of Medicine as We Know It, Allows for Vaporization of Medicines Directly into the Lungs

FDA halts drug imports from India's Ranbaxy plant

*CHRONIC PAIN NEWS

Are you still exercising, even with chronic pain, illness or injury?

Laughter Relieves Pain; Sleep Clears Mental Clutter

Brain Uses Serotonin to Perpetuate Chronic Pain Signals in Local Nerves

Innate channel identified that protects against pain

Training your brain using neurofeedback

*RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Persistent early rheumatoid arthritis disease activity 'linked to worse outcomes'

Side Effects of Methotrexate May Hit Before Tx Even Starts

J&J petitions FDA to require "similar" names for biosimilars, biologics

GHLF Submits Letter to FDA Requesting Distinguishable Names for Biosimilars

Decline in Rates of Joint Surgery May Be Due to Better Disease Control

Women with RA and a Certain Antibody at Risk of Earlier Death: A new study highlights the importance of early, aggressive treatment

Breastfeeding Lowers Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Surgical Infection Rate Higher with RA Drugs

Shoulder Replacement Eases Pain, Improves Motion in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Rheumatoid Arthritis Research Shows Potential of Large-Scale Genetic Studies for Drug Discovery

Ultrasound Helps Guide Arthritis Treatment

When RA Makes Work Unworkable: For rheumatoid arthritis patients, keeping a job can be a challenge — or even impossible

Are Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Better Off?

Depression higher than previously reported in people with severe rheumatoid arthritis

RA Patients See Big Boost in Quality of Life: Dutch study found substantial drops in anxiety, depression and disability over 2 decades

Gut Bacteria Linked to Rheumatoid Arthritis

Study finds relationship between rheumatoid arthritis and weather conditions 

Mum who can't lean down to pick up baby warns: Catch arthritis early to save your joints

Christine’s top ten tips for living life with RA: Or how to live your life with arms wide open even if they ache

*FEATURED BLOG POSTS

10 Strategies to Combat Patient Burnout

by Martine Ehrenclou 

Pissed off? Now what? -- On Anger and Advocacy

by Advocacy Joe at Creaky Joints

“But You Look So Good”…A Choice to Live Transparently

by Laura Morris of Chronically Positive

Tuesday-Newsday #134

Time for Tuesday-Newsday! The Featured Blog Posts this week are “Survivor’s Guilt, Traumatic Events and Chronic Pain”, “Someone Like Me: Tips to Maintain Relationships,” and “How can I be a good friend if I have unpredictable chronic illness?”

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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*CHRONIC PAIN NEWS

Sensitivity to pain linked to differences in brain structure

Living with chronic pain through pain management psychotherapy

MRI Stimulator: Managing Pain

When the independent medical review is hardly independent

Rare Disease Day is coming up on February 28th: Find out more

Brain fog: Can’t Think Clearly? Blame Your Immune System

*MEDICATION NEWS

FDA Asks Doctors to Limit the Amount of Acetaminophen in Prescription Meds Because of Reports of Severe Liver Damage from Accidental Overdoses

‘Smart’ Hydrogels Could Treat Pain

Multiple medication use 'not always hazardous,' say researchers

Certain painkillers can intensify pain by causing a short-circuit in a molecular switch

Pain medication bill to protect New Jersey pain patients advances in legislature

Will Docs Write Rx for Apps?

As Compounding Law Passes, Split Views Persist

The Disturbing Side Effect Of Ambien, The No. 1 Prescription Sleep Aid

*OPINION: PATIENTS SPEAK ON CONTROL OF PAIN MEDICATION

Opioids: Friend, Foe or… Neither?

by Lene

Walgreens is Ruining My Life

by John McCampbell

Medication Jeopardy

by Carol Jay Levy

*PEDIATRIC PAIN

New Guideline on Opioid Withdrawal in Children

Developing safe and effective drugs to relieve chronic pain in kids

How to help kids handle pain and discomfort

Parents' attitude linked to kids' chronic pain

How to be a Teenager and Cope with Chronic Illness Offers coping skills for dealing with parents, friends and caregivers

For some young patients at Children’s National, pain is an all-too familiar companion

Chronic Illness and Education – Helping Teens Soar An inspiring look at how to help teens with chronic illness not only to survive but thrive in the school setting

Hospital offers hope for teens with mysterious, excruciating pain: Amplified Musculoskeletal Pain Syndrome

Packard Children's care teams train brain to defeat pain of CRPS

Behavioral Therapy Might Ease Kids' Migraine Symptoms: Those trained to cope with pain report less disability a year later, study finds

Thalidomide May Help Kids With Crohn's Disease: Drug previously tied to birth defects helped induce remission in children with difficult-to-treat disease

SickKids Pain Squad app named "Best in the World"

*MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

FDA Rejects MS Drug Lemtrada

France Approves Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Based On Cannabis (Sativex)

Low Levels of Vitamin D Worsen MS

Clinical trial of vitamin' D for multiple sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Study Fundraising Effort: Still Seeking Patients for Trial

TB Vaccine May Work Against Multiple Sclerosis: Study: More brain lesions seen in people who got dummy injection

Oxygen therapy: Fresh air relief for multiple sclerosis patients

Antioxidant Has Promise in MS

Study Shows Moderate Exercise Relieves MS Fatigue Symptoms And Improves Quality Of Life

Why Noise Can Be a Pain in Multiple Sclerosis

Cold As Well As Heat Aggravates Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms In Some Individuals

Contrast Agent Linked With Brain Abnormalities On MRI

Patients With MS May Be at Increased Risk of Developing Cancer

MS and Alcohol: Study Sheds New Light On Multiple Sclerosis Patients & Problem Drinking

MS patient to take part in pioneering experiment using stem cells

Major Advancements Made in 2013 Toward Treating and Understanding MS Reports National Multiple Sclerosis Society

*FEATURED BLOG POSTS

Survivor’s Guilt, Traumatic Events and Chronic Pain

by Cassandra Russom

Someone Like Me: Tips to Maintain Relationships

by Colleen Sullivan

AWAP Wednesday: How can I be a good friend if I have unpredictable chronic illness?

by Jenni Prokopy, Editrix at Chronic Babe

Tuesday-Newsday #133

Time for Tuesday-Newsday! The three Featured Blog Posts this week are “Counting Your Blessings: How Gratitude Improves Your Health”, “10 tips from 10 years sick”, and “Helping Others Understand 'Invisible' Illness: What's Enough But Not too Much?”

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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*CHRONIC PAIN NEWS

Differences in brain structure in patients with distinct sites of chronic pain

When pain therapies fail: Growing field of interventional pain management offers hope for patients when conventional therapies don't work

Sleep On It: Improving Sleep Even When You Hurt

Talking with Children About Your Pain: Practical Advice for Parenting with Pain

Parenting Through Chronic Physical Pain: Studies say that when parents are in pain, children suffer. I push my body as hard as I can

What Fibromyalgia Teaches Us About Chronic Pain

NASA’s Inflatable Treadmill Relieves Pain Of Working Out

Love in the Time of Chronic Illness: When should you disclose medical conditions to a date? When is illness too much for a relationship to survive?

*MEDICATION NEWS

ACLU Sues over Drug Testing Pain Patients: Sues in state of Indiana to challenge the constitutionality of mandatory testing

Feds Planning New Crackdown on Painkillers as Part of a Major Overhaul of Medicare Advantage and Part D Prescription Drug Programs

Painkiller study helps tackle national headache of legal drugs addiction

Scientists have discovered how salt acts as a key regulator for drugs used to treat a variety of brain diseases including chronic pain and depression

Half Of A Drug's Power Comes From Thinking It Will Work

*PATIENT NEWS

Five important questions every patient needs to ask about ANY treatment option

Drug shortages still have major impact on patient care

Unexpected diagnosis: Some medical tests may be harmful to your health

Doctor Visits Via Skype, Could This Be The Future Of Medicine?

What Yoga Can and Can't Do for You: Sure, it's a stress-buster, but it also helps with anxiety, depression, insomnia, back pain and other ills, experts say

*FEMALE PAIN CONDITIONS

Acupuncture Eases Endometriosis Pain - New Study

Pesticide exposure linked to increased endometriosis risk

March on Washington to raise awareness for endometriosis

Viagra Might Help Relieve Severe Menstrual Cramps

Uterine Fibroids Take Heavy Toll on Women, Survey Finds: But many delay seeing doctor for years because of concerns about treatments

Cleveland Clinic Voices Concerns Over Potential Cancer Risks of Fibroid Surgery

Interstitial Cystitis may be considered a chronic inflammatory disease

Urine Tests Don't Always Confirm Urinary Infections: Doctors can rely on symptoms to start treatment, experts say

Bladder pain syndrome is very painful, can take a long time to diagnose

New Ultrasound Device - PainShield® - Significantly Reduces Pain in Chronic Pelvic and Interstitial Cystitis Pain Patients

The invisible varicose veins that cause pain in your pelvis

Women’s pelvic pain often goes underreported, untreated

Woman Finds Relief from Chronic Pelvic Pain (CPP) after Nearly Two Decades

Comprehensive, Nonsurgical Treatment Improves Pelvic Floor Dysfunction in Women

*PELVIC PAIN: MEN and WOMEN

Men With Pelvic Pain Find a Path to Treatment Blocked by a Gynecology Board

A Fix for Stress-Related Pelvic Pain for Men and Women

Chronic pelvic pain syndrome patients prone to fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue: Men with longer symptom duration show worse severity for most symptom measures

No link found between bacteria, chronic pelvic pain: Study author says possible connection with symptom flares needs investigation

*FEATURED BLOG POSTS

Counting Your Blessings: How Gratitude Improves Your Health

by Bruce Campbell of CFIDS & Fibromyalgia Self-Help

Note from me: I kept a gratitude album myself during the holidays for the very first time - see what I wrote about it HERE

10 tips from 10 years sick

by Toni Bernhard

Helping Others Understand 'Invisible' Illness: What's Enough But Not too Much?

by Deborah A Barrett