If you've ever experienced sciatica, you know that the pain and discomfort can be relentless. Caused by compression or irritation of nerves connected to the spine, sciatica can lead to pain, numbing, and general weakness in the lower back, buttocks, hips, and legs. ...
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a type of nerve damage that affects about half of patients with diabetes. Symptoms can be incredibly painful, and most often manifest in the legs and feet....
Neuropathic pain—a state of complex, chronic pain caused by damage or disease affecting the somatosensory nervous system—may not be fully manageable with opioid therapy alone. A study conducted by researchers from the University of Alberta and published in Pain Medicine found that while opioids do...
Doctors already know that women are three times more susceptible to migraines than men, and a new study is seeking to shine a light on one particular aspect of women's migraine affinity—increased migraine frequency and pain for women going through menopause. Vincent Martin, MD, who...
Part of well-balanced healthcare is evaluating short-term benefits against long-term potentialities. In the case of opioids, a study by Jeffrey Scherrer, PhD, et al. published in The Annals of Family Medicine shows a relationship between long durations of use and the development of new-onset depression....
Is there a connection between opioid use and low testosterone? It looks that way, according to a study recently published in Pain Medicine. Maria Soledad Cepeda, MD, PhD, et al. compared the testosterone levels of two subject groups—those who had taken prescription opioids in the...
For patients coping with chronic pain, there may be hope for relief in the burgeoning practice of spinal cord stimulation (SCS). Jeff Gudin, MD, et al. outlined the basics of SCS for Pain Medicine News, showing that SCS is a good option for patients who...
For the more than 120 million Americans who suffer from chronic pain, loss of a healthy sex life is an oft experienced but rarely discussed problem. A 2015 survey conducted by SpineUniverse.com found that 72% of back pain sufferers had sex less frequently after the...
Think of a "typical" heroin user. Now think again. According to a recently published study in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, there has been an increase in heroin abuse among whites, women, and people of high socio-economic statuses. It's a far cry from the urban street...
There's another option available for when traditional therapies fail to relieve chronic pelvic pain. Spinal Cord Stimulation––a type of neuromodulation–– is a procedure that involves placing small metal wires near the epidural space, the outermost part of the spinal canal. The wires are connected to a power...