“Chronic conditions” and “disability” are not just words. They can determine the funding and supports we can access, how we’re treated and how we feel about ourselves. For population data purposes, disability is defined as a limitation or impairment lasting at least six months that impacts everyday activities. Using this […]
Chronic
A New Injectable Gel May Greatly Reduce Chronic Low Back Pain
Summary: Hydrafil, an experimental injectable hydrogel appears to be safe and effective in reducing chronic lower back pain associated with degenerative disc disease. Source: Society of Interventional Radiology An experimental formulation of a hydrogel, injected into spinal discs, proved safe and effective in substantially relieving chronic low back pain caused […]
Relieving chronic low back pain with an injectable gel
The preliminary results from an experimental hydrogel injected into degenerated spinal discs are raising the prospect of a potential new treatment for the scourge of low back pain. Degenerative disc disease is the leading cause of chronic low back pain and occurs due to the accumulation of damage to the […]
When is a condition ‘chronic’ and when is it a ‘disability?’ The definition can determine the support you get
by Elizabeth Kendall, Connie Allen, Kelsey Chapman and Maretta Mann, The Conversation “Chronic conditions” and “disability” are not just words. They can determine the funding and supports we can access, how we’re treated and how we feel about ourselves. For population data purposes, disability is defined as a limitation or […]
Americans Try Many Things to Ease Chronic Back Pain
May 23, 2022 – Nearly half of all U.S. adults have back pain, and 40% say the pain limits their social activities, according to a new poll. The survey of 2,000 U.S. adults, done by OnePoll on behalf of Chirp, a company that makes devices for back pain relief, found […]
Reframe and Relieve Chronic Pain
Persistent headaches and back pain. Achy bones, especially feet and hands. Gnawing, cramping guts. Whole-body soreness. So many people live with various flavors of chronic pain, and often go months or years without finding relief. Some 20 percent of Americans are affected by chronic pain, according to the Centers for […]
Anti-inflammatory Medications Raise Risk of Chronic Back Pain in Patients
Inflammation has often been cast as a villain in medicine — and has long been tied to the sensation of pain and to painful diseases like arthritis. However, a new study of patients with low back pain or facial pain surprisingly shows that the body may need inflammation to prevent […]
Can Virtual Reality Help Ease Chronic Pain?
Woolf was conducting his own experiment in Wall’s lab, applying painful stimuli to rats’ hind legs. The animals developed large “fields” of pain that could easily be activated months later with a light tap or gentle warmth, even in spots that weren’t being touched directly. “I was changing the function […]
Anger May Drive Certain Types of Chronic Pain
A growing body of evidence suggests that a subtype of chronic pain called nociplastic pain may be associated with unhealthy emotional regulation – particularly anger – according to a recent review. IASP Chronic Pain Subtypes The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), in a 2020 review article in […]
Psychotherapy May Be The Key to Managing Chronic Back Pain, Study Reveals
A comprehensive new study involving more than 13,000 patients suggests that the best treatments for chronic back pain should cover both physical and mental aspects – rather than concentrating solely on physical remedies. Through a systematic review of 97 previous trials covering 17 different approaches to handling chronic back […]
Chronic Low Back Pain Linked to Brain Shrinkage in Key Regions
Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is associated with reductions in brain volume in areas involved in pain processing, reports a study in PAIN®, the official publication of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP). The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer. “These findings suggest that CLBP is related to lower brain […]
Chronic Back Pain and Pain Reprocessing Therapy as a New Tool
When chronic back pain has no identifiable cause, a new type of psychological therapy might help reduce pain intensity and duration. Chronic back pain is one of the most intractable pain conditions. In the vast majority of cases, there is no single injury or clear pathology responsible for the pain.1 […]