Pediatric Pain
Research has shown that children experience pain at a much higher level
than previously thought. Indeed, studies estimate that nearly half of children
ages 10 to 18 years old will suffer from a pain condition that lasts three
months or longer. The articles in the National Pain Foundation's
Pediatric Pain section will help you and your family learn more about
pediatric pain conditions and the various ways to help manage a child's pain.
New Survey Indicates Majority of Americans in Pain
As part of its ongoing mission to improve quality of life for those
living with pain, the National Pain Foundation recently sponsored a Harris
Interactive survey of U.S. adults to measure the incidence and types of pain
they experienced during the last 12 months. The results of this survey highlight
the ongoing need for reliable information and support for people living with
pain and their loved ones so that they can make informed decisions about their
care. Click here to read more.
The Danger of Misinformation in Medical Reporting
By Richard L. Stieg, MD, MHS
Those of us who treat people living with pain have always known that
educating the public, as well as the medical profession, is critical. Ignorance
about persistent pain as a disease is a major roadblock for its victims. A
misinformed public is less likely to provide the financial and professional
resources needed to combat the serious public health issue of pain. A disturbing
trend in the press in covering medical topics is the tendency to focus on
controversy and/or the negative. One of the most glaring examples of biased
reporting appeared in the New York Times on January 14, 2008, in the
article, "Drug Approved. Is Disease Real?" by Alex Berenson.
Click here to read
more. To contact the New York Times and write a letter to the editor,
click here.
Why
Pain Medication Use is Really on the Rise
By Albert Ray, MD
Over the years, confusion and misinformation surrounding the use of
opioids has contributed to the already significant problem of under-treating
pain in the more than 70 million Americans who live with it daily. Most
recently, a national news media report on federal drug prescription data
concluded that retail sales of five commonly prescribed pain medications have
almost doubled over the last eight years. While attention-grabbing, these kinds
of reports do not provide the full story about the role of pain medication in
treating chronic pain.
Using Guided Imagery to Help Relieve Chronic Pain —
An Interview with Dr. Marty Rossman
Guided imagery teaches you to use your imagination to reduce stress, relieve pain, and stimulate healing responses in your body. It can be a powerful tool in helping persons in pain lessen their pain and stress, take a more active role in their treatment, and regain a feeling of control.
Read an interview with an expert on using guided imagery to help people living with chronic pain.
The Fibromyalgia Handbook — Book Review by Dr. Richard Stieg
This book is now in its third edition (2003) which speaks well about its usefulness and popularity. Although there are some newer sources of information and some new data about medicines (e.g., the FDA just approved the drug Lyrica for the treatment of fibromyalgia), this book remains largely up to date and should be in the library of every fibromyalgia patient and every health care practitioner who treats them. It is an easy and very practical read.
Read more about The Fibromyalgia Handbook.
Pain in the News
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