My Pain — Orofacial Pain
Temporomandibular joint disorders, trigeminal neuralgia, phantom tooth pain and other conditions can cause excruciating pain in the head and neck. An estimated 75% of the U.S. population has experienced one or more signs or symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD).

This new section, adapted by Drs. Joseph R. Cohen and James Colt from materials by the American Academy of Orofacial Pain, offers information about various orofacial pain conditions and treatments. Read more about orofacial pain, including TMD, neuropathic pain in the head and neck, trigeminal neuralgia and the various treatment options.

What Does the Future Hold for Marijuana for Pain?
By Bill H. McCarberg, M.D.
Millions of people in the United States suffer from chronic pain, and much of that suffering cannot be relieved adequately by existing treatments. Patients are in desperate need of new pain management approaches. Cannabinoid medicines appear very promising, although the subject often is obscured by controversy, prejudice, and confusion in part because cannabinoids have some relation to the cannabis plant — also known by the slang term marijuana. Click here to read more about research into cannabinoid medicines for pain.

New Report Finds Pain Affects Millions of Americans
One in four U.S. adults say they suffered a day-long bout of pain in the past month, and one in 10 say the pain lasted a year or more, according to the government's annual, comprehensive report of Americans' health, Health United States, 2006, released in November by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics. Click here to read more results from the report.

Dealing with Stress During the Holidays
The holidays can bring out the best and the worst in people and situations. The holiday season can magnify feelings of happiness, joy, and hope — it may be easier to ignore your pain, and visiting loved ones can increase your feelings of being supported and loved. The converse is often true as well. Sadness, loneliness, guilt, frustration, and pain may seem more intense during a time when it seems like everyone else is celebrating. Click here to read some simple tips for dealing with these emotions and the added stress the holidays may bring.

Celebrex Approved to Treat Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Celebrex (celecoxib) for a the relief of the signs and symptoms of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) in patients two years of age and older. Read more about celecoxib and its role in treating JRA.

Pain in the News
News this month includes information on music and pain, acupuncture and tension headaches, a new study on using pregabalin to treat pain related to spinal cord injury, a rare gene mutation that prevents an individual from feeling pain and its implications for treating chronic pain and more. Read the latest news.