Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Pain Management for May 2015. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
AMA: Physicians Driving the Slowing of Health Care Costs
FRIDAY, May 29, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Low physician spending is contributing to an overall slowing of health care costs, according to a viewpoint piece published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Teens More Satisfied Than Adults With Lumbar Disc Herniation Sx
FRIDAY, May 29, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Adolescent patients are more satisfied with surgery for lumbar disc herniation than younger or older adults, according to a study published in the June 1 issue of The Spine Journal.
Higher Disease Burden for Patients With Fibromyalgia
THURSDAY, May 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patients with fibromyalgia (FM) have a higher disease burden than those with chronic widespread pain (CWP), according to research published online May 16 in Pain Practice.
Vegan Diet Tied to Weight Loss, Improved Neuropathy in DM
THURSDAY, May 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A vegan diet might help patients with diabetic neuropathy lose weight and find some pain relief, a small pilot study suggests. The findings were published online May 26 in Nutrition & Diabetes.
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Electrical Acupoint Stimulation Beneficial for Heroin Addicts
WEDNESDAY, May 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Transcutaneous electric acupoint stimulation (TEAS) is associated with alleviation of withdrawal syndrome in heroin addicts, according to a study published in the May issue of Pain Medicine.
Caution Urged When Using EHR Shortcut Features
TUESDAY, May 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Caution should be exercised with use of electronic health record (EHR) documentation short cuts, according to a report published in Medical Economics.
Self-Hypnosis Training Doesn’t Cut Epidural Use
TUESDAY, May 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Self-hypnosis training does not reduce women’s epidural use during childbirth, according to a study published online May 11 in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Costs of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome on the Rise
TUESDAY, May 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The number of infants born to American mothers who are chronic opioid users is rising, as are the costs of treatment of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), researchers report. The findings were published online May 15 in the Journal of Addiction Medicine.
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Large Practices Focused on Small Selection of EHR Products
FRIDAY, May 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Sixty percent of clinicians in practices with 26 or more clinicians report use of one of 10 electronic health record (EHR) products, according to a report published by AmericanEHR Partners.
Front Desk Staff Has Key Role in Managing Practice Cash Flow
FRIDAY, May 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Three steps that can be implemented by front desk staff can help increase practices’ cash flow, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
AMA: Avoiding Distress in Medical School
FRIDAY, May 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Understanding the key drivers underlying medical students’ distress can help address the issues and enhance student well-being, according to an article published by the American Medical Association.
Complication Rate Relatively Low for Anterior Lumbar Surgery
THURSDAY, May 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing anterior lumbar surgery (ALS), complications occur relatively infrequently, with a complication rate of 14.1 percent overall, according to a review published in the May 1 issue of The Spine Journal.
Prednisone for Sciatica No Better Than Placebo
WEDNESDAY, May 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Oral prednisone is no more effective than placebo for sciatica pain and provide only modest improvement in function, researchers report in the May 19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Adherence to Mediterranean Diet Not Linked to Risk of RA
WEDNESDAY, May 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Adherence to a Mediterranean diet is not associated with incidence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in U.S. women, according to a study published in the May issue of Arthritis Care & Research.
Discovery Paves New Path for Opioid Production
TUESDAY, May 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A new study published online May 18 in Nature Chemical Biology describes all but one step of an engineered yeast pathway that can convert glucose into a “microbial factory” for producing morphine and potentially other drugs, including antibiotics and cancer therapeutics.
Pain Med Rx + Medical Cannabis Doesn’t Seem to Up Abuse Risk
TUESDAY, May 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Medical marijuana users don’t appear to increase their risk for drug or alcohol abuse if they also take prescription pain medications (PPMs), according to research published in the May issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.
Tips Provided for Doctors Who Want to Move to Private Practice
MONDAY, May 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For physicians who want to transition to private practice, several factors need consideration, including finances, legal matters, and insurance, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
Study Considers Antibiotics-First Approach to Appendicitis
THURSDAY, May 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — An antibiotics-first approach could be considered for specific patients with appendicitis, according to a case vignette published in the May 14 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Tramadol-Related ER Visits Up 2005 to 2011
THURSDAY, May 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — There was a sharp rise in the number of emergency department visits involving tramadol between 2005 and 2011, two new government reports show.
Codeine Rx for New Mothers Trending Down
TUESDAY, May 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Fewer new mothers have been prescribed codeine since public health officials warned about a rare, but potential risk of overdose for breastfeeding babies, according to study results reported in the May 12 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Guidance Offered to Help Doctors Deal With ‘Dr. Google’
TUESDAY, May 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Good communication is the key to resolving conflicts between the tests and treatment a patient may want based on online searches and those a physician believes are necessary, according to an article published online in Medical Economics.
Disc Degeneration Tied to Severe Abdominal Aortic Calcification
TUESDAY, May 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Greater abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) severity, faster AAC progression, and higher mortality are seen for older men with severe disc degeneration, according to a study published in the May issue of Arthritis & Rheumatology.
New Health Care Index Reports Increases in Consumer Costs
TUESDAY, May 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A new Health Care Index shows increases in consumer costs, according to a report published by U.S. News & World Report.
Nondisclosure Clauses Often Used in Malpractice Settlements
TUESDAY, May 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Nondisclosure clauses are frequently used in malpractice settlement agreements, according to research published online May 11 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
FDA: Senza Device Relieves Spinal Pain Without Paresthesia
MONDAY, May 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The Senza spinal cord stimulation system has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat chronic intractable pain of the trunk and/or limbs, including pain associated with failed back surgery syndrome, low back pain, and leg pain. The device can reduce pain without the paresthesia that characterizes more traditional pain-relieving methods, according to a news release issued by the agency.
AMA: Six Traits of Financially Prepared Female Physicians
MONDAY, May 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The traits of a financially prepared female physician include having a retirement portfolio that is on track or ahead of schedule for age and career stage, having a liquid emergency fund, and feeling adequately protected in the event of a disability, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Increased Risk of Neuropathy Seen With Celiac Disease
MONDAY, May 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patients with celiac disease are at increased risk for neuropathy, according to a new study published online May 11 in JAMA Neurology.
Muscle Inflammation Susceptibility Predicts THA Recovery
MONDAY, May 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Muscle inflammation susceptibility (MuIS) status seems to be able to predict recovery after total hip arthroplasty (THA), according to research published in the April 15 issue of the American Journal of Physiology, Endocrinology and Metabolism.
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Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Dz Pain Often Refractory
FRIDAY, May 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The etiology of pain in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is complex, and management of pain should be approached in a stepwise manner, according to a review published in the May issue of The Journal of Urology.
Medical Students Want to Focus Learning on Preparing for Future
THURSDAY, May 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Medical students report wanting to learn more about topics that are not currently being taught, including leadership training, health policy, health economics, and experiential learning, according to a report from the American Medical Association (AMA).
Both Omega-3, Placebo Help With Aromatase Inhibitor-Induced Pain
THURSDAY, May 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with early-stage breast cancer treated with aromatase inhibitors (AIs), arthralgia is improved with omega-3 fatty acid (O3-FA) treatment and with placebo, according to a study published online May 4 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
ACA Tied to Nearly 17 Million Gaining Health Coverage
THURSDAY, May 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — As a result of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), nearly 17 million previously uninsured Americans now have health coverage, according to a 2013 to 2015 report from the Rand Corporation.
Strategies Provided for Maximizing Payment
WEDNESDAY, May 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Physicians should use standard billing practices, including regular statements, to maximize accounts, and know that collection agencies and lawyers can help collect payment when necessary, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
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Acupuncture Effective for Post-Tonsillectomy Pain in Children
WEDNESDAY, May 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Acupuncture, in addition to conventional analgesic treatment, is an effective treatment for post-tonsillectomy pain in children, according to a study published in the June issue of Pediatric Anesthesia.
Texting Cuts Patients’ Need for Pain Meds During Surgery
WEDNESDAY, May 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Texting during minor surgery cuts the need for pain relievers among patients receiving regional anesthesia, according to a brief research report published in the April issue of Pain Medicine.
Five ‘Top Issues’ to Be Discussed at AMA Medical Student Forum
MONDAY, May 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Issues that will be at the forefront of the National Medical Student Meeting include vaccinations, health care economics, Medicaid expansion, medical education loans, and the nationwide opioid epidemic, according to a report from the American Medical Association (AMA).
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