E News!
Whiplash Outcome: Do Most Patients Recover in 6-12 Weeks?
Although the provenance remains obscure, the notion that whiplash injuries usually heal within 6-12 weeks has somehow become firmly rooted in the medicolegal community. Over the years this myth has been served well by those eager to mollify insurers, usually in a rather thinly veiled attempt at self-promotion. Some of the more recent "experts" now frequently, and erroneously, cite the Mercy Conference Guidelines as the source of this data. However, try as I might, I have never discovered any scientific evidence to support this belief.
For the Complete Article go to http://www.chiroweb.com/archives/14/09/03.html
Whiplash and Temporomandibular Disorders
Category: Doctor Education Authors: Dennis Steigerwald, D.C., and Arthur Croft, D.C., M.S., et al. Publisher: Keiser Publishing, 1617 Neptune St., Encinitas, CA 92024 Publication: 415 pages, hardcover
The Temporomandibular joint is susceptible to injury during whiplash as the head moves into extension. This was brought to our attention by Drs. Foreman and Croft in their book, Whiplash Injuries. Now Dr. Croft has teamed up with Dr. Dennis Steigerwald and a host of contributing authors to bring us a book on Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) as they relate to whiplash. It covers diagnosis and treatment protocols for this specific injury
For the Complete Article go to http://www.chiroweb.com/archives/11/07/31.html
Traumatic Disc Injury and the Acceleration of Disc Disease and Spondylosis
Although clinicians have long made the connection between the development of spondylosis in the cervical spine and various forms of trauma, it was Mason Hohl, MD, who first analyzed the long term effects of trauma (whiplash in this case) on the cervical spine.1 In this classic work it was demonstrated that patients injured in such accidents develop spondylosis approximately six times more frequently than age and gender-matched controls, and in cases where a loss of consciousness was reported, these patients were 10 times more likely to develop such degenerative changes. Conversely, other authors have found that patients with pre-existing spondylosis generally fared worse in whiplash (cervical accerlation/deceleration) injuries.2,3 In 1993, Robinson and Cassar-Pullicino published a paper based on the long-term outcome of whiplash trauma finding that after more than 10 years, 86 percent of the subjects were still symptomatic.4 However, they concluded that neck sprain did not lead to cervical spondylosis. Unfortunately, their method for arriving at this conclusion was flawed. The patients' radiographs were compared to normative data rather than their own radiographs
For the Complete Article go to http://www.chiroweb.com/archives/13/01/03.html
Major Study Will Assess Painkiller Detox
Addiction to opioids such as OxyContin is rampant across U.S., experts say
FRIDAY, July 13 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. researchers are launching the first large-scale national study to evaluate a treatment for addiction to prescription opioid painkillers, such as OxyContin and Vicodin.
The study, which is funded by the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), will assess the effectiveness of buprenorphine/naloxone tablets (brand name Suboxone), along with different types of drug counseling, in 648 patients. The study will be conducted at New York University Medical Center, New York City, in partnership with Bellevue Hospital Center, as well as at 10 other sites across the country.
Several of the study sites are located in rural areas with especially high rates of prescription painkiller abuse.
The patients will receive Suboxone for one month at the start of the study. The dose will then be tapered off as part of a detoxification process. Patients who go two months without abusing painkillers will have completed the study.
Patients who relapse may be eligible to go back on Suboxone for three more months, with their dose tapered off in the fourth month. They would then be followed for two months.
Half of the patients in the study will also be enrolled in an intensive individualized drug counseling program when they get their Suboxone prescriptions. The other half of the patients will receive a brief drug counseling session from their doctors.
"Opioid analgesics were designed to help people in pain, and we want to be sure that those who require them for legitimate reasons can continue to effectively manage their pain," NIDA director Dr. Nora D. Volkow said in a prepared statement. "However, we must also recognize the risk of addiction to pain medications and develop treatments for those who become addicted to them. This trial is an important first step in reaching that goal."
The 2005 U.S. National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that 2.2 million people aged 12 and older reported being new nonmedical users of pain relievers. That number is greater than the number of new marijuana users (2.1 million).
"Addiction to prescription painkillers has rapidly become a major problem, for which effective treatment strategies are sorely needed," Dr. Marc Gourevitch, professor of medicine, director of the division of general medicine, and principal investigator for the NYU/Bellevue site, said in a prepared statement.
More information
The U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse has more about prescription drug abuse and addiction
Concerns Over Liver Damage from Pain Medications Containing Acetaminophen
Concerned over the growing rate of liver damage associated with large doses of acetaminophen, an expert panel for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended limiting the dosage of acetaminophen in over-the-counter (OTC) medications as well as urging that all combination opioid medications with acetaminophen be removed from the market. This would include medications such as Vicodin and Percocet.
APF is always concerned when access to safe, effective pain medication is threatened. The FDA has not acted on the recommendation from the panel. Right now, combination opioid medications are still available. APF will monitor for further FDA actions. In the meantime, APF encourages you to speak to your healthcare provider to determine if you are taking too much acetaminophen.
To explain how these medications could increase the risk of liver damage and what options are available if you are taking any of these products, read APF’s Question and Answer Sheet>>
Dr. Scott Fishman, President of the Board of APF recently appeared on the News Hour with Jim Lehrer to explain the concerns and the risks involved with OTC acetaminophen and prescription pain medications containing acetaminophen. View here. APF has been following the FDA’s concerns over acetaminophen products and issued a position statement last April on the FDA’s ruling to label acetaminophen products. Read position statement>>
Women's Migraines Linked to Higher Stroke, Heart Attack Risk
Middle-aged and older women who have migraines with auras appear to have a higher risk of strokes and heart attacks than their migraine-free peers, a new study suggests.
Later-Life Brain Lesions Found in Migraine-Prone Women
Middle-aged women who suffered migraine headaches accompanied by sensory disturbances or difficulty speaking (aura) had higher incidence of brain lesions later in life, according to a study of Icelandic patients.
Study Pinpoints Links of Depression with Chronic Pain
It is well known that chronic pain and clinical depression go together, but a study in The Journal of Pain, published by the American Pain Society, shows that the connection between pain and depression is strongest in middle-age women and African Americans.
Protecting Your Job While Coping With a Chronic Illness
Workers with chronic illnesses face chronic uncertainty, forced to worry not only about their health but about their jobs as well.
Best Sleep Positions To Rid Aches, Pains
Senior editor for magazine shares the best ways to sleep to alleviate or prevent sleep-related pains.
A Misguided 'War on Drugs'
Anything goes in the “war on drugs,” or so it seems. Governments around the world have used it as an excuse for unchecked human rights abuse and irrational policies. This has caused tremendous human suffering. It also undermines drug control efforts.
Consumer Reports Insights: Relief for Aching Backs
About 80 percent of U.S. adults have at some point been bothered by back pain. The Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center recently surveyed more than 14,000 subscribers who had lower-back pain in the past year but had never had back surgery.
American Pain Society Honors UCLA’s Pediatric Pain Program with Excellence in Pain Management Award
The Pediatric Pain Program at Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA was honored with the Clinical Centers of Excellence in Pain Management Award by the American Pain Society (APS) at the organization’s 28th Annual Scientific Conference in San Diego, CA.
Ultrasound-Guided Treatment Effective in Rotator Cuff Tendonitis
A nonsurgical, ultrasound-guided needle treatment relieves pain and restores mobility for patients with calcific tendonitis of the rotator cuff, researchers said.
CDC Warns of Fall Hazard with Canes and Walkers
Canes and walkers used to prevent falls are themselves associated with more than 47,000 serious injuries each year among older adults, the CDC warned. Fractures and bruises or scrapes were the most common injuries.
Fibromyalgia Patients Show Decreases in Gray Matter Intensity
Previous studies have shown that fibromyalgia is associated with reductions in gray matter in parts of the brain, but the exact cause is not known. Researchers from Louisiana State University, found that alterations in levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine might be responsible for gray matter reductions.
Spinal Cord Stimulation for Pain Problems May Allow Soldiers to Be Deployed
Electrical spinal cord stimulation (SCS) provides an option for military personnel with back pain and other chronic pain conditions—in appropriate cases, allowing soldiers to return to combat and other strenuous duties, according to a study in the July issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, official journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS).
Pain, Fatigue, and Health-Related Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents with Chronic Pain (ABSTRACT)
Findings demonstrated that fatigue is a significant problem for many youth with chronic pain and may be an important target for clinical intervention
Chronic Opioid Therapy Risks Hypopituitarism
Chronic opioid therapy significantly increases the risk of multiple hormonal deficiencies that warrant evaluation, according to data from small retrospective study reported here.
Spouse Beliefs about Partner Chronic Pain (ABSTRACT)
This study describes a new measure that can be used to assess significant others' beliefs about their partners' pain problems.
Sex, Gender and Pain: A Review
Women are at greater risk for many prevalent pain conditions. They also endure more postoperative and procedural pain with practice/research suggestions made.
Cupping Therapy Alleviates Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Pain
A German study published in The Journal of Pain showed that an external suction technique mainly used outside the U.S., called cupping, is effective for providing temporary relief of pain from carpal tunnel syndrome (CPS).
Tai Chi May Ease Arthritis Pain
Tai Chi may reduce pain and improve disability in patients with arthritis, researchers found.
