NEURON MEMORY KEY TO TAMING CHRONIC PAIN
Neuron Memory Key to Taming Chronic Pain
Released: 2/13/2012 2:00 PM EST 
Source: McGill University

Study Suggests Erasing Neuronal Memories May Help Control Persistent Pain

Newswise — For some, the pain is so great that they can’t even bear to have clothes touch their skin. For others, it means that every step is a deliberate and agonizing choice. Whether the pain is caused by arthritic joints, an injury to a nerve or a disease like fibromyalgia, research now suggests there are new solutions for those who suffer from chronic pain.

A team of researchers led by McGill neuroscientist Terence Coderre, who is also affiliated with the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, has found the key to understanding how memories of pain are stored in the brain. More importantly, the researchers are also able to suggest how these memories can be erased, making it possible to ease chronic pain.

to read the article, click on the link above or here!

-------------------
Managing Your Pain: How to Use Prescription Drugs Without Becoming Addicted

US NEWS & WORLD REPORT
Be smart if you take prescription opioids—and find alternative forms of relief
By January W. Payne
October 26, 2009

Michele Braa-Heidner, 47, started taking prescription painkillers in 1995, when she had her wisdom teeth removed. Soon after, she developed a painful spinal condition for which she needed several surgeries—and more medications. The drugs relieved the pain and "made me feel really good," she says. Soon, she found that she couldn't get through the day without them. "You're almost chasing that first high, [but] you never get it anymore unless you take a huge amount," she says. Michael Jackson's death has brought renewed attention to prescription drug abuse, which has long been a problem for everyday Americans as well as pill-popping celebrities. 

About 48 million people, or 20 percent of Americans over age 12, have taken prescription medications - often, the painkillers called opioids - for nonmedical reasons, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and seniors are particularly vulnerable since they often juggle many medications. Those prescription opioids cause more drug overdose deaths than heroin and cocaine combined, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. (Drowsiness, respiratory depression and arrest, nausea, confusion, constipation, sedation, unconsciousness, and coma are among the potential health consequences of abusing the drugs.) Meantime, painkiller-related admissions to state-licensed treatment centers are on the rise, according to a March report. 

But while the stories of current and former prescription opioid addicts are frightening, chronic pain experts note that addiction is relatively rare and that these drugs do offer benefits when they are properly prescribed and used. And there is certainly a need for them. More than a quarter of Americans age 20 or older—more than 76 million people—say they've experienced pain that lasted longer than 24 hours, according to the American Pain Foundation, and 42 percent of those sufferers have endured pain lasting longer than a year. For many of these people, prescription opioids like the oxycodone (commonly sold as OxyContin) and hydrocodone (sold most popularly as Vicodin) used by Braa-Heidner, as well as meperidine (sold as Demerol) and others, are very helpful. "I think the fear can be a huge barrier to proper pain control," says Paul Christo, director of the multidisciplinary pain fellowship program at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. So how should you approach using a pain medication to get the relief you need without getting hooked?

First, experts say it's best to stick with one doctor to coordinate your care; that way, she will keep tabs on all the pain medications you're taking. She may also be looking for signs of abuse. Pain specialists can monitor pill use and do urine drug testing to ward off addiction in their patients. They may also require patients to sign treatment agreements that give the doctor permission to take certain steps if he or she suspects addiction—including talking to family members about suspected abuse, says Howard Heit, a pain management and addiction medicine specialist based in Fairfax, Va.

To read the rest of this article, click here!

--------------
NATURAL PAIN RELIEF - CHRONIC PAIN SUPPLEMENTS
By R. Morgan Griffin
Reviewed by David Kiefer, MD

February 20, 2012
If you’re living with chronic pain, you may have already tried the usual treatments. You may have cycled through the drugs, like NSAIDs and opioids. Maybe you’ve even tried surgery. But you’re still in pain. Could natural pain relief with pain supplements offer an alternative? Experts say -- depending on what’s causing your pain -- supplements may help. “I think supplements can be the cornerstone of good pain management,” says David C. Leopold, MD, director of Integrative Medical Education at the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine in San Diego. “People are also looking to supplements more and more. They have less tolerance for the side effects of traditional pain medications. They want something different.” Given the heavy toll that chronic pain can take on a person’s life, getting control of your pain is key. For a better understanding of which pain supplements might help with which conditions, WebMD turned to some integrative medicine experts. Whether you’re suffering from an achy knee or nerve pain, here’s what you need to know about natural pain relief.

Understanding Chronic Pain
What sets chronic pain apart from more acute pain is its relentlessness. Acute pain fades away as the body heals from an injury. Chronic pain doesn’t. The causes of chronic pain vary -- fibromyalgia, arthritis, nerve damage, and back injuries to name a few. But in a way, the core problem is the same: pain. It’s the pain that sends people to the doctor. It’s the pain that can devastate a person’s life. Pain was once thought of as the side effect of other conditions. Now, many experts see chronic pain as a condition in itself that needs its own treatment. Still, for the average person, getting the right treatment isn’t easy.  

“Unfortunately, the conventional medical treatment of chronic pain still isn’t very good,” says Leopold. Perhaps the treatment doesn’t work well and the pain is still interfering with your life. Or maybe the side effects are too severe. Opioid painkillers can cause sedation, constipation, and a risk of addiction. NSAID painkillers -- from over-the-counter drugs like Advil to prescription medicines like Celebrex -- pose a danger of bleeding, stomach problems, and cardiovascular risks

Natural Pain Relief: Pain Supplements
Natural pain relief offers an alternative. But given that there are so many pain supplements lining the shelves of your drugstore, it’s hard to know where to start. Here’s a rundown of the chronic pain supplements that our experts thought were most important. 

Read the rest of this article...