BOSTON — While research has shown a link between chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder, not much is known about the longitudinal course of pain and PTSD during cancer treatment, according to a new study.
For Veterans, Upping Opioid Dosage Doesn’t Provide Superior Pain Relief
LITTLE ROCK, AR—More isn’t necessarily better when it comes to opioid treatment. That was the somewhat surprising finding of a study focusing on veterans with chronic pain related to arthritis, back pain, neck pain, neuropathic pain or headache/migraine. A report in...
Biofeedback Can Help Headache Pain
PORTLAND, OR - Biofeedback can be a helpful treatment for headache pain, as well as possibly other conditions such as urinary and fecal incontinence. The technique also might aid in stroke recovery, according to a literature review by a team at the VA Portland, OR,...
Early Pain Experience with TKA Affects Longer Term Results
BIRMINGHAM – What is the pain experience after total knee arthroplasty and how does it affect outcome six to 12 months later? That is the question raised in an article in JAMA Network Open. The Birmingham, AL, VAMC and University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers...
Early Use of Regional Anesthesia Provides Sustained Pain Benefits
When integrated into combat casualty care, early use of regional anesthesia appears to provide sustained pain benefits throughout rehabilitation and recovery.
Service Factors Affecting Pain Reports in Gulf War Veterans
SAN DIEGO — Headaches and other type of pain are frequent complaints among veterans of Gulf War I (1990-91) and Post-Gulf War I (1992-2015), according to a new study.
Menopausal Symptoms Increase Long-Term Opioid Use Risk
Unrecognized by many in healthcare is that the greatest increases in long-term opioid use and opioid-related overdose mortality in recent years have been among women in midlife.
Best Pain Rating Scales for Cognitively Impaired Veterans
Cognitive-behavioral impairment can be intensified by pain in traumatic brain injury patients and impede rehabilitation efforts
Virtual Reality Tested for Phantom Limb Pain in Veteran Amputees
SAN DIEGO—Virtual reality appears to be a feasible way to treat phantom limb pain at the VA, according to a small new study. The report in Pain Medicine sought to describe the development of a virtual reality treatment for phantom limb pain and phantom sensations...
VA Researcher Helps Develop Promising New Pain Drug
NEW ORLEANS—A new drug with less risk for addiction and overdose compared to currently available opioid medications is showing promise, according to a recently published research article. The drug, developed at Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System and...
Rural Veterans Prescribed More Long-Term Opioids
IOWA CITY, IA—Rural veterans received significantly more opioid prescriptions from the VA than those in urban areas, and that could be behind some of the drug problems in less-populated areas, according to a new study. The study in Military Medicine pointed out that...
Effectiveness of Topical Pain Creams Questioned in Military Study
BALTIMORE, MD – Extremely high payouts from federal health insurance plans for prescription topical pain creams or gels led Congress to mandate a study on the effectiveness of the products. The new study published in Annals of Internal Medicine reports that no...
Combat Prehospital Analgesia Agents Have Changed in Last Decade
Over time, Tactical Combat Casualty Care) guidelines regarding prehospital analgesia agents have changed, according to a new review.
VAMCs Vary Greatly in Opioid Prescribing Practices
Pain care practices at VHA facilities vary widely, possibly contributing to veterans’ likelihood of using opioids.
Navy Program Helps Injured Recruits Get Through Boot Camp
When Navy recruits have injuries preventing them from participating in intense physical conditioning, they usually are pulled out of boot camp training and receive treatment that includes daily physical therapy, pain medications and psychoeducational groups.
Which Veterans Likeliest to Use Drug Alternatives for Pain?
Effectiveness of nonpharmacological pain treatment modalities (NPMs) is supported by strong evidence, but not enough is known about the prevalence or correlates of NPM use, according to a new study.
Acupuncture Generally Effective for Chronic Pain in Military
FORT BRAGG, NC — While acupuncture is characterized as an alternative or complementary medicine with a low complication rate and minimal side effects, questions remain on whether acupuncture is an effective treatment for chronic pain. A study published in the...
Veterans’ Chronic Pain: Opioids No More Effective Than Other Medications
MINNEAPOLIS — The VA has struggled to reduce the use of opioids in chronic pain patients over the long term, primarily because of concerns about risk of addiction and other adverse effects. A new veterans study provides another good reason: The therapy really...
VA Hospitals First to Publicly Report Opioid Prescribing Rates
In January, the VA became the first hospital system in the United States to publicly post opioid prescribing rates.
Long-term Opioid Prescribing Declines in VHA, Bucking National Trend
Extended Prescribing Dropped from 9.5% in 2012 to 6.2% in 2016
By Brenda L. Mooney
IOWA CITY, IA—Long-term prescribing of opioid painkillers is on the decline at the VA, in contrast to what appears to be happening outside of federal medicine.
MHS Leads the Way With Alternative Remedies for Pain, Mental Health
The military health system has taken a leading position with the availability and usage of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)W.
Post-Menopausal Veterans Frequently Prescribed Long-term Opioid Therapy
The VA has focused on reducing the risk of opioid abuse and addiction by issuing guidance that strongly recommends against the use of the painkillers for chronic pain since the implementation of the Opioid Safety Initiative in 2013.
