July 14, 2020

Drug Might Relieve Low Back Pain in Whole New Way

MONDAY, June 22, 2020 -- A new nonopioid pain reliever could be welcome news for people who have difficult-to-treat back pain.

Tanezumab is what's called a monoclonal antibody. And it might offer extended relief from chronic lower back pain, a large, new study finds. However, a serious side effect remains a concern.

June 29, 2020

1 in 10 Americans Uses a Prescription Painkiller: CDC

WEDNESDAY, June 24, 2020 -- Americans continue to look to the medicine cabinet for pain relief, with 1 in 10 using some type of prescription painkiller, a new U.S. government report says.

But use of prescription opioid painkillers leveled off from 2015 to 2018, while prescriptions for nonopioid pain meds rose, according to the report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

June 29, 2020

Medical Pot May Help Many Battle Insomnia, Pain and Stress: Study

FRIDAY, June 26, 2020 -- More and more U.S. states are allowing marijuana to be taken as medicine, and a new study suggests that users do indeed feel better.

In a survey of nearly 1,300 people with chronic health conditions, researchers found that those using "medicinal cannabis" reported less pain, better sleep and reduced anxiety.

June 15, 2020

Are Painkillers After Childbirth a Prescription for Addiction?

MONDAY, June 8, 2020 -- Many women are prescribed opioid painkillers after giving birth, and it may in some cases lead to addiction and overdose, a new study finds.

Looking at data on more than 200,000 births in Tennessee, researchers found that nearly all women who had a C-section were prescribed an opioid like oxycodone (OxyContin). The drugs were also prescribed in 59% of vaginal births.

May 28, 2020

Could an Injected Electrode Control Your Pain Without Drugs?

THURSDAY, May 28, 2020 -- An injectable electrode could prove a better way to ease chronic nerve pain than opioid painkillers or bulky and expensive implants, animal research suggests.

It's called an "injectrode." It appears easier and cheaper than spinal implants for debilitating back pain, and safer than long-term use of opioids like OxyContin (oxycodone), a recent paper suggests.