March 2012

Opioid analgesics are commonly prescribed for patients suffering with migraine, despite concerns over the risk of addiction, dependence, medication-overuse headache, and other factors.

Studies show that treatment with transdermal buprenorphine is associated with improvements in measures of pain intensity in patients with chronic lower back pain.

The aching, pain, and stiffness that characterize polymyalgia rheumatica are also associated with other rheumatic conditions and illnesses frequently seen in older patients, making diagnosis difficult.

A guest editorial by Cynthia Toussaint. "If the Affordable Care Act survives the impending legal challenges and is fully implemented, it will eliminate a major barrier to health care by increasing access to care for millions of Americans suffering with chronic pain."

Observers have repeatedly identified several barriers to adequate cancer pain relief and suggested areas for improvement, yet studies continue to reveal that cancer pain is often undertreated.