Eliminating residents’ chronic pain not a realistic goal: Aim for quality of life, experts tell...
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 24, 2021
Even the best, multimodal treatment strategies may be only 30% effective, say the authors of a new review and pain management guide.
Surgery favored over conservative care for knee osteoarthritis, Medicare study suggests
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 10, 2021
Seniors with knee osteoarthritis had low rates of dedicated non-surgical care between 2005 and 2010, a new investigation reveals. Study findings suggest that surgery may often be used when conservative...
‘Not necessarily benign’: Geriatricians address safety as seniors turn to CBD for chronic conditions
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 29, 2021
Seniors increasingly are using cannabidiol, or CBD, to help manage a variety of chronic disease symptoms. A new paper from the Gerontological Society of America tackles key questions about safety and side...
Opioid pain relief not necessary after knee surgery, orthopedic surgeons say
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 27, 2021
Patients given a non-opioid pain regimen after knee surgery had pain scores equal to their peers who received opioids, and no difference in side effects, according to a study by orthopedic surgeons.
Also in the News for Wednesday, March 31
Mar 31, 2021
‘Pain champions’ in nursing homes spur better adoption of guidelines: study … State leaders gut proposed visitation law before passing it … Legal scholars want investigation into investigator of...
‘Pain champions’ in nursing homes spur better adoption of guidelines: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 30, 2021
Nursing home care providers were able to more smoothly adopt evidence-based pain management guidelines when they had the support of specially trained registered nurses, a study in Sweden has found.
The country line dance of pain management: One step forward, two steps back
By
Steven Littlehale
Mar 05, 2021
“Pain is whatever the experiencing person says it is.” “We just hope that you don’t say it. Oh, and we’ll likely not hear you anyway.” We credit Mary Margo McCaffery, MS, RN-BC, FAAN, a pioneer...
PT with ‘pain lessons’ helps older veterans improve their mobility
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 03, 2021
An evidence-based model of therapy increased participant engagement in their own care, resulting in better mobility, decreased pain and improved quality of life, the lead therapist said.
Neuropathic pain drugs ranked for efficacy in real-life comparison study
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 19, 2020
Among four drugs commonly used to treat unexplained neuropathic pain in seniors, two stand out as the most effective and least likely to be discontinued, physician researchers report.
Reducing pain ‘catastrophizing’ may help older adults kick sedentary behavior
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 27, 2020
Many chronic pain patients avoid physical activities that they are actually capable of doing, researchers have found. Changing thought patterns may help halt a downward pain spiral, they say.