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March-April 2008 News/Research UPDATES
 In this edition >>
> Glucosamine Unhelpful for Hip Osteoarthritis
> Injury-Related Pain Can Persist for a Year
> Guidelines For Cocaine-Related Chest Pain
> Pregabalin May Reduce Refractory Neuropathic Pain
> Buprenorphine Overdose in Young Children Reviewed
> Edema Associated with Methadone Therapy
> Cod Liver Oil May Offer NSAID-Sparing Benefits
> Back & Neck Pain Costs, Disability Rising
> Recent Drug or Device Approvals and Announcements
And, more... See News/Research Updates...>
Pain Tx GUIDELINES Updated
In this latest update, 10 new guidelines were added (look for the ‘NEW’ icons), topic headings were expanded, and all guidelines were reorganized into chronological order by publication date for easier access. This is the only consolidated listing of guidelines for pain management anywhere on the Internet. Go to the Guidelines Listings…>
NEW Current Comments - Opioids & Sex?
Opioid-Induced Sexual Dysfunction: Causes, Diagnosis, & Treatment
By: Stephen Colameco, MD, MEd; Pain Treatment Topics; April 2008.
 Sexual dysfunction is a common problem in patients with chronic pain and, ironically, long-acting opioids used on a daily basis for more than a month to help relieve pain can have adverse effects leading to sexual dysfunction. This commentary examines the causes and diagnosis of endocrine disorders related to opioid therapy. Clinical approaches for the treatment of associated sexual dysfunctions are discussed. See Article…>
Events Calendar Updated
37 new listings have been added, making this the most comprehensive calendar anywhere for those interested in pain management and related areas of specialty. Whether you need CME credits or just want to get away for an educational experience in a nice locale, See The Llistings...>
New/Updated Methadone Safety Guides
Methadone is a good choice for cancer pain and chronic noncancer pain, but special safety cautions must be observed as methadone's pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics are unique among opioids. These documents discuss the critical safety issues and provide guidance for methadone analgesia dosing, as well as special instructions for patients.
Access These Documents...>
Oral Methadone Dosing for Chronic Pain
By: James D. Toombs, MD; March 2008.
Methadone Safety Handout for Patients
By: Stewart B. Leavitt, MA, PhD; March 2008.
Keeping Patients Safe from Iatrogenic Methadone Overdoses
From: Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP). February 14, 2008.
CME Courses Updated
As part of our continuous updates at Pain-Topics.org, 36 recently-released continuing medical education (CME) courses have been added. At the same time, more than 20 course listings have been either updated or removed due to their expiration. See CME Course Listings...>
indicates courses that have been added.
Topics e-BRIEFING: Vol. 2, No. 2 - 2007
 In this edition >>
- FROM EDITOR...
Opioid Contracts: Good, Bad, or Useless?
- LANGUAGE MATTERS...
“Efficacious” Treatments Are Not Always “Effective”
- FEATURE ARTICLE...
Commonsense Opioid-Risk Management
- CURRENT COMMENTS...
Confronting the Perils of Pain Treatment
> Ziegler – Conundrums in Primary Care
> Webster – Maximizing Methadone Safety
> Tennant – Intractable Pain & Pseudoaddiction: Howard Hughes
- Recent Changes at Pain-Topics.org
Go To e-Briefings Page…>
NEW PATIENT RESOURCES of Importance...
FIBROMYALGIA offerings added...
> Fibromyalgia (from Mayo Clinic; 2008)
> What is Fibromyalgia? Fast Facts (from NIAMS; 2007)
> Fibromyalgia Factsheet (from ACR; 2006)
> Questions and Answers About Fibromyalgia (from NIAMS)
See Details...>
Pain Resource Guide: Getting the Help You Need
From: American Pain Foundation; 2007; 27 pages.
This booklet is designed to help patients take charge of their pain care. It provides important information about pain, answers to common questions, and helpful tips for getting quality pain care. In easy-to-read fashion, the booklet discusses why pain management is important, how to find pain specialists, and methods commonly used to assess and diagnose pain conditions. See Details...>
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS 
TNA is NEW Pain Treatment Topics Affiliate
The Trigeminal Neuralgia Association (TNA) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1990 by a group of patients and their spouses. The mission of TNA is to serve as an advocate for patients living with TN (Trigeminal Neuralgia) and related facial pain conditions by providing information, encouraging research, and offering ongoing support. <Click for Information>
New APF Report Addresses Opioid Analgesia Concerns
The American Pain Foundation (APF) released a new report outlining critical barriers to opioid prescribing for pain management, and calls for a more balanced consideration of the risks and benefits of these vital analgesics. A 16-page document summarizes key challenges and actionable solutions discussed by leading pain experts at a recent roundtable meeting.
<Download the REPORT>
The Pain Practitioner Special Edition - FIBROMYALGIA
This special issue of The Pain Practitioner journal focusing on fibromyalgia (FM) is designed to show exactly how real the syndrome is and how far it has come medically. An excellent compendium of 9 articles is authored by experts in the field. Topics include: advances in FM research, treatment options, treating comorbidities of FM, psychosocial aspects, and adopting integrative approaches that combine basics with innovative therapies.
<See Details and Download Journal >
IASP Global Year Against Pain in Women
The IASP (International Association for the Study of Pain) has launched its “Real Women, Real Pain 2007-2008” campaign. This is intended to draw attention to the significant impact of chronic pain on women and the lack of attention to this worldwide problem.
See details at the IASP website: <Click Here>
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Stewart B. Leavitt, MA, PhD; Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
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