Pain
Opioid Crackdown Leaves Cancer Patients In Pain!
Far too many people are dying from opioid overdoses. You already knew that. It’s been in the news for years. Many of the deaths are due to fentanyl. This synthetic opioid has become widely available…
Unexpected Benefits and Risks of the Moderna Vac…
When most people think of COVID vaccines, all they are interested in is how well they will protect them from being hospitalized with COVID-19. After all, that is why these shots were invented. We now …
Ibuprofen and High Blood Pressure: A Dangerous R…
Use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is on the rise (Open Heart, April 28, 2017). We're talking about drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen. Such pain relievers are perceived as quite safe…
Should You Take Turmeric to Ease Pain?
Persistent pain can really wear you down. Consequently, when people discover something that works, they like to share the good news. Some readers report relief from months of terrible discomfort by ta…
Aspirin vs. NSAIDs: Which Is Best?
Aspirin has lost its luster. There was a time when many doctors would recommend aspirin to treat minor aches and pains. People with rheumatoid arthritis were "prescribed" large doses of aspirin. The "…
War on Opioids Punishes Desperate Pain Patients
We have been reading about the horrors of opioids for decades. Americans are increasingly paranoid about drugs like codeine, hydrocodone (Lorcet, Lortab, Norco, Vicodin, etc.) and oxycodone (OxyContin…
Pain Reliever Confusion: Aspirin | Advil | Aleve…
Walk into any pharmacy and you will find an aisle devoted to pain relief. There are so many brands and generic options that it could give you a headache just trying to figure out which of the many pro…
People in Pain Are in Misery Because of the War …
Deaths from opioid overdoses have been surging. For years, the CDC has been concerned about the toll that opioid overdoses are taking. There have been reports that fentanyl and its chemical cousins ar…
Show 1290: Approaches for Managing Chronic Pain
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 50 million American suffer from debilitating chronic pain. Despite that number, in 2016 the agency issued stringent guideline…
Will CBD for Pain Make You Fail the Marijuana Te…
One lesson learned from the terrible opioid crisis of the past few years: a lot of Americans are in a lot of pain. With doctors increasingly reluctant to prescribe narcotics for pain relief, people ar…
How Do You Weigh the Benefits and Risks of Aspir…
Aspirin has been around over 100 years. It is one of the most versatile drugs in the pharmacy. It relieves pain, lowers fever and reduces inflammation. In addition, it has anti-platelet activity that …
Show 1178: Do We Need a Revolution in Managing P…
Pain is a difficult topic. To begin with, the experience of pain is completely subjective. There are no independent objective measures that doctors can use to assess a patient’s pain. They have to t…
Are People In Pain Committing Suicide For Lack o…
The opioid epidemic has been with us for decades. It has resulted in untold misery and death. The pandemic only made matters worse. Overdose deaths spiked, in part because the synthetic opioid fentany…
When PM Pain Meds Might Make Sense
We are not big fans of "PM" Pain meds. We’re talking about products such as Advil PM, Aleve PM, Excedrin PM, Motrin PM, Tylenol PM or Unisom PM. We suspect that a lot of people see a familiar brand …
Opioid Crackdown Betrays People in Pain!
We have been hearing about the opioid epidemic for so many years we have lost track. It continues. The CDC recently reported a significant uptick in drug overdoses and deaths during the pandemic. …
How Can You Manage Opioid-Induced Constipation?
Opioids have gotten a bad name over the last several years because so many users have overdosed and died. But people have been using these drugs, also known as narcotics, for millennia. The ancient As…
Can a Supplement Relieve Neuropathy Pain?
People who experience neuropathy pain tell us it can be excruciating. Sometimes this is a side effect of cancer treatment, though other individuals develop nerve pain as a consequence of taking a stat…
Gabapentin Risks for Persistent Shoulder Pain?
People in pain are suffering…not just from the pain but also from the treatments that are being offered. Opioids have developed such a terrible reputation that most physicians are reluctant to presc…
Long Lasting Shoulder Pain After Flu Shot
Getting a flu shot is supposed to be your best protection against influenza. Since September we have all been encouraged to get our flu shot. Most of the reports we have seen this year suggest that th…
Celecoxib Skin Rash Can Be Extremely Serious
Doctors frequently prescribe celecoxib (Celebrex) to relieve pain due to arthritis and other conditions. They like this nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) partly because it appears less likel…
Show 1195: Do You Need Spine Surgery?
People who have suffered with back pain for a long time may be told that spine surgery is their last resort. But far too often, spine surgery does not relieve back pain. Sometimes, people even feel wo…
Will Magnolia Compound Help You Control Pain?
Compounds used in traditional Chinese medicine are often new to Western medical science, even if they have been used for centuries. Increasingly, however, researchers are investigating these naturally…
Will Acupuncture Ease the Pain of Neuropathy?
Peripheral neuropathy, pain in the feet and legs (or occasionally even in the hands and arms), can be challenging to treat. Ideally, of course, the physician would identify what was causing the nerves…
Can Acupuncture Help Ease Your Cancer Pain?
Most people with cancer suffer from pain at some point during their illness and treatment. Oncologists do their best to alleviate this pain. However, they can't adequately control pain for about half …
Substitute Pain Relievers Appear in Suicide Atte…
Public health authorities have been working hard to control the opioid epidemic and reduce the number of people dying from narcotic overdoses. This effort has had some success, but it has also had som…
Stopping Ultracet (Tramadol + Acetaminophen) Led…
Almost everyone has heard about the opioid epidemic. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Every day, more than 130 people in the United States die after overdosing on opioids.” …
Do You Read OTC Medication Labels? You Should!
Most people play doctor without knowing the rules of the game. What we mean is that people frequently swallow pills they buy over the counter without bothering to read the instructions or the warnings…
Tramadol and Hypoglycemia: Beware Symptoms of Lo…
Tramadol has become one of the most widely prescribed pain relievers in the world. That’s because many doctors have become reluctant to prescribe opioids like hydrocodone. Physicians prescribe trama…
Can Turmeric Relieve Your Aches and Pains?
Do you have trouble getting relief for your aches and pains? Lots of people take common pain relievers like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB) or naproxen (Aleve) to manage joint and muscles discomfort. Whi…
Will Onion Juice Make a Wasp Sting Stop Hurting?
When a stinging insect inflicts its damage, what do you do to ease the pain? We've come across numerous home remedies, but one of the favorites that comes up time and again is onion. One reader made a…
Can Hornet Stings Overcome Painful Plantar Fasci…
The sole of your foot does lot of work. It carries you around all day long, walking, running, jumping or just standing in one spot. If it doesn't have adequate support, the thick band of tissue that r…
Will Cannabidiol Relieve Chronic Pain?
People with chronic pain often have difficulties trying to get relief. Doctors used to prescribe narcotics, but the opioid crisis has made many physicians reluctant to do so. NSAIDs, either prescripti…
Gabapentin and Fuzzy Thinking: A Recognized Side…
We have been writing a lot about GABA drugs like gabapentin (Neurontin) and pregabalin (Lyrica). That because a report from ISMP (Institute for Safe Medication Practices) has a QuarterWatch article: …
Are Gin-Drenched Raisins a Big Joke?
Whoever said "Getting old isn't for sissies" certainly got it right. As we age, we often accumulate aches and pains that may be attributed to arthritis. People with arthritis are faced with a horrible…
Can NSAIDs for Pain Harm Your Kidneys?
Have you taken nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like diclofenac, ibuprofen or naproxen? A recent study shows that people taking high doses of NSAIDs for pain may develop kidney problems (…
Will Rosemary and Turmeric Help Your Arthritis P…
People with arthritis pain face a difficult dilemma. Arthritis is a chronic condition, but the usual NSAID pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB) and naproxen (Aleve) should be used only …
What Is the Other Drug Epidemic?
Much has been written about the epidemic of opioid drug misuse, overdose and death. With more than 130 people dying every day in this country as a result of opioid overdose, we all have a right to be …
Special Creams Fail to Fight Pain
Americans spend hundreds of millions of dollars on specially formulated topical pain creams. Medicare Part D paid more than half a billion dollars for such prescription products in 2015. Doctors may p…
Can Mindfulness Help You Manage Chronic Pain?
People in chronic pain often feel abandoned by the medical profession, especially as physicians are cutting back on prescribing opioids. They may be interested in some nondrug approaches that could …
Seniors Swear by Marijuana Oil for Pain Relief
In an increasing number of states, the legislatures have legalized the medicinal use of marijuana. (Ten states and the District of Columbia have made recreational use legal, usually in addition to med…