Healthcare News
Patients on Opioids OK With Lower Doses
Even patients who have taken high doses of opioid painkillers for long periods of time aren't unhappy with their care when their doctor lowers their dose, new research suggests.
Tuning out arthritis pain with radio energy
A noninvasive treatment for knee arthritis has been developed that uses cooled radio energy to target and interrupt pain signals. Known as “Coolief,” the procedure can provide several months of relief from chronic arthritis pain for patients for whom surgery is not an option.
Opioid tapering may improve outcomes for chronic pain sufferers
Dose reduction may improve pain, function, and quality of life for patients prescribed long-term opioid therapy for chronic pain. Results of a systematic evidence review are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Coping with Chronic Knee Pain
Knee injuries are so common partly because of how complex the joint is. The knee is the joint where the thighbone, shinbone, and kneecap (patella) connect. In addition to these bones, the knee includes cartilage, ligaments, menisci and tendons.
Worse pain outcomes after knee replacement for patients who took opioids before surgery
Six months after knee replacement surgery, pain outcomes were not as good for patients who previously took prescription opioids, according to a study in the May 17 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.