25 Jun 2018
By webadmin@macmdaz.com

Stem Cell-Rich Prolotherapy and Platelet-Rich Plasma for Musculoskeletal Pain

Chronic Pain News, Regenerative medicine, Therapies & Treatments, , , ,
Many people have heard the term “platelet-rich plasma” in news stories in connection with athletic injuries, however, not all may realize that when platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is injected into and around a joint, it is actually a type of prolotherapy. In fact, PRP has been used as a formula in prolotherapy since around 2005. The approach has been shown to be effective not only for older injuries but also for recent ones, making it ideal for athletic injuries. It has also successfully been used in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) and helpful for cartilage repair. Not All Platelet-Rich Plasma Is…
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18 Jun 2018
By webadmin@macmdaz.com

Regenerative Bandage Accelerates Wound Healing

Chronic Pain News, Regenerative medicine, ,
A simple scrape or sore might not cause alarm for most people. But for diabetic patients, an untreated scratch can turn into an open wound that could potentially lead to a limb amputation or even death. A Northwestern University team has developed a new device, called a regenerative bandage, that quickly heals these painful, hard-to-treat sores without using drugs. During head-to-head tests, Northwestern's bandage healed diabetic wounds 33 percent faster than one of the most popular bandages currently on the market. "The novelty is that we identified a segment of a protein in skin that is important to wound healing,…
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29 May 2018
By webadmin@macmdaz.com

Neuroinflammation of Patients with Sciatica

Chronic Pain Conditions, Nerve Pain, ,
A study by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators has found, for the first time in humans, that patients with chronic sciatica - back pain that shoots down the leg - have evidence of inflammation in key areas of the nervous system. In their paper published in the May issue of the journal Pain, the research team reports finding that average levels of a marker of neuroinflammation were elevated in both the spinal cord and the nerve roots of patients with chronic sciatica. Additionally, the study showed an association between neuroinflammation and response to anti-inflammatory steroid injections, with levels of neuroinflammation differing…
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14 May 2018
By webadmin@macmdaz.com

TMS Protocol May Be Effective in CRPS

Chronic Pain News, Therapies & Treatments, ,
The use of a novel frequency pairing for transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) may effectively relieve upper and lower extremity pain associated with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), according to a study published in Neuromodulation. The TMS protocol used in this study consisted of initial intermittent theta bursts (ie, burst of three 50-Hz pulses every 200 ms, 2 second-long trains repeated every 10 s, total of 600 pulses, delivered at 70% of the resting motor threshold [RMT]). This was followed by a 10-Hz stimulation (duration, 10 s; intertrain interval, 30 s; total pulses, 2000; delivered at 80% of RMT). Muscle activity was monitored throughout…
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09 May 2018
By webadmin@macmdaz.com

Dr. Castillo: The Opioid Crisis

Chronic Pain News, , ,
When you look at the “Opioid Epidemic” in America it is like an elephant everyone looks at it from their point of view and uses their facts the way they want the elephant viewed. The Federal Government passed a Law, as did the State of Arizona stating that the maximum level of opioids should be ninety morphine milligram equivalents (90MME). They based this more on politics and the storyline of opioid crisis with people dying. The facts are right, but is the interpretation correct. The opioid is killing people. The first thing is some people have severe pain. The Laws…
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07 May 2018
By webadmin@macmdaz.com

Neck Pain a Migraine Symptom

Chronic Pain Conditions, , ,
Contrary to previous studies, neck pain is a symptom of migraine only, not the result of an underlying muscle dysfunction that triggers migraine attacks, according to a recent article published in The Journal of Headache and Pain. The study sought to weigh in on the scientific debate regarding neck pain in migraineurs, and whether neck muscle dysfunction could be a trigger for migraine attacks or is merely a symptom. Investigators recruited 102 participants (43 episodic migraine, 31 chronic migraine, and 28 healthy controls) and used surface electromyography to record muscle tension of the trapezius during 15 blocks of stressful experimental conditions alternated with…
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30 Apr 2018
By webadmin@macmdaz.com

Light Therapy to Treat Neuropathic Pain

Chronic Pain Conditions, Peripheral Neuropathy, Therapies & Treatments, , ,
For someone with peripheral neuropathy, even the slightest touch can cause burning, stinging or shooting pain, usually in the hands or feet. The pain is caused when the peripheral nervous system is damaged by diabetes, shingles, chemotherapy or some other medical condition. About 8% of adults worldwide suffer from some form of neuropathy. Medications prescribed to dull the pain – such as opioids, anti-depressants or gabapentin (Neurontin) -- often prove to be ineffective, don’t last long or have unwanted side effects. Scientists in Italy have now discovered an experimental way to treat neuropathy that provides pain relief for weeks at…
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26 Mar 2018
By webadmin@macmdaz.com

Rheumatoid arthritis: Scorpion venom may help

Chronic Pain Conditions, Therapies & Treatments, , ,
The Indian red scorpion is one of the most dangerous scorpions in the world. Without treatment, a sting from this creature can kill a human in just 72 hours. But it's not all bad; a compound found in its venom could help to treat one of the most common and debilitating health conditions in the United States. In a new study, researchers have revealed how iberiotoxin, one of several compounds in the deadly venom of the Indian red scorpion, stopped the progression of rheumatoid arthritis in rat models of the disease. Study leader Dr. Christine Beeton, of the Baylor College of…
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20 Mar 2018
By webadmin@macmdaz.com

Researchers ‘Hack’ Into the Brain’s Electrical Signals

Chronic Pain News, ,
A team from University of Chicago figured out a new way to use light and nanotechnology to "hack" into brain function. For decades, neuroscientists and engineers have wanted to uncover the secrets of the human brain. Pop culture and science fiction films only serve to play into the understanding of the idea that the human brain can be 'hacked'. But one team of researchers might have actually gotten the world significantly closer to manipulating how our brain functions. Researchers from the University of Chicago used tiny, light-powered silicon wires to reshape how the brain responds. One day, the process could…
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12 Mar 2018
By webadmin@macmdaz.com

Regenerative Medicine the Pain Management Alternative

Nerve Pain, Regenerative medicine, Therapies & Treatments, , , , ,
Injuries happen to almost everyone, but for some they can be far worse. For those with chronic pain, arthritis and a host of other ailments, it can mean a lifetime of discomfort. While many of those symptoms can be treated, it’s often with invasive surgery or only partially effective treatments like cortisone shots. Regenerative medicine offers an alternative to going under the knife, while achieving lasting results. Relievus, a pain management and neurology specialist practice, offers these treatments at both its Havertown and Philadelphia locations. Here, clinician Dr. Uplekh Purewal offers insight. Q: What is regenerative medicine? A: It’s a form…
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