04 Sep 2015
By webadmin@macmdaz.com

Diabetic Neuropathy: Temporarily Reducing Pain

Chronic Pain Conditions, Chronic Pain News, Peripheral Neuropathy, , ,
Painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) can be relieved for months with a non-viral gene therapy, according to research published in the Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology. Researchers from Northwestern Medicine administered the non-viral gene therapy or a placebo in order to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a plasmid (VM202) containing 2 human hepatocyte growth factor isoforms given by intramuscular injections in patients with PDN. There were 84 patients included in the study who were randomized to either receive injections of 8 or 16 mg VM202 per leg or placebo. Doses were administered on days zero and 14. The researchers…
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02 Sep 2015
By webadmin@macmdaz.com

Spinal Cord Cells Control Pain

Chronic Pain Conditions, Chronic Pain News, Nerve Pain, , ,
Spinal cord cells are responsible for controlling pain and itch, according to research published in the journal Neuron. Researchers from the University of Zurich used genetically modified viruses to interfere with the functions of neurons in mice in order to investigate how neurons contribute to pain and itch processing. The researchers drew on prior findings from 50 years ago, which had demonstrated “Gate Control Theory” of pain – the idea that inhibitory nerve cells in the spinal cord could determine whether a pain impulse from the periphery (from the foot, for example) is relayed to the brain or suppressed. The…
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26 Aug 2015
By webadmin@macmdaz.com

Shingles: The Pain and the Misery

Chronic Pain Conditions, Chronic Pain News, , ,
Shingles is currently on the rise especially among those aged 60 and over, it is in essence a "reawakening" of the chickenpox virus. Never fully discharged from the body, this virus lies inactive for years and reactivates when immunity is weakened, traveling through the nerve pathways to your skin and producing shingles. The first symptoms appear usually on either the left or right side of the torso, starting with a burning pain, tingling and then erupting in a red rash in the painful area At first, the rash appears similar to hives but the patches then develop into fluid-filled blisters…
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21 Aug 2015
By webadmin@macmdaz.com

Plantar Fasciitis: How to Deal with It

Chronic Pain Conditions, , ,
Plantar Fasciitis Treatment ranges from simple stretches to shock-wave therapy Connie Glen isn’t sure what she did exactly, but in February she started getting unexplained pain in her left heel — and seven months, several practitioners and about $2,000 later, it’s still not entirely healed, though she’s finally seeing some improvement. Glen has plantar fasciitis, a common foot injury that can make walking even short distances an ouch-inducing exercise and one that has derailed many a planned marathon among running enthusiasts. The condition occurs when the plantar fascia — a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot from the heel bone to…
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17 Aug 2015
By webadmin@macmdaz.com

Sciatica: Hitting the right nerves 

Chronic Pain Conditions, Nerve Pain, , ,
Sciatica symptoms explain conditions around the sciatic nerve A lot of people have their lives badly affected by sciatica. Like most other conditions, you can deal with sciatica effectively with a well planned and structured exercises program. But before we go into details of specific sciatica exercises, it is first important to explain what sciatica is, as it is often misunderstood. Sciatica is a set of symptoms rather than a diagnosis in itself (meaning it does not explain the cause of the pain). Sciatica is a general term used to explain a set of symptoms around the sciatic nerve. Technically,…
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26 Apr 2015
By webadmin@macmdaz.com

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)

Chronic Pain Conditions, Nerve Pain, , , ,
  Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic musculoskeletal pain condition affecting the limbs, hands, and feet, after an injury or limb trauma. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is believed to be caused by malfunction of the peripheral and central nervous systems. Individuals have characterized CRPS as prolonged severe pain, changes to the skin, and/or swelling in the affected area. There are two common forms, CRPS-I and CRPS-II. CRPS-I patients do not have confirmed nerve injury. Patients with CRPS-II have confirmed nerve injuries. Symptoms vary in length and severity. In most cases the disease is mild and individuals recover…
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04 Jan 2015
By webadmin@macmdaz.com

Chronic Pain: 6 Surprising Triggers

Chronic Pain Conditions, ,
The causes of chronic pain can be deep-seated, emotional, and even as basic as a really bad diet. There's nothing worse than suffering from debilitating chronic pain—except, perhaps, not knowing why you're in pain or how to cope. Treating these mysterious aches has become the mission of Gary Kaplan, DO, a pioneer of integrative medicine and director of the Kaplan Clinic for Integrative Medicine in McLean, Virginia. He treats people with chronic pain every day. In Kaplan's new book, Total Recovery: Breaking the Cycle of Chronic Pain and Depression, he addresses the root causes of chronic pain, and how most…
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