14 Oct 2015
By webadmin@macmdaz.com

Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

Chronic Pain Conditions, Peripheral Neuropathy, Therapies & Treatments, ,
CHICAGO — As many as 50% of patients undergoing chemotherapy for cancer experience chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy. But most cases go undiagnosed, according to results presented at the American Neurological Association 2015 Annual Meeting in Chicago. Noah A. Kolb, MD, of the University of Utah, and colleagues studied the frequency of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and other neuropathy codes in three large databases: the Utah Cancer Registry, Population Database, and Electronic Data Warehouse. Overall, 984 patients exposed to neurotoxic chemotherapy were identified. Chemo Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Disorders of peripheral nerves are frequent complications of chemotherapy and certain other drug therapies. As…
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09 Oct 2015
By webadmin@macmdaz.com

Nonsurgical treatments for spinal stenosis

Chronic Pain Conditions, Nerve Pain, Therapies & Treatments, , ,
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I was diagnosed with spinal stenosis about 12 years ago. I haven't had many symptoms over the years, but about six months ago I started noticing increasing discomfort in my legs. Is surgery an option to treat spinal stenosis? If not, what else can I do? The leg pain is making it hard for me to walk. ANSWER: Surgery usually isn't necessary to treat spinal stenosis. Often a combination of lifestyle changes, physical therapy and medication can effectively decrease the pain and discomfort caused by this common back problem. Spinal stenosis occurs when the open space within…
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07 Oct 2015
By webadmin@macmdaz.com
Integrated Pain Management Approach

Integrated Pain Management Approach

Chronic Pain Conditions, Exercises to Help Pain, Nerve Pain, Peripheral Neuropathy, Therapies & Treatments, , ,
Logan resident Dawn Carter’s life changed in January 2015 following an accidental fall down a flight of stairs. Originally diagnosed with just a concussion, complications from the injury now cause Carter to experience chronic nerve pain and migraines, in addition to seizures and memory loss. “There is really nothing (my doctors) can do about my pain,” Carter said. “It hurts so bad (that) I feel like an electric eel is swimming throughout my body. It mainly starts in my wrist and works up my arms, up to my shoulders and down to my back.” According to data gathered by the…
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05 Oct 2015
By webadmin@macmdaz.com

Neuropathic Pain from Peripheral Nerve Injury

Chronic Pain News, Nerve Pain, Peripheral Neuropathy, ,
Neuropathic pain is a complex, chronic pain state that usually is accompanied by tissue injury. With nerve pain, the nerve fibers themselves may be damaged, dysfunctional, or injured. These damaged nerve fibers send incorrect signals to other pain centers. The impact of nerve fiber injury includes a change in nerve function both at the site of injury and areas around the injury. One example of neuropathic pain is called phantom limb syndrome. This rare condition occurs when an arm or a leg has been removed because of illness or injury, but the brain still gets pain messages from the nerves…
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25 Sep 2015
By webadmin@macmdaz.com

Prediabetes in Peripheral Neuropathy

Chronic Pain Conditions, Nerve Pain, Peripheral Neuropathy, , ,
Peripheral neuropathy may be more common in patients with prediabetes than previously thought, and early interventions may be warranted in this patient population, according to researchers from the University of Utah. Currently, 86 million adults, more than one in three U.S. adults, have prediabetes, according to CDC estimates. Without weight loss and moderate physical activity, 15% to 30% of these people will develop full-blown type 2 diabetes within 5 years.1 These numbers emphasize the urgent need to treat and prevent the subsequent complications, including neuropathy, associated with prediabetes. Fortunately, researchers are on their way to learning more about the relationship…
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23 Sep 2015
By webadmin@macmdaz.com

The Four Types of Diabetic Neuropathy

Chronic Pain Conditions, Nerve Pain, Peripheral Neuropathy, , , , ,
Most of us associate peripheral neuropathy with diabetes. What might be a surprise is that there are three other forms of neuropathy that are also common to diabetics. Diabetic neuropathy is the result of prolonged periods of excess glucose in the blood damaging fragile nerve fibers. Hyperglycemia also damages the walls of the many blood vessels in the body, including the capillaries that provide the blood supply that supports the nervous system. Finally, high glucose levels interfere with the ability of the nerves to send signals. Taken together, this triad of damage causes first numbness, then extreme pain, in the…
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14 Sep 2015
By webadmin@macmdaz.com

How to Treat Back Pain without Drugs

Chronic Pain Conditions, Nerve Pain, Peripheral Neuropathy, , ,
Back pain is a common health issue today that affects at least eight out of 10 people. It is a prevalent problem among Americans. In fact, statistics from the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) reveal that at least 31 million Americans experience lower back pain at any given time. The ACA report also says that: One-half of all working Americans admit to having back pain symptoms each year. Back pain is one of the most common reasons for missed work. In fact, it is the second most common reason for visits to the doctor’s office (next to upper-respiratory infections). As many…
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07 Sep 2015
By webadmin@macmdaz.com

Neuropathy 10 Things You Need to Know

Nerve Pain, Peripheral Neuropathy, Therapies & Treatments, , , ,
Life with neuropathy can be filled with unknowns – especially for those of us whose symptoms or diagnoses are relatively new. Navigating this new life with a painful condition can be (and most often is) overwhelming and frustrating. From bothersome symptoms like lack of muscle control to debilitating ones such as sharp, stabbing pains in the hands or feet, it can wreak havoc on your quality of life. Finding out as much information as possible about the condition, its causes and its treatments can go a long way in getting you onto the path to a better – and more pain…
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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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