The following is from a college professor, Dr. Mike Hoerger. He emails it to all of his students and has posted it on X. How are the top science programs handling high COVID-19 transmission, inclusivity, equity, and diversity in January…
New study suggests fibromyalgia pain starts in the spinal cord
The most effective treatments for fibromyalgia are usually a class of medications called serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). Cymbalta (duloxetine) and Effexor (venlafaxine) are examples of SNRIs. Unfortunately, some people don’t respond to SNRIs. I metabolize them too quickly…
The FDA Has Recognized Fibromyalgia as a Serious Condition
I nearly missed this story, but it is major news for those of us living with fibromyalgia: FDA Recognizes Fibromyalgia as a ‘Serious Condition’ And Fast-Tracks New Drug Candidate This form of chronic pain has become such a problem in…
Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. The month is about realizing how common mental health issues are, supporting each other through them, and removing the stigma about them. A few statistics: 21% of U.S. adults experienced mental illness in 2020…
Resource for Chronic Pain Sufferers
The American Chronic Pain Association site says the group has been around since 1980, but I hadn’t run across them until yesterday. I spent some time on their site; they have some really good resources and a long list of…
Chronic Pain and Memory
This is a fascinating article with excellent sources. Chronic pain is terrible. A new way of understanding it may help. The past two centuries have produced a cascade of life-altering advances in medicine, yet we have been unable to deal…
Pain Stigma
Those of us who suffer chronic pain face a great deal of stigma. This paper addresses that stigma. Pain, objectivity and history: understanding pain stigma
How Chronic Pain Leads to Anxiety and Depression
Neuronal plasticity in chronic pain-induced anxiety revealed Hokkaido University researchers have shown how chronic pain leads to maladaptive anxiety in mice, with implications for treatment of chronic pain-related psychiatric disorders in humans. Chronic pain is persistent and inescapable, and can…
Unvaccinated People Increase Risk for Vaccinated People
I can’t say that I’m surprised. Remaining unvaccinated increases risk to the vaccinated, says U of T COVID study People who are unvaccinated against COVID-19 not only place themselves at greater risk of getting infected by the virus, but also…