Author Archives: admin

Groundbreaking News – A “Cure” For Chronic Discogenic Back Pain??

A simple procedure injecting 1 ml of 1% methylene blue followed by 1 ml 2% lidocaine into damaged disc has achieved unprecedented results

Posted in Back Pain, Injection | 1 Comment

New Chronic Pain Gene Identified – Beta2-Adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) – and Genes For Achilles and ACL Knee Ligament Problems

Using a British Cohort born in March 1958, over 8000 individuals were blood sampled and nucleotide polymorphism sequenced for ADRB2 and COMT (Catecholamine-O-methyltransferase), the latter previously implicated in pain genetics. Only ADRB2 of certain gene types were associated with increased … Continue reading

Posted in achilles, Fibromyalgia, Knee | Leave a comment

Immunoglobulin Infusion Improves Complex Regional Pain

Longstanding Complex Regional Pain can be incredibly difficult to treat. Now Immunoglobulin Infusions have been shown to drop pains scores by 1.55 units.

Posted in complex regional pain, Drugs | Leave a comment

Opioid Phobia Takes Hit – “Iatrogenic opioid addiction… rare” According to Cochrane Library

With all the courses and Physician college emphasis on opioid addiction detection one would think addiction was highly likely on opioids – a Cochrane review finds quite the opposite.

Posted in Drugs | 1 Comment

Severe Chronic Pain Kills

One thing that is never considered in an insurance settlement is the fact that 10 year survival may be less in people with severe pain. A recent article plots a survival decay curve

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Breast Cancer Help – Soy helps prevent recurrences and Free Maid Service

JAMA article finds 4 yr mortality rates were 10.3% and 7.4% in low and high soya users and 4-year recurrence rates were 11.2% and 8.0% as well. There is a free maid service for breast cancer victims in certrain communities.

Posted in breast cancer | Leave a comment

New Hope For Chronic Daily Headaches – Continuous Infusions of Dihydroergotamine

Repeated IV infusions of DHE (dihydroegotamine) is the standard treatment for breaking transformed migraines (into chronic daily headaches). Unfortunately, arranging patient to be seen every 8 hours is just not viable in our community. Now a continuous infusion protocol may … Continue reading

Posted in Drugs, Headaches, Injection | Leave a comment

Oxycodone and St. John’s Wort – a bad combination and Oxycodone and Death Rates

St. John’s wort may reduce oxycodone (oxycontin, oxy-IR, etc.) levels by 50%.

Posted in Drugs | Leave a comment

Indigestion – when ulcers Pills don’t work – Think Nocturnal Bile Reflex – Helped by Domperidone

Chronic indigestion “dyspepsia” is a frequent medical problem and gets bad when ulcer pills fail to work. Now nighttime – bile reflux (regurgitation bile into stomach) may account for some. This is helped by agents that help bowel motility like … Continue reading

Posted in Abdominal pain | Leave a comment

Is Ganoderma Lucidum herbal any Use?

I had a patient come in and ask if Reishi mushroom – “Lingzhi” Ganoderma Luciderma is helpful. The answer is maybe…

Posted in Drugs | 1 Comment

Botulinum / Botox for Neuralgia/Neuropathic Pain

I recently had the following letter: “I am doing research on use of botulinum toxin type-a in trigeminal neuralgia.so, I will be highly obliged if you will send me some details with references about dosage and techniques used in injecting … Continue reading

Posted in Botox, Drugs, neuropathic | 4 Comments

Helping Prevent and Treat Post Shingles Pain / Post Herpetic Neuralgia – Can It Be as Simple as Vitamin C to Help?

It has been known for some time that taking vitamin C 500 mg twice daily following a wrist fracture can significantly reduce the chances of developing Complex Regional Pain / Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy in that arm. Now it has been … Continue reading

Posted in post herpetic neuralgia | 3 Comments

Shingles – For God’s Sake Give a Block Update

The first question I ask a shingles / herpes zoster patient is whether they would mind if what pain they currently had persisted. This is because efficacy of anti-virals could be limited…They are still fighting over whether anti-virals prevents post-herpetic … Continue reading

Posted in Injection, post herpetic neuralgia | Leave a comment

Shoulder Pain Patient Needs Help – Any Suggestions?

Someone wrote: “I came across this while searching the web. I have bilaterial shoulder impingement, tendonosis, tendonitis, etc etc so they say. I have been in pain since 2002. I have had 2 MRI’s that show nothing. The surgeon says … Continue reading

Posted in shoulder | 2 Comments

Checklist of Simple Treatments For Depression – including in Pregnancy

I have compiled a simple list of measure known to help depression that can be given to patients. It was initially compiled with pregnancy in mind but concerning herbals, there  are Pregnancy issues. However here are suggestions from a recent … Continue reading

Posted in Depression | 1 Comment

Severe New Pain With No Right to be There – Zoster Sine Herpete?

Over the years, I have had patients come in with severe one-sided regional pains with no good reason for it to be there. In each case, I have suspected Herpes Zoster prodrome and initiated antivirals with resolution without rash. I … Continue reading

Posted in neuropathic, post herpetic neuralgia | 1 Comment

Does “Success” of Psychological Treatments of Chronic Pain Need to be Taken With a Grain of Salt?

One of the problems defining chronic pain as a psychological condition, is the fact that psychological treatments have somewhat mediocre results. So when I find an article claiming results, I am suspicious. Here is an example:

Posted in Insurer issues, psychology | 1 Comment

Some Canadian Car / Motor Vehicle Accident Insurance Claim Resources

I would like to compile resources for Car Accident Victims to help deal with their claims. In this province, there is “no-fault” really meaning it’s the victims fault for being in chronic pain. They have to deal with case workers … Continue reading

Posted in Insurer issues | 4 Comments

What is the Worst Chronic Pain Imaginable?

What is the worst pain imaginable? Neurogenic pain of course… What is the worst non-neurogenic pain? – acute headache of course… Now combine the two in a condition where it is guaranteed you will be told you are a liar, … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Given Vocational Advice to Chronic Pain Patients And terminating Coverage – The “You Could be A Funeral Director Scam”

Recent study of “disability pensioners” given vocational advice and brief cognitive behavioural program found it only got “negligible” amounts of people back to work. Terminating disability coverage, because vocational advice was given, is nothing more than a scam.

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Chronic Pain Can Cause Reversible Brain Damage

Brain damage in certain areas has been seen in chronic back pain, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Fibromyaglia, and so on. The question is whether the damage causes the pain or visa versa. In hip pain patients, the at least partial … Continue reading

Posted in Insurer issues, pain mechanisms | 1 Comment

Advice On Long Term Disability Claims

The following is a verbatum copy of an article in the Canadian Pain Coalition Newsletter with permission from Mr. Wheeler, and contains some useful Canadian info.

Posted in Insurer issues | 2 Comments

Finding If a Drug Available in Canada

I’ve had questions if Savella/Milnacipran available in Canada. It is not. Checking the Health Canada site offers that info.

Posted in Drugs | Leave a comment

Diclofenac Patch for Neck Pain – Could One Make Their Own Patches?

A weeks worth of patch wear was associated with a significant relief of neck pain though the deeper trigger knots were still sore

Posted in Topical Pain Treatments | Leave a comment

Car Accident with Multiple Areas Involved – Here’s Proof

I get the impression some car accident victims get an eye rolling response to claims of multiple injuries. Here’s an example of low back and upper thoracic (high chest) back fractures while wearing a three point seat belt.

Posted in Insurer issues | 1 Comment