Monthly Archives: July 2008

For MS Sake, Give Vitamin D to Your Kids

In 2006, a US military study did a GOOD perspective study on MS that involved taking blood samples some 4-5 years prior to the start of their MS. In subjects under 20, high vitamin D levels offered a high rate … Continue reading

Posted in Deficits | 1 Comment

Fast Fix for Shingles Pain – and Doctors: For God’s Sake – Give a Block!

Nerve blocks combined with tricyclic antidepressants gave rapid relief of pain in 80% cases in one Japanese report. I feel nerve blocks or epidural blocks are manditory for any cases of shingles in which the current acutely infected pain would … Continue reading

Posted in neuropathic | Leave a comment

Immorality of Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health

The Common Drug Review is part of the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health. It is a national program that determines what drugs are worth putting on formularies in the province. They decided that Lyrica should not be … Continue reading

Posted in Regina Pain News | Leave a comment

Want to See a Pain Expert? – See a Vet, not a Doctor

A Canadian Pain Society Survey found medical students only get on average 11 hours training in pain education. A vet, however, gets on average 98 hours education. This might explain why patients are treated poorly by some doctors.

Posted in Insurer issues | Leave a comment

Pulsed Radiofrequency – New Hope for “Sciatica”/radiculitis of Neck and Back – but where available?

Traditional treatments for referred nerve pain of neck and back have been inadequate. As mentioned previously, opioids and other pain modifying medications work poorly in radiculitis, leading to an American summation that there is no proved drug treatment for radiculopathy. … Continue reading

Posted in Back Pain, Mechanical aids, Thoracic | Leave a comment

Post-Stroke Pain – New Hope – Vestibular Stimulation and Maybe for Spinal Pain too

Post- stroke victims with central pain can be left with excruciating pain, often one whole side. If their vestibular system is intact (absence of “marked post-stroke disequilibrium.”), then one cold water ear irrigation can drop pain scale levels by more … Continue reading

Posted in central & spinal | 1 Comment

The Pain Diagnosis that Cannot be Made in Women – Spine Arthritis – Ankylosing Spondylitis

A recent study found doctors had a poor knowledge of the features of Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) which is why only 6% of women with this disease are properly diagnosed by GP’s. This will mean women with active spinal arthritis might … Continue reading

Posted in arthritis | 4 Comments

New Treatment for Thumb base Arthritis – 60% relief but you won’t like it… and what else can be done

Arthritis of the joint in the wrist down from the thumb can be common and in some cases eludes successful treatment. Recent article published in the prestigious medical journal, Pain, describes one application of leeches to the area can reduce … Continue reading

Posted in arthritis | 9 Comments