THURSDAY, March 24, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Men are more likely than women to be offered surgery to ease carpal tunnel syndrome, but a small new study from one hospital suggests that gender may have nothing to do with the disparity. Instead, the difference may exist because the condition tendsContinue Reading

TUESDAY, March 22, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Medical marijuana could be a viable alternative to opioid painkillers for people dealing with arthritis or chronic back pain, two new studies show. Many patients prescribed opioids for their chronic pain wound up taking fewer painkillers — or stopping them altogether — afterContinue Reading

TUESDAY, March 8, 2022 (HealthDay News) — A comparison of Neanderthal and modern human spines suggests lifestyle habits of 21st century people lie behind widespread back pain, researchers say. Anthropologists focused on the spine’s curvature, which is partly influenced by wedging, or angling, of vertebrae and the softer discs betweenContinue Reading

FRIDAY, March 4, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Sleep apnea may be linked with joint pain and fatigue in postmenopausal women, a new study suggests. “This study highlights an opportunity to increase identification of women with OSA [obstructive sleep apnea], which is underdiagnosed in women who often present with vague symptomsContinue Reading

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 23, 2022 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued another pointed warning about the dangers posed by tianeptine, an antidepressant that is not approved for any type of medical treatment in the United States. Topping the list of possible risks from taking the drug:Continue Reading

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 23, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Millions of American adults take a potentially deadly duo of prescription opioid painkillers and sedatives at the same time, researchers warn. The side effects of concurrent use of opioids and sedatives such as benzodiazepines (such as Xanax or Valium) may be even strongerContinue Reading

MONDAY, Feb. 14, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Two new studies on pain relief suggest there is a safer alternative to addictive opioid painkillers after knee and shoulder surgery. The findings dovetail with changes to voluntary federal guidelines for prescribing opioid painkillers proposed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control andContinue Reading

FRIDAY, Feb. 11, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Adults with spinal cord injuries have a high risk of depression, anxiety and other mental health issues — and chronic pain is a major factor, according to a new study. Researchers analyzed private insurance claims from more than 9,000 U.S. adults with aContinue Reading

THURSDAY, Feb. 10, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Proposed changes to voluntary federal guidelines for prescribing opioid painkillers emphasize that doctors should first try other treatments for acute and chronic pain. The non-opioid treatment options suggested by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention include prescription medications like gabapentin andContinue Reading

FRIDAY, Jan. 28, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Physical therapy for knee arthritis tends to cost patients more out-of-pocket and involves a lot more hassle than a quick steroid shot to soothe an aching joint. But in the long run, physical therapy is at least as cost-effective as steroid injections andContinue Reading