PainRelief.com Interview with: Moe Takenoshita, M.B.B.Ch. Postdoctoral scholar, Stanford University
PainRelief.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Sleep is a key component of postpartum recovery.1 It is linked to maternal mental, physical and social wellbeing, as well as maternal-infant bonding and infant outcomes.2–5 Several factors have been associated with impaired postpartum sleep, including maternal and infant clinical factors, socioeconomic and environmental factors.6,7 However, few studies have looked at the impact of delivery mode on postpartum sleep. This is significant because 32% of deliveries in the United States are caesarean delivery, and caesarean delivery rates are rising globally.8
We designed this study to look at how postpartum sleep experiences and the incidence of sleep disorders differ between caesarean and vaginal delivery. We also aimed to explore the relationship between delivery mode, pain and sleep.
Emma N. Cleary (she/her) Clinical Psychology PhD Candidate Developmental Psychopathology Lab Indiana University Bloomington
PainRelief.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Pain is common during pregnancy and one of the options for managing it is with prescribed opioid pain medications. When pregnant patients and their physicians try to make decisions about using these medications, there are often concerns about impacts on fetal development given that these medications cross the placenta.
Previous studies have identified associations between prenatal exposure to opioids pain medications and increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders like autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but it is unclear whether this is causal.
PainRelief.com Interview with: Lynn L. DeBar, PhD, MPH Center for Health Research Distinguished Investigator Center for Health Research Portland OR 97227 Kaiser Permanente
PainRelief.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: The study was initiated in response to a call for applications from the National Institute of Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that they put forward because of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) interest in that time in considering acupuncture as a covered Medicare benefit for older adults with chronic low back pain.
While acupuncture for the treatment in chronic lower back pain had been well studied for broader adults, little had focused specifically on its effectiveness among older adults. CMS was particularly interested in acupuncture as a potentially safer and more effective treatment than medications like opioids for pain management among older adults.
PainRelief.com Interview with: Shravani Durbhakula, MD, MPH, MBA Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, Division of Pain Medicine Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Medical Director, Comprehensive Pain Service Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Dr. Durbhakula
PainRelief.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Our study highlights the rapid rise of nitazenes—extremely potent and dangerous synthetic opioids—silently driving the current overdose crisis. Developed in the 1950s by a pharmaceutical company and never approved for clinical use, nitazenes are up to 20 times more potent than fentanyl and are undetectable with standard drug tests available in emergency rooms.
These opioids are often mixed into counterfeit pills or other street drugs, posing an unseen threat. Furthermore, nitazenes interact with opioid receptors in a unique way, increasing overdose risk, heightening respiratory depression, and accelerating tolerance development, which makes them even more dangerous for users.
Lewis Crawford, B.Sci (Hons), PhD Postdoctoral associate Neural Imaging Laboratory | Faculty of Medicine and Health Brain and Mind Centre THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY
Dr. Crawford
PainRelief.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: The overall aim of our research is to determine the functioning of analgesic circuits in individuals with chronic pain. If we can identify these circuits, we will then in a position to activate them to produce pain relief. One way to explore analgesic circuits in humans is through the use of placebo analgesia paradigms.
Valentina Mazzoli, Ph.D Assistant Professor Department of Radiology-CBI Translational Research Building NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Dr. Mazzoli
PainRelief.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Knee osteoarthritis is a very common and painful condition that limits mobility and is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Unfortunately, there are no disease-modifying treatments available. Symptoms are usually managed with painkillers, and in the most severe cases, with knee replacement surgery?
In our study, we showed that subtly adjusting the angle of the foot during walking may be an easy, inexpensive way to reduce knee pain in people with early-stage osteoarthritis.
PainRelief.com Interview with: Diddier Prada, MD, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Institute for Health Equity Research Department of Population Health Science and Policy Department of Environmental Medicine Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York City, NY, USA https://scholars.mssm.edu/en/persons/diddier-prada
PainRelief.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Earlier research has indicated that using acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) during pregnancy might increase the likelihood of children developing neurodevelopmental conditions like autism or ADHD.
Data shows that more than half of pregnant women rely on acetaminophen in some regions. Various well-conducted studies, including long-term group observations and case-comparison analyses, have identified a potential association, though some found no relationship, and a few even hinted at a possible protective effect. However, these studies often faced challenges, such as depending on mothers’ memory for usage data, failing to consider underlying reasons for taking the drug (e.g., illness or fever), or employing inconsistent approaches, which complicates drawing firm conclusions. By applying a transparent and consistent framework, the Navigation Guide methodology, to assess the studies’ quality, credibility, and evidence strength, we aimed to offer a more reliable overview than previous reviews.
PainRelief.com Interview with: Nafis B Eghrar, MS4 Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Cleveland, Ohio
PainRelief.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Gabapentin has shown promise in treating nerve-related pain, and it has become a popular choice to treat chronic low back pain, despite limited evidence. Currently, there is a discrepancy on whether taking gabapentin increases a patient’s risk for developing dementia.
Our main findings were that gabapentin prescription was associated with an increased risk for dementia and mild cognitive impairment. This risk was pronounced in younger adults (age 18-64). Moreover, the incidence of dementia and mild cognitive impairment was higher in those prescribed gabapentin 12+ times compared to those prescribed gabapentin 3-11 times.
Diagnosing lower back conditions and pathologies continues to become more accurate and less intrusive, with recent innovations offering alternatives to the traditional MRI scan. Some conditions are easy to diagnose without technology, with trained doctors able to spot the telltale signs of conditions such as spondylolisthesis based on the patient’s symptoms. However, some issues are much harder to detect, which is why scientists are continuously improving diagnostic imaging solutions to detect hidden problems.
We’ll guide you through modern diagnostic imaging methods for identifying lower back pathologies, considering the advantages and limitations. By spotting conditions early, patients can avoid life-changing symptoms and receive treatment before invasive surgery is required. Surgery for severe spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis brings many risks, but early diagnosis can significantly reduce the number of people who require such procedures.
Diagnostic Imaging for Lower Back Conditions
There are a number of existing diagnostic imaging methods that have been used for many years, with some of these technologies more modern and more effective than others. Here’s a summary of existing methods.
X-rays (Radiographs)
X-rays are the most basic and commonly used initial imaging method for lower back problems. They’re typically the first-line imaging for trauma, suspected fractures, or obvious structural abnormalities.
X-rays are best used for:
Bone fractures and alignment issues
Spondylolisthesis (vertebral slippage)
Degenerative changes in spine structure
Scoliosis and other spinal deformities
Osteoporosis-related compression fractures
X-rays are limited as they cannot visualize soft tissues like muscles, ligaments, or discs, and they are not effective at detecting early degenerative changes. They also only provide basic structural information, and there is a very small risk of radiation exposure.
PainRelief.com Interview with: Rayane Haddadj, PhD Candidate Department of Public Health and Nursing Norwegian University of Science and Technology
PainRelief.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Low back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide and accounts for the highest healthcare spending in the Unites States.
Given its widespread impact, identifying modifiable risk factors – those that can be addressed through public health policy and targeted interventions – is therefore of great importance for reducing the burden of this condition.
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