Treatment of pain

About my blogs

I discuss topics related to pain management in an accessible way for anyone who wants to know more about this fascinating and still poorly understood area of medicine, including health care professionals, patients, and students.

My purpose is solely educational and non-profit. While I aim to make best use of the available scientific evidence, the content of the blogs reflect primarily my personal opinion.

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Gabapentin and pregabalin for pain: overrated and overprescribed?

Michele Curatolo

Dec 122 min read

Gabapentin and pregabalin for pain: overrated and overprescribed?

Gabapentin and pregabalin are likely overprescribed for pain. They offer pain relief in some patients ,but often cause adverse effects.

428 views0 comments

One more reason to consider injections for chronic pain

Michele Curatolo

Oct 92 min read

One more reason to consider injections for chronic pain

Injections for low back pain may work even if patients know that they are receiving a placebo. What does it mean for pain management?

53 views0 comments

Learning about chronic pain can reduce pain

Michele Curatolo

Jan 243 min read

Learning about chronic pain can reduce pain

Pain neuroscience education aims to improve the patient's understanding of pain, and can lead to reduced pain and better function.

207 views0 comments

What have we achieved after 50 years of pain research?

Michele Curatolo

Nov 1, 20234 min read

What have we achieved after 50 years of pain research?

Achievement of pain research during the last 50 years: many advances in knowledge, still modest benefits for patients.

205 views0 comments

Michele Curatolo

Feb 6, 20233 min read

Do antidepressants reduce pain or not?

Antidepressants can relieve pain independent of the presence of depression, likely due to their effect on the pain inhibitory system.

188 views0 comments

Michele Curatolo

Nov 16, 20223 min read

Placebo for pain: from enemy to friend

The placebo effect relies on patient’s expectation that a treatment will help. It is a welcome way to enhance pain relief.

132 views0 comments

Does an injury lead to long-term opioid use?

Michele Curatolo

Sep 15, 20222 min read

Does an injury lead to long-term opioid use?

Acute injury rarely results in long-term use of opioids.

63 views0 comments

Epidural steroids: Long-term improvement, but ...

Michele Curatolo

Jul 20, 20224 min read

Epidural steroids: Long-term improvement, but ...

Epidural steroid injections in older adults: study with 2-years follow-up shows that patients improve, but unlikely due to the injection.

976 views0 comments

Acute back pain after osteoporotic fractures: Which medication?

Michele Curatolo

Jul 6, 20222 min read

Acute back pain after osteoporotic fractures: Which medication?

Acute back pain after osteoporotic vertebral fractures is a public health issue. Choosing a medication that limits harm is challenging.

179 views0 comments

Neck pain and headache: Can stem from the C1-2 joint

Michele Curatolo

Jun 22, 20222 min read

Neck pain and headache: Can stem from the C1-2 joint

Pain at the upper neck and headache can stem from the C1-2 joint. Steroid injection or surgery can be effective

171 views0 comments

Prognostic nerve blocks: meaningful or meaningless?

Michele Curatolo

May 12, 20224 min read

Prognostic nerve blocks: meaningful or meaningless?

Prognostic nerve blocks to predict the effect of a subsequent treatment may be meaningful or not, depending on the nature of the procedure.

884 views0 comments

Improve your sleep, mood and physical function, and you may have less pain

Michele Curatolo

Apr 27, 20222 min read

Improve your sleep, mood and physical function, and you may have less pain

In chronic pain, improvement in sleep, psychological and physical functioning may precede reduction in pain.

245 views0 comments

Adding a procedure to current treatment of chronic pain

Michele Curatolo

Apr 13, 20223 min read

Adding a procedure to current treatment of chronic pain

A recent study used a pragmatic approach to demonstrate that adding a hip injection to current treatment improves pain for 6 months.

277 views0 comments

Better nutrition, less pain: Turn your pantry into a potent tool for better health and less pain

Heather Tick

Mar 15, 20224 min read

Better nutrition, less pain: Turn your pantry into a potent tool for better health and less pain

"You change your body chemistry each time you eat". Evidence for associations between diet and pain are growing.

182 views0 comments

Why would an anesthetic nerve injection produce long-term pain relief?

Michele Curatolo

Jan 5, 20224 min read

Why would an anesthetic nerve injection produce long-term pain relief?

Local anesthetics have a short duration of action, so why would they work in chronic pain?

1,286 views0 comments

Opioid escalation after surgery in patients with opioid use disorder

Michele Curatolo

Dec 29, 20213 min read

Opioid escalation after surgery in patients with opioid use disorder

Definition According to the American Psychiatric Association, opioid use disorder is a condition in which there is uncontrolled use of...

243 views0 comments

When patients with chronic pain want a procedure, but doctors do not recommend it

Michele Curatolo

Dec 15, 20213 min read

When patients with chronic pain want a procedure, but doctors do not recommend it

Not an uncommon situation that can cause disappointment, frustration, and even anger.

355 views0 comments

About my blogs

To know about new blogs, you can subscribe here --> Your data will not be shared

To know about new blogs, you can subscribe here -->
Your data will not be shared