Pain News Network

07/24/2025

If you have severe chronic pain, chances are it hurts in more than one part of your body. Dr. Forest Tennant says intractable pain needs to be recognized as a "multi-system disease" -- with the underlying cause treated, not just the symptoms.

By Dr. Forest Tennant In today’s healthcare system, a single disease or condition is usually given to a person as the cause of their severe chronic or intractable pain. These common labels include Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), adhesive arachnoiditis, pudendal neuropathy, traumatic brain i...

07/23/2025

Dr. Lynn Webster says blaming Purdue Pharma for the opioid crisis won't prevent addiction or overdoses, and it sustains a misleading narrative about opioids that is harmful to pain patients.

By Lynn R. Webster, MD On July 15, The Washington Post published an editorial urging states to use opioid settlement funds to expand naloxone access and addiction treatment programs. These are sound public health goals. But the editorial’s framing — tying these investments to reparations

07/23/2025

There's still time to register for a free seminar on the latest research and treatments for adhesive arachnoiditis, hosted by Dr. Forest Tennant. Visit https://arachconference.com/ for more details.

07/22/2025

Neen Monty says if her progressive nerve disease had been correctly diagnosed 20 years ago, she had a good chance at remission. But neglect and wrong assumptions by doctors sentenced her to a lifetime of disability and chronic pain.

By Neen Monty, I went undiagnosed with a serious, painful, progressive and incurable neurological disease for over a decade, because nearly every healthcare professional I saw assumed I was a hysterical woman with a low pain tolerance. I am not that stereotype. I am the opposite. Because doctors,

07/21/2025

Over 70 million Americans rely on Medicaid for healthcare coverage. Many of them -- including those who live with chronic pain -- are likely to lose coverage because of federal budget cuts and new work requirements.

By Mara Baer, President Trump recently signed a sweeping budget reconciliation bill – known as the One Big Beautiful Bill -- that makes significant cuts to Medicaid of nearly $1 trillion. The legislation will fundamentally change the way Medicaid is administered by states and reduce health care c

07/21/2025

https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertpearl/2025/07/21/these-3-medical-trends-predict-a-massive-healthcare-crisis/

Three major trends — rising costs, shrinking workforce, aging patients — signal a looming healthcare crisis. Can we act before it’s too late?

07/18/2025

PNN's Crystal Lindell learned a hard lesson when she first developed chronic pain and her doctor was unable to treat it. Like many other chronically ill patients, Crystal's doctor abandoned her without even making a referral. Did that happen to you?

By Crystal Lindell When I first developed chronic pain back in 2013, I had so little experience with our healthcare system that I genuinely thought that all my doctors would do everything possible to help me, like the doctor that Hugh Laurie played on the TV series House .  The pain I

07/17/2025

Does a poor diet cause chronic pain or make it worse? New research shows that if you are low in certain vitamins or minerals, your risk of having severe chronic pain is higher.

By Crystal Lindell Vitamin and mineral deficiencies could play a key role in chronic pain, according to new research that found low levels of Vitamin D, B12, folate and magnesium were common in people with severe chronic pain.  The study , led by researchers at the University of Arizon

07/16/2025

The FDA has warned 7 companies to stop selling kratom products with concentrated levels of 7-hydroxymitragynine, an alkaloid that relieves pain and has opioid-like qualities. In high amounts, the FDA says the alkaloid "may be dangerous."

By Pat Anson The Food and Drug Administration is cracking down again on the kratom industry, by sending warning letters to 7 kratom vendors about illegally marketing a dietary supplement. At issue is an alkaloid in kratom called 7-hydroxymitragynine -- known as 7-OH -- which relieves pain, improve

07/15/2025

Cannabis products high in THC (so to speak) are very effective at treating anxiety and depression. Depending on the dose, relief can be immediate and last for months, according to researchers.

By Pat Anson As many pain sufferers already know, anxiety and depression are common when you live with poorly treated chronic pain. A recent study found that 40% of adults with chronic pain have clinical symptoms of depression or anxiety. Pain sufferers with fibromyalgia are particularly vulner

07/15/2025

https://filtermag.org/pain-care-drugs-stigma/

When Phillip lost motor control on one side of his body, I had only just met him. It was April ...

07/14/2025

State and local governments have received over $10 billion in opioid settlement funds. But hardly anyone is making sure they spend the money on programs that reduce drug addiction and overdoses.

By Aneri Pattani, KFF Health News After years of legal battles, state attorneys general won billions of dollars in opioid settlements from drug companies accused of fueling the addiction crisis. They declared victory at press conferences, and some touted the deals during their gubernatorial cam