The government shutdown is halting almost all "nonessential" federal functions, including many operations related to public health. The stalemate in Congress stems from the potential loss of federal subsidies for ACA insurance. rebrand.ly/government-s...

A new study found that 15.5 million Americans are prescribed gabapentin (Neurontin), nearly 3 times the number in 2010. Many patients are unaware of gabapentin's side effects or that it is often prescribed "off label" for conditions it is not approved for. rebrand.ly/million-amer...

Two late-stage clinical trials show that a cannabis extract developed in Germany provides significant pain relief from chronic lower back pain -- and even works better than low doses of opioids. rebrand.ly/cannabis-ext...

PNN's Crystal Lindell says the Trump administration's warning to pregnant women not to take Tylenol is the latest example of pain treatments being taken away from patients. It started with opioids and now includes a number of substances that people in pain find helpful. rebrand.ly/opiophobia-p...

A new study shows that a surprising number of older adults -- about one in four -- can make a full recovery from chronic pain and poor health, achieving "optimal well-being" in less than 3 years. Having certain qualities can boost your chances. rebrand.ly/older-adults...

PNN's Crystal Lindell learned -- the hard way -- that having "good" health insurance is not so good. Instead of saving her money, her insurance left Crystal with more medical debt than she can ever payoff. rebrand.ly/used-believe...

Many conditions can cause the spine to curve more than it should, leaving you with scoliosis, degenerative disc disease and other spinal disorders. They not only cause back pain, but potentially other health troubles too. rebrand.ly/curves-spine...

The Trump Administration is advising doctors and patients not to use acetaminophen (Tylenol) during pregnancy due the risk of babies developing autism. Critics say there is little evidence to support such a recommendation. rebrand.ly/trump-don-2c...

Chaos and confusion ruled as the new vaccine advisory committee for the CDC debated the safety of Covid vaccines and childhood immunization shots. “We are rookies,” said the chair of the committee, which is now controlled by anti-vax skeptics. rebrand.ly/rookies-chao...

Dr. David Shulkin, former Secretary of Veterans Affairs, thinks the VA should be "opioid free" by 2030. The VA already has strict guidelines about using opioids, but what he proposes would leave over 8 million veterans and their families without adequate pain relief. rebrand.ly/veterans-97d...

An early dose of opioid medication in the ER helps keep a child suffering from a sickle cell pain flare from being hospitalized. A second dose works even better. rebrand.ly/early-receip...

President Trump recently claimed that 300 million people died from drugs last year. Or did he mean 300 thousand? Regardless of the number, wildly exaggerating drug deaths and using them to create policy has been harmful to pain patients. rebrand.ly/million-peop...

Medicare patients in 6 states who have chronic pain will soon have some treatment decisions made by artificial intelligence. Medicare is trying to reduce healthcare costs by denying coverage for "low value" treatments like steroid injections and spinal cord stimulators. rebrand.ly/medicare-pil...

A new report shows that it's rare for pain patients in Australia to overdose on prescription opioids. More Australians die from paracetamol (acetaminophen) than opioids, yet paracetamol is still much easier to get. rebrand.ly/rare-chronic...

UK researchers are developing an artificial cartilage that could dispense anti-inflammatory and pain relieving medications from within joints. The gel-like material would automatically release the drugs during arthritis flare-ups. rebrand.ly/experimental...

Are you worried or confused about the potential risks and benefits of kratom? Here's a balanced article that looks at the pros and cons of using kratom for pain relief. rebrand.ly/balancing-ri...

Opioid doses last as long as manufacturers say they will. You can get addicted after one pill. The best way to quit is cold turkey. Those are some of the myths Crystal Lindell believed about opioids, until she developed chronic pain and needed them. She knows better now. rebrand.ly/myths-opioid...

Most opioid guidelines -- including the CDC's -- exempt cancer patients from limits on opioid pain medication. But VA researchers think that should change because cancer patients are living longer, putting them at risk of "persistent opioid use." rebrand.ly/researchers-...

Is your opioid medication not giving you enough pain relief? Or perhaps you dose was lowered? Dr. Forest Tennant and colleagues say there are several ways you can boost the effectiveness of opioid pain medication. rebrand.ly/pain-relief-...

Your odds of success when appealing a health insurance claim denial are better than you think. But it takes effort. Here are 7 tips to help make your appeal successful. rebrand.ly/tips-help-4f...

An experimental brain implant gave long-term pain relief to people suffering from chronic nerve pain. The implant detects when someone is in pain and then uses low frequency deep brain stimulation to target specific areas of the brain. rebrand.ly/experimental...

Previous studies have found a link between childhood trauma and chronic pain in adulthood. New research found adverse events in childhood are associated with several health conditions, including severe pain, anxiety, depression, back problems and hypertension. rebrand.ly/childhood-tr...

Rates of chronic pain and disabling pain rose significantly in the U.S. after the pandemic. Researchers can only speculate why, but the lingering effects of Long Covid and poorly treated acute pain may be responsible for the increase. rebrand.ly/chronic-pain...

How well does your doctor listen to you? PNN's Carol Levy says some of her doctors listen well and admit when they don't know the answers. Others are dismissive or spend their time looking at computer screens. rebrand.ly/does-doctor-...

Dr. Lynn Webster says the backlash against "woke" policies in healthcare has gone way too far. Public health programs that save lives by reducing the risk of addiction and overdoses are being labelled as "woke medicine" and "coercion." rebrand.ly/awake-not-ae...

Have trouble sleeping? A new long-term study found that medical cannabis helps with sleep quality, and reduces depression, anxiety and pain. bit.ly/4n6WGkE

New research suggests that different parts of the brain are more active when relieving pain -- depending on where the pain originates. The finding could pave the way to more targeted and effective pain treatments. bit.ly/4mNaIIA

At least four top CDC officials resigned in protest after the ouster of CDC Director Susan Monarez. Among those leaving is Dr. Debra Houry, who played in instrumental role in the development and implementation of the 2016 CDC opioid guideline. bit.ly/4mGKIhU

PNN's Crystal Lindell learned a hard lesson when she sought first treatment for chronic pain. Doctors are not gods and often have to guess what's wrong with you. bit.ly/4lYybFu

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine wants to make kratom an illegal Schedule One controlled substance in his state. The ban would include all 7-OH and synthetic kratom products, as well as natural leaf powder. bit.ly/4206sg6

The FDA has approved a new implant that sends mild electric impulses into the vagus nerve to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Zapping the nerve helps reduce autoimmunity and inflammation caused by RA. bit.ly/45zsEjD

The cost of eggs, meat and gasoline has frustrated many Americans. But many are in for a bigger shock when they see where their health insurance premiums are heading. bit.ly/45MMUNt

A new study projects that Australia will lose billions of dollars in lost productivity over the next decade due to workers suffering from chronic back pain. But opioids are dismissed as a treatment because of their "low value." bit.ly/4mXCdie

Untreated chronic pain is known to contribute to other health problems, such as high blood pressure, hormone deficiency and cardiac arrest. Drs. Forest Tennant and Scott Guess wonder why these potentially deadly complications are never discussed when it comes to opioids and pain care. bit.ly/4mt9xhf

A small study find that over half the patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain stopped using medical cannabis within a year. While some report significant pain relief, others experience dissatisfaction, intolerance, or prefer more conventional treatment. rebrand.ly/pain-patient...

Do you think the media coverage of chronic pain is fair and accurate? Neen Monty explains how pain research data is often misused in clickbait headlines that demonize opioids or promote treatments that don't work. rebrand.ly/when-headlin...

A new Cochrane review found little evidence to support the use of ketamine in treating chronic pain. But some pain sufferers think ketamine infusions have helped them tremendously. rebrand.ly/just-don-dac...

The FDA has approved the first new fibromyalgia drug in over 15 years. Tonmya is more of a sleep aid than an analgesic. It reduces pain by improving the quality of restorative sleep. www.painnewsnetwork.org/stories/2025...

A TikTok video has gone viral over allegations that a kratom drink is highly addictive and being abused by young people. Crystal Lindell wonders if it's a "moral panic" story that stokes fear but is slim on facts. rebrand.ly/moral-panic-...

Ginger has long been a staple in the kitchen. What you may not know is that ginger also has some health benefits, such as relieving pain and inflammation. rebrand.ly/arthritis-pa...

Crystal Lindell thought getting a diagnosis would finally end the stigma and judgement she faced from doctors about her unexplained chronic pain. It didn't change a thing. rebrand.ly/does-having-...

The FDA’s latest campaign against kratom has reignited a wave of sensational claims in the media about the herbal supplement and its potential for addiction. “A new emergency is quietly growing in the United States,” warns one outlet. rebrand.ly/fda-warning-...

Dr. Forest Tennant says high-potency formulations of hydromorphone -- injected under the skin -- are a quick and effective way to relieve intractable pain. The injections helped some patients reduce their use of other opioids. rebrand.ly/hydromorphon...

More research is needed. but a new study suggests that cannabis slows the aging of brains in older adults and may even improve cognitive function. rebrand.ly/cannabis-use...

Reducing access to prescription opioids was Australia's solution to the opioid crisis. But it lead to many of the same unintended consequences as it did the United States, with drug users turning to other substances. rebrand.ly/limits-opioi...

Can videos generated by artificial intelligence (AI) replace real, live physical therapists? The early results from the UK are promising, at least when it comes to shortening wait times to see a physiotherapist. rebrand.ly/replace-pers...

Pregabalin (Lyrica) increases the risk of heart failure, while an experimental drug provides less pain relief than Vicodin. The bad news keeps piling up for non-opioid analgesics. rebrand.ly/bad-news-4b0...

The DEA says opioid pain medication can only be prescribed for a "legitimate medical purpose." But there is no definition of "legitimate pain" in federal or state guidelines and regulations. Dr. Forest Tennant has a solution. rebrand.ly/legitimate-p...

Have you faced stigma, disbelief or even hate because of your chronic pain? PNN's Crystal Lindell has heard it all -- and learned the best thing to do is ignore the haters. rebrand.ly/chronic-pain...

Endometriosis has been linked with hundreds of other medical conditions, including cancer, migraine, asthma & Crohn's disease. Far from being "all in your head" (as many women are told), evidence shows that endometriosis causes dysfunction throughout the body. www.painnewsnetwork.org/stories/2025...