The FDA has given Breakthrough Therapy status to a cannabis extract, which could speed up its development as the first cannabis-based medicine approved for chronic pain. rebrand.ly/cannabis-ext...

We hear all the time about overdoses caused by opioid medication. But Neen Monty says we rarely hear about the risk of suicide from poorly treated or untreated chronic pain -- which occurs far more often. rebrand.ly/need-talk-a0...

Have you ever wondered why a medication works well for others, but not you? The answer may be a natural enzyme called CYP2D6, which determines how fast or how slow we metabolize opioids and other drugs. rebrand.ly/enzyme-deter...

Do chronic pain patients get unfairly flagged for depression? Many think so because of the questions asked in a patient health questionnaire, but a new study found the screening test reliable. rebrand.ly/does-depress...

Many people in chronic pain go out of their way -- at times -- to appear to be healthy. Crystal Lindell says the "social masking" of her pain gives her a sense of normality. Do you ever hide your pain? rebrand.ly/chronic-pain...

President Trump's support for "natural 7-OH" is stirring debate in the kratom industry. What exactly did he mean? rebrand.ly/trump-endors...

Better sleep, pain relief, and improved mood are the primary reasons older Americans want to try cannabis. Many don't like taking pharmaceutical drugs because they're ineffective or have too many side effects. rebrand.ly/sleep-pain-8...

You may have heard about Suboxone raising the risk of dental problems. A new study found that opioids taken long-term for pain relief are also associated with tooth decay and dental disease. rebrand.ly/opioids-not-...

Pharmacists can use all kinds of excuses to avoid filling an opioid prescription -- from too early a refill to being out of stock. Crystal Lindell has heard them all. rebrand.ly/fake-excuses...

Clinical trials are supposed to test the safety and efficacy of drugs. But some pharmaceutical companies -- including the maker of gabapentin -- use clinical trials as a marketing tool to get more doctors to prescribe their drugs. rebrand.ly/clinical-tri...

With a little help from 7-OH, Crystal Lindell had some very productive and physically active days lately -- to the point where she felt healthy again! Now she's paying the price of powering through her chronic pain. rebrand.ly/downside-pow...

Being diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) often means having a lifetime of pain and disability. A woman with CRPS refused to accept that bleak diagnosis and turned herself into a triathlete. rebrand.ly/crps-patient...

Dr. Forest Tennant says some pain sufferers are getting relief from a supplement called methylene blue. It's not for everyone, but patients with adhesive arachnoiditis have found that methylene blue can boost the effectiveness of opioids and palmitoylethanolamide (PEA). rebrand.ly/methylene-bl...

Have you ever wondered if your dog is sick or in pain? Unfortunately, they can't tell us. But an expert knows what signs to look for and what you can do to help your dog feel better. rebrand.ly/tell-dog-911...

A new study found that artificial intelligence performed better than human doctors in diagnosing patients. Should more doctors make use of AI? Or should AI stay out of healthcare? rebrand.ly/outperform-h...

Alexithymia. Have you heard of it before? Alexithymia is a personality trait characterized by difficulty in identifying or expressing emotions. About 10% of people have alexithymia, and new research suggests having it may worsen chronic pain conditions. rebrand.ly/emotional-di...

How should a patient dress when they go to the doctor? Believe it or not, it makes a difference. A doctor is more likely to treat you with respect if you look respectable. Dressing nicely conveys that you are trying to take care of yourself, and doctors like that. bit.ly/4ePdUSz

State after state and city after city are banning kratom products, which millions of Americans use for pain relief. A bitter rivalry between three industry-funded kratom advocacy groups isn't helping. bit.ly/49e8ZqE

PNN's Crystal Lindell used to wonder why she had so many ankle sprains. So did others. Crystal was accused of being lazy, seeking attention, and being wimp. Getting a diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome finally provided some answers. bit.ly/4t6bGSp

At least six Ohio nursing homes have been caught dumping their patients at homeless shelters. It's a disturbing trend for older nursing home residents when they lose their insurance or are difficult to care for. bit.ly/4twbE7j

The Department of Justice is reclassifying medical marijuana as a Schedule III controlled substance, which allows for medical use under federal law. The move however stops short of legalizing recreational use. bit.ly/4d1egEi

Does taking opioids with cannabis improve pain relief? Not according to a small and deeply flawed study, that combined a low dose of hydromorphone with dronabinol, a cannabis-based medicine. bit.ly/4dZJ6ON

What non-pharmacological therapy works best for chronic low back pain? According to a new study, physical therapy is better at improving physical function than cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness. But no therapy provides much pain relief. bit.ly/4tWIdeq

A survey of medical cannabis patients in Germany found a significant reduction in their use of opioids and other prescription drugs. Side effects from those medications went away, while quality of life and productivity improved. bit.ly/4tvIZQ0

Patients are often told to "get a second opinion" if they don't like a diagnosis or a doctor that's treating them. But PNN's Crystal Lindell says seeing another doctor isn't always practical or even advisable. bit.ly/4mEmtSd

President Trump has signed an executive order directing his administration to speed up the review of psychedelic drugs. Although the order focuses on mental health, psychedelics such as psilocybin mushrooms have shown promise as treatments for chronic pain. bit.ly/4exo8H7

Doctors are more likely to use negative words like "uncooperative" and "noncompliant" in the medical charts of patients with sickle cell disease. The practice may stem from their need for opioid pain medication. bit.ly/4dW1CYf

People who live with chronic pain are about twice as likely to smoke cigarettes as "healthy" people. Some use smoking as a coping mechanism or distraction, while other get some temporary pain relief from smoking. bit.ly/4sCxmFp

A mastectomy can be a life saving treatment for women with breast cancer. But in the months after surgery, many develop chronic pain that can last for years. “It was the worst pain I ever felt,” said one woman. rebrand.ly/women-suffer...

A new study of an opioid risk tool found "too many false alarms." Its classification of patients as being at high risk for overdose or opioid use disorder turned out wrong more often than it was right. rebrand.ly/researchers-...

We're learning -- very slowly -- about the long term health effects of Long Covid. A higher risk of heart disease is one of them. rebrand.ly/long-covid-a...

Dr. Adam Gaffney got more than he bargained for when he went on X and claimed EDS, MCAS, POTS and Lyme are overdiagnosed. He got plenty of feedback from the chronic illness community. rebrand.ly/doctor-faces...

The co-prescribing of long-term opioids with gabapetinoids continues to trend upwards, despite warnings from the FDA that it's a risky combination. www.painnewsnetwork.org/stories/2026...

Do you use AI to learn more about your medical conditions and symptoms? Many patients do, but they're less open to actually use AI in their own healthcare. rebrand.ly/patients-bec...

A new study suggests that hypnosis has long-term benefits for people with moderate to severe chronic pain. Their pain levels dropped and stayed low even after hypnosis therapy ended. rebrand.ly/hypnosis-the...

Dr. Lynn Webster says GLP-1 weight loss drugs show real potential as a treatment for pain and/or addiction, but further studies are needed to show they are safe and effective. rebrand.ly/glp-drugs-97...

It's sad and disappointing to see Tiger Woods involved in another car accident. Even worse was how the news media was so quick to demonize the prescription opioids he had in his pocket. rebrand.ly/fear-mongeri...

Many thanks to Julie Titone for including PNN in her Substack column on opioids. Please subscribe to her Substack page for more columns. rebrand.ly/going-write-...

Drinks that combine kava and kratom are growing in popularity as as "healthy alternatives" to alcohol. But a new CDC study shows they're also resulting in more calls to U.S. poison control centers. rebrand.ly/cdc-study-45...

It's never fun to be the butt of anyone's joke. But that's how the medical system works for many chronic pain patients. rebrand.ly/when-chronic...

If you suffer from joint pain caused by osteoarthritis, collagen supplements could be way to make your joints stronger. More research is needed, but it appears collagen can improve the health of your bones, muscles and skin. rebrand.ly/collagen-sup...

The Iran war is causing more than just high gasoline prices. It is disrupting shipping and global supply chains, which may worsen drug shortages and lead to higher prices for many pharmaceuticals. rebrand.ly/iran-war-75b...

A clinical study found that transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) significantly reduces pain and fatigue in patients with fibromyalgia, when combined with physical therapy. The benefits were long-lasting, with people using TENS daily having the best outcomes. rebrand.ly/tens-helps-c...

Next week is Holy Week, but PNN's Crystal Lindell won't be attending any church services -- something she used to do regularly. Chronic pain has robbed Crystal of many things, including her faith. Has pain taken your faith or deepened it? rebrand.ly/losing-relig...

A 1,200% increase in anything sounds like a lot, but perspective is important. Does the surge of calls about kratom to U.S. poison control centers signal an emerging health threat? Or does it show that more people are using kratom? rebrand.ly/calls-kratom...

Taking care of a toddler is not easy, and it's specially hard if you have chronic pain. Lifting a child out of a crib or high chair multiple times a day takes a toll -- another reason why good pain care is needed. rebrand.ly/chronic-pain...

If you have chronic pain and still work, do you try to hide your pain from the boss and coworkers? A new study finds that many workers in pain -- regardless of profession -- feel pressured to perform. rebrand.ly/pain-shame-6...

The FDA wants patients to have in-home opioid disposal systems to get rid of their unused pain medication. Many patients think that's a dumb idea. rebrand.ly/pain-patient...

It's no secret that many people with chronic pain suffer from depression -- often for good reason. But why are some pain sufferers depressed and others not? The answer lies in the brain. rebrand.ly/chronic-pain...