Pain

A fascinating study has shed light on the phenomenon of using sound for pain relief. Using state-of-the-art brain-imaging techniques, researchers discovered the neural mechanism by which sound reduces pain sensitivity, and reported some unexpected results.

A new review article suggests insects have the capacity to experience pain. The research summarizes the latest behavioral and molecular science and concludes pain states in insects could have ethical implications for current farming practices.

Nobody wants to suffer physical pain if they don't have to, yet they also don't want to risk developing an addiction to pain-killing opioids. That's where a new drug-free implant comes in, as it reduces pain by cooling nerves.

Human trials have shown that hydrogel injections are a promising, effective treatment for chronic lower back pain caused by degenerative disc disease (DDD). The treatment is far less invasive than other surgeries, and has been given FDA approval.

Nerve damage can result in pain that lasts for years, or even a lifetime. There may be new hope, however, as scientists now report that exposing damaged nerves to a cold needle can cause them to regenerate, drastically reducing pain.

A new study led by researchers at McGill University challenges current notions of how acute pain is treated. The findings suggest treating some forms of acute pain with anti-inflammatory drugs may actually increase the risk of that pain developing into a chronic condition.

Researchers have identified a signaling pathway involved with osteoarthritis pain. A study in mice found that normal limb use returned after this pathway was blocked, which could lead to new pain treatments for patients with osteoarthritis.

Early preclinical work led by researchers from Harvard has found elements in a toxin produced by the anthrax bacterium can silence activity in pain-signaling brain neurons. The research raises the prospect of a new model for future pain therapeutics.

The FDA authorized a first-of-its-kind VR system designed to help reduce pain in patients with chronic lower back pain. The authorization follows a successful clinical trial demonstrating the system producing clinically meaningful reductions in pain.

New research has identified a potential treatment for chronic pain in an experimental cancer drug. The research found the drug by screening over 1,000 molecules in the search for one that can enhance the expression of a gene implicated in chronic pain.

Living with pain can be very difficult, especially since heavy-duty pain relievers typically have unwanted side effects, and can be habit-forming. An experimental new treatment, however, gets around those limitations by using implanted electrodes.

The 2021 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded jointly to David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian, for their work uncovering the receptors that allow us to perceive temperature and pressure.