New guidelines for safer opioid deprescribing
26 June, 2023Eleven recommendations on when, how and in what situation it may be appropriate for clinicians to reduce opioid use by placing the patient at the centre of the equation have been released.
Headaches impact 75% of Australian women
23 May, 2023A new survey suggests headaches affect 75% of women and 54% of men — and the impact could cost the Australian economy over $35.7 billion annually.
New chronic back pain trial reports significant improvements
08 May, 2023A new treatment has helped long-term sufferers of chronic back pain experience significant reductions in pain and related disability.
Concern over paracetamol access for Australians in pain
17 March, 2023Painaustralia has expressed disappointment at the TGA's interim decision to reduce the available pack sizes of paracetamol in Australia.
Study questions use of antidepressants for chronic pain
02 February, 2023A review has found that while some antidepressants may be effective in treating certain chronic pain conditions, others are either not effective or the effectiveness is unknown.
Finding could pave way for new gut treatments
23 December, 2022Chronic pain associated with gastrointestinal disorders could be treated by targeting the receptor responsible for sense of touch and temperature, new research reveals.
Medicinal cannabis may be safe and effective: study
22 November, 2022A study of medicinal cannabis in a real-world setting has found that the drug is helpful for people experiencing issues with pain, sleep and wellbeing.
Qld long COVID clinic expands to general public
22 November, 2022To meet the increasing demand for long COVID care, The Wesley Hospital Queensland is expanding its long COVID clinic to the general public.
Precision painkillers for chronic pain management
04 November, 2022Cassowary Pharmaceuticals, a University of Queensland spin-off company, is developing precision painkillers that are more accurate and less harmful to the liver.
Risk–benefit analysis of using opioids in EDs
24 October, 2022A systematic review of 42 academic research articles has found that the risk–benefit balance of using opioids in the ED setting remains unclear.
Why less is more when managing low back pain in the ED
22 September, 2022Associate Professor Liz Marles*, Clinical Director at the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, explains why it's time for a cultural shift in our approach to managing back pain.
Medical Cannabis: The Possible Hope For Chronic Pain
01 September, 2022With growing evidence of the harm and negative side-effects of opioids in managing chronic pain, there is hope that other alternatives exist that don't resign you to struggling through life with pain.
Retraining the brain to reduce chronic pain
03 August, 2022A randomised control trial that retrained the brains of people with back pain, and helped them to get moving, is reported to have shown promising results.
Cannabis: short-term gain, but long-term pain?
07 June, 2022US researchers have reviewed 25 trials and studies to evaluate the benefits and harms of cannabinoids for chronic pain.
CBD: very high doses don't affect driving, cognition
01 June, 2022Cannabidiol use seems to be increasing, with a recent University of Sydney study showing around 55,000 requests to access medicinal CBD approved since 2016.