Chronic pain poses a significant public health crisis, affecting about 50 million Americans, with 20 million unable to work due to its debilitating severity. To alleviate their suffering, millions are prescribed antidepressant medications. However, a recent comprehensive review of studies reveals that many prescriptions for antidepressants used to manage chronic pain lack adequate and reliable…

Over this past weekend, I battled a nagging headache that seemed to start in my upper back. The pain traveled up the left side of my neck and into my ear and jaw. With every twinge, I kept thinking, “What new kind of hell is this?” I generally don’t get headaches, and this one was…

Neuropathic pain is a disorder characterized by abnormal pain perception, which can cause extreme pain to even mild stimuli and bring great discomfort to daily life. Now, the cells needed for natural recovery from pain have been identified in a Japanese study. In April, a research project led by Professor Makoto Tsuda and Takahiro Masuda,…

In Brief: Challenging previous notions about inflammation and pain, scientists found that a robust initial inflammatory response appears to protect against chronic pain rather than contribute to it. The findings suggest that suppressing inflammation to treat acute musculoskeletal pain may be counterproductive for long-term pain relief. Many of us have felt the ache of a thrown-out…

Four Chinese characters in calligraphy—寧靜致遠 (ning jing zhi yuan) hang framed on Yuanyuan “Kevin” Liu’s office wall. The words from ancient Chinese literature have become the motto that Liu lives by—translated into English, they say that great achievements are not accomplished by chasing fame and fortune, but by dedicating oneself to one’s calling. Liu discovered his calling…

An international team of scientists has identified the neural mechanisms through which sound blunts pain in mice. The findings, which could inform the development of safer methods to treat pain, were published in the journal, Science. The study was led by researchers at NIDCR; the University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei; and Anhui…

In Brief: Using an imaging technique to visualize pain signals in facial nerves, NIDCR researchers identified a protein that enhances neurons’ responses to painful stimuli. Blocking the protein in mice blunted pain signaling; the results could inform the development of safer, non-opioid pain therapies. From a throbbing tooth or aching jaw to a pounding migraine,…

Will a time-tested intervention such as acupuncture point your health in the right direction, or is it a useless stab at well-being? A centuries-old practice that takes off from traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture has been widely studied for its potential against chronic pain. In one of the largest studies to date, a meta-analysis involving almost…

You hate the taste of medicine but you are having a bad headache and rushing to finish your work. What do you do? Pinch your nose and pop some painkillers? How about skipping the pills and considering an alternative method? Reflexology—when this term is mentioned, many people usually think of a foot massage. But actually,…

If you’ve been spending more time at home during the pandemic, you may not realize how important proper footwear is for keeping certain injuries at bay. Sean Peden, an orthopaedic foot and ankle specialist from Yale University Medicine, says not wearing supportive footwear on a regular basis can lead to foot pain and other problems….