Volume 12, Issue #1

January/February 2012

In This Issue:

Can Yoga And Stretching Exercises Relieve Chronic Low Back Pain?
PPM sat down with the lead researcher of a recent yoga study: is it more effective than stretching or self-care for chronic low back pain? Practical information you can incorporate in your chronic pain patients' treatment plans.
Cortisol Screening in Chronic Pain Patients
Why screen chronic pain patients for cortisol levels? Enough information about pain and its effects on the endocrine system has accumulated to provide a basis for specific clinical interpretations and recommendations. This article provides simple guidelines to begin cortisol screening of your patients with chronic pain.
Escalating Opioids
How do you manage a patient who self-escalates his or her opioid use? Two pain experts answer this opioid management question.
FDA Removes Homeopathic HCG; Helps Legitimate Use In Pain Treatment
In 2011, the FDA took action against seven companies marketing over-the-counter human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) products that were labeled “homeopathic” for weight loss. This is good for pain practitioners wanting to use HCG for pain treatment. Dr. Tennant explain why.
Formulation: The Four Perspectives Of a Patient in Chronic Pain
Patients with chronic pain are usually referred to a psychiatrist out of frustration. The patient is frustrated with their pain management. The physician is frustrated with the patient’s poor response to treatment. Read how to better understand your chronic pain patients.
Guide to Chronic Pain Assessment Tools
Many busy clinicians struggle with finding the time to conduct a thorough assessment of the pain patient, especially the patient with chronic pain. This article reviews how to properly assess a patient with chronic pain.
Hormone Therapies
Letter to the Editor from Practical Pain Management about using human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in the treatment of chronic pain.
How to Select an In-Office Electromagnetic Field Device
Review options for in-office electromagnetic devices to treat chronic pain patients.
Managing Pain in Active or Well-Controlled Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Practical information on treating the pain of lupus. Covers medications, exercise, sleep, and more.
PPM Editorial Board Examines Steps to Prevent Accidental Overdoses
How do you prevent an accidental overdose of opioids in chronic pain patients? The Practical Pain Management Editorial Board provides useful opioid management tips.
Saliva Drug Screening in the Office Setting: Detection of Drug Use and Abuse
Balancing the potential risk of misuse with the benefits of properly prescribed opioids continues to be a challenge. Pain expert writes on saliva drug screening as a detection of opioid misuse.
Understanding the Toxicology Of Diazepam
Because of its widespread use as an anxiolytic, muscle relaxant, preoperative sedative, and seizure medication, diazepam (Valium) is one of the most commonly encountered drugs on urine toxicology reports. Learn how to interpret these toxicology reports.