Pain Archives

Take Precautions to Avoid Overdosing on Acetaminophen

Feb 1, 2019 · UHN Staff · Pain

Just as no winter is complete without cold and flu viruses circulating, research suggests that no cold and flu season is complete without an uptick in acetaminophen (Tylenol) overdoses. A recent study found that the odds of exceeding the recommended dose for the drug jumped significantly during the cold and … Read More

Your Fabulous Feet

Feb 1, 2019 · JoAnn Milivojevic · Pain

As you may know, it’s best to try on shoes at the end of the day. That’s because walking around all day slightly enlarges and widens the feet. Feet (and shoe size) also change through the years. “Understanding the changes feet undergo over time can help minimize age-related issues and … Read More

Pain and Tinging in Your Fingers May Signal Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Dec 27, 2018 · UHN Staff · Pain

Up to 10 million Americans are thought to suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS): a nerve disorder that causes discomfort and weakness in the wrist and hand. Fortunately, the condition is very treatable—and it’s important to seek help for it before it permanently affects your hand function. What is Carpal … Read More

From the Editor: Nerve Pain Can Impact Your Hand Function

Dec 27, 2018 · Rosanne Leipzig, MD, PhD · Pain

We use our hands for so many different activities that conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)—which we’re covering in this month’s issue—can significantly impact day-to-day life. I know from personal experience, having suffered from CTS on and off for 20 years before having surgery last year to treat it. CTS … Read More

MGH Study Discovers Brain Inflammation-Fibromyalgia Connection

Dec 27, 2018 · UHN Staff · Pain

Fibromyalgia is a perplexing condition. It causes severe aches and pains, and can affect sleep, mood and memory. There is no simple diagnostic test and no cure. And treatments that help control symptoms in one person may not work for another with the same condition. But researchers at Massachusetts General … Read More

Options for Treating Degenerative Disc Disease

Dec 20, 2018 · UHN Staff · Pain

Your intervertebral discs—the small, donut-shaped structures located between each of the vertebrae in your spine—are less than two inches in diameter, but they are essential to your mobility. Healthy discs provide cushioning between your vertebrae and allow your spine to move and bend. The discs also keep enough space open … Read More

Editor’s Note: Lower Back Pain: A Common Complaint

Dec 20, 2018 · UHN Staff · Pain

Lower back pain is among the most common reasons that patients see their doctors. There are many possible causes, from arthritis, spinal stenosis, and disc disease to the far more common muscular sprains and strains. But it can be difficult to know if the pain is due to a minor … Read More

Ask the Doctor: Is Gout Hereditary; Post-Surgical Radiotherapy

Nov 29, 2018 · UHN Staff · Pain

Q: Is gout hereditary? My father and several other relatives have gout, and I am hoping that my family history doesn’t raise my risk. A: If other members of your family have had gout, you’re more likely to develop the disease. Researchers have identified several genes associated with gout, but … Read More

Steroid Drugs Ease Inflammation, but Use Them With Caution

Nov 29, 2018 · Dawn Bialy · Pain

The first steroid medication, cortisone, earned the reputation of a “miracle drug” more than 60 years ago when it was found to be effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis. Since then, the number of steroid medications has grown, along with the number of diseases and disorders that are treated with them. … Read More

Ask the Experts: Shingles; Fall & Winter Allergies

Oct 25, 2018 · Carrie Adkins-Ali · Pain

Q: My friend was diagnosed with shingles at 40 years old. Isn’t shingles only a concern for people over 60? A: Shingles, a painful rash that strikes people who recovered from chickenpox in childhood, can strike people at any age. The virus lies dormant in the nerve cells for many … Read More

Pain

Enter Your Login Credentials