Pain

News • Pectus excavatum surgery

VR could help reduce post-OP pain for pediatric patients

Virtual reality (VR) before surgery could help reduce pain in the early postoperative period among adolescents undergoing surgery for funnel chest (pectus excavatum), according to new research.

News • Effects on autoimmune disease

Will pregnancy make myasthenia gravis worse? Study sheds new light

Many women with myasthenia gravis choose not to have children due to fear that the disease will get worse during or after pregnancy. Now, a study investigated the connection to the autoimmune disease.

News • Polycystic ovary syndrome

Study links PCOS and heart disease

Heart disease risk has been found to increase in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), even in those with normal weight, according to new research.

News • Study shows challenges in primary care

Why diagnosing endometriosis often takes years

Endometriosis affects up to one in ten women and girls of reproductive age, but for many, the path to diagnosis is both long and complex. Now, two new studies explain the diagnostic challenges in…

News • Women's health

How endometriosis puts the brain in 'pain mode'

Repeated menstrual cycles may do more than trigger endometriosis – they may rewire the brain, a new study finds. Recurring inflammation can sensitize the nervous system, driving lasting pain.

News • Molecular imaging

Rheumatoid arthritis: PET/CT predicts treatment response

A new targeted PET/CT tracer can detect treatment response in rheumatoid arthritis patients in as little as four weeks, and potentially even at the start of treatment, according to new research.

Article • Beyond drugs and surgery

Radiation for joint pain? Study validates low-dose approach for knee osteoarthritis

The concept of using radiotherapy for osteoarthritis may seem counterintuitive for many clinicians. Yet a well-designed randomised controlled trial presented at the 2025 ASTRO Annual Meeting in San Francisco suggests that low-dose radiotherapy deserves a closer look. The findings add robust evidence to a therapeutic approach that has long been underutilised outside of German-speaking countries.

News • Women's health

Vulvodynia: study paves way for patient-centred treatment

A first-of-its-kind study could lead to quicker and more targeted support for vulvodynia - a painful chronic condition estimated to affect more than one in 10 women with no known cause.

News • A £15.5 million price tag

Avoidable knee surgery cancellations: a costly, painful problem

Thousands of NHS knee replacement operations are cancelled at short notice every year, many for avoidable reasons, a new study shows. This costs the NHS millions of pounds and increases waiting times.

News • Blood flow measurement

Stress cardiac MRI tests may help improve angina diagnosis and treatment

A patient reports with chest pain, but in the coronary angiogram, the main heart arteries look clear, so it cannot be angina – right? A new study reveals that this approach can easily lead to misdiagnosis.

News • How much does it hurt?

‘Monetizing’ pain for more accurate assessments

Asking people how much money they would accept to experience pain again can provide a more accurate and comparable measure of pain levels than the familiar 1–10 scale, according to new research.

News • Response to changes in pH levels

‘Artificial cartilage’ releases drugs to counter arthritis flare-ups

A squishy new ‘artificial cartilage’ material could improve arthritis treatments by releasing anti-inflammatory drugs in response to a flare-up.

News • An evolutionary legacy

Osteoarthritis: more than just wear and tear, study finds

Is osteoarthritis really an inevitable side-effect of an ageing body? New research challenges the idea of mechanical wear of joints as the cause of this painful condition.

News • Advance against back pain

3D bioprinting a functional spinal disc

Researchers used state-of-the-art 3D bioprinting to replicate the complex structure and environment of spinal discs. Their insights hold promise for understanding back pain and disc degeneration.

News • Measuring neonatal pain

Pain assessment in newborn babies: current scales lack evidence

In an NICU, it is critically important to accurately assess a baby's pain level. A new review finds that none of the current clinical rating scales are backed by evidence in terms of validity and reliability.

News • Potential for patients with knee pain

Artificial lateral meniscus makes clinical debut

Researchers have designed an artificial lateral (outer) meniscus that could help patients with chronic knee pain. The first patients have already undergone surgery and begun rehabilitation.

News • Divergent sex-specific mechanisms

Why pain medication may be less effective for women

Chronic pain is more common among women, but why is that? New research explores sex-specific differences in pain signal communication in the nervous system to help answer this question.

News • Dangerous fantasy worlds

Happily ever after? Study explores health risks for Disney princesses

Social deprivation, infectious diseases, broken bones, and even poison apples: The life of Disney princesses is fraught with hidden health risks, a new study reveals.

News • Functional connectivity imaging

fMRI brain scan predicts effectiveness of spinal cord surgery

Spinal cord stimulation is performed for patients with chronic pain. However, for some patients, the procedure is not effective. A new method involving fMRI could help predict success.

News • Research on dysmenorrhea

New study links depression to period pain

Depression may be a cause, rather than a consequence, of period pain, a new study finds. This further highlights the need for a holistic approach when treating mental health and reproductive issues.

News • Image analysis for tissue classification

Endometriosis: Hyperspectral images to simplify surgery

Early and precise diagnosis of endometriosis is crucial for women's health and quality of life. Researchers are using hyperspectral imaging and AI to improve medical care for those affected.

News • Know thy patients' symptoms

Questionnaire + spine MRI = better diagnosis

Not every spine abnormality shown in an MRI scan causes pain for a patient. To diagnose correctly, researchers advocate the use of questionnaires to match the images with reported symptoms.

News • Cardiac disease research

Endometriosis associated with increased risk for heart attack, stroke

New research from Denmark explores a possible connection between endometriosis and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Details are presented at the ESC 2024 Congress.

News • Cholecystectomy

Gallstones and abdominal pain: Surgery not always the best option

Even years after the removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy), one-third of patients still experience persisting abdominal pain. Better selection criteria for surgery are needed, say researchers.

News • Women's health

Endometriosis: exploring promising diagnostic tools

Endometriosis can cause abdominal pain and cramping before, during and after menstruation, and may lead to infertility. Now, researchers identified promising approaches for better early diagnosis.

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