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About my blogs
About my blogs
I discuss topics related to pain management in an accessible way for anyone who wants to know more about this fascinating and still poorly understood area of medicine, including health care professionals, patients, and students.
My purpose is solely educational and non-profit. While I aim to make best use of the available scientific evidence, the content of the blogs reflect primarily my personal opinion.
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Michele Curatolo
10 hours ago2 min read
Pain management in seniors: Is gabapentin a death risk?
Gabapentin may not increase the risk of death when used with opioids, but its safety profile warrants cautious use.
70 views
0 comments
Michele Curatolo
Feb 243 min read
A new dawn in pain relief: Suzetrigine gets FDA green light
In a groundbreaking development, the FDA has approved Vertex's suzetrigine for the treatment of moderate to severe acute pain. This...
148 views
0 comments
Michele Curatolo
Jan 243 min read
Muscle relaxants for chronic pain
Muscle relaxants can help manage chronic pain, but not reliably and not in all types of chronic pain.
206 views
0 comments
Michele Curatolo
Dec 12, 20242 min read
Gabapentin and pregabalin for pain: overrated and overprescribed?
Gabapentin and pregabalin are likely overprescribed for pain. They offer pain relief in some patients ,but often cause adverse effects.
530 views
0 comments
Michele Curatolo
Oct 9, 20242 min read
One more reason to consider injections for chronic pain
Injections for low back pain may work even if patients know that they are receiving a placebo. What does it mean for pain management?
68 views
0 comments
Michele Curatolo
May 22, 20243 min read
Is "sciatica" a thing?
Pain radiating from the back into the leg is often referred to as “sciatica”, but this term is misleading and should be abandoned.
340 views
0 comments
Michele Curatolo
Jan 24, 20243 min read
Learning about chronic pain can reduce pain
Pain neuroscience education aims to improve the patient's understanding of pain, and can lead to reduced pain and better function.
216 views
0 comments
Michele Curatolo
Nov 1, 20234 min read
What have we achieved after 50 years of pain research?
Achievement of pain research during the last 50 years: many advances in knowledge, still modest benefits for patients.
209 views
0 comments
Michele Curatolo
Sep 11, 20234 min read
Somatosensory tests in personalized pain medicine
Somatosensory tests may be useful in personalized pain medicine. Their usefulness should be addressed by randomized controlled trials,
183 views
0 comments
Michele Curatolo
Jun 12, 20234 min read
Disc degeneration and low back pain
Disc degeneration is considered a cause of low back pain, but is common among individuals without pain. Does it mean that it is unimportant?
224 views
0 comments
Michele Curatolo
May 22, 20234 min read
Diagnosis of pain from the sacroiliac joint
Clinical criteria can help with the diagnosis of sacroiliac joint pain, but some of them are not better than just guessing.
609 views
0 comments
Michele Curatolo
Apr 20, 20234 min read
How to manage an episode of low back pain?
The causes of acute low back pain are largely unknown, and treatments are of uncertain efficacy. However, healing is most likely to happen.
385 views
0 comments
Michele Curatolo
Mar 1, 20233 min read
Can a procedure lead to permanent relief of chronic pain?
Frequent patient's questions: "Can you do a nerve block or kill a nerve to treat my chronic pain? Can this be a permanent solution"?
6,050 views
2 comments
Michele Curatolo
Feb 6, 20233 min read
Do antidepressants reduce pain or not?
Antidepressants can relieve pain independent of the presence of depression, likely due to their effect on the pain inhibitory system.
198 views
0 comments
Michele Curatolo
Jan 5, 20234 min read
Sense and nonsense of biomarkers in pain medicine
Biomarkers are highly needed in pain medicine. However, measures have to fulfill criteria and validation to be biomarkers.
266 views
0 comments
Michele Curatolo
Nov 16, 20223 min read
Placebo for pain: from enemy to friend
The placebo effect relies on patient’s expectation that a treatment will help. It is a welcome way to enhance pain relief.
136 views
0 comments
Michele Curatolo
Oct 24, 20225 min read
Is the distinction between acute and chronic pain meaningful?
The classification of pain into acute (<3 months duration) and chronic (>3 months) lacks scientific support and clinical usefulness.
278 views
0 comments
Michele Curatolo
Sep 15, 20222 min read
Does an injury lead to long-term opioid use?
Acute injury rarely results in long-term use of opioids.
64 views
0 comments
Michele Curatolo
Aug 24, 20223 min read
Chili pepper to treat chronic pain: how does it work?
Why does capsaicin, a constituent of chili pepper, relieve chronic pain?
5,984 views
0 comments
Michele Curatolo
Jul 20, 20224 min read
Epidural steroids: Long-term improvement, but ...
Epidural steroid injections in older adults: study with 2-years follow-up shows that patients improve, but unlikely due to the injection.
1,004 views
0 comments
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