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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 poorly understood area of medicine, including healthcare professionals, patients, and students.
My purpose is solely educational and non-profit. While I aim to make the best use of the available scientific evidence, the content of my blogs primarily reflects my personal opinion.
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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.
Michele Curatolo
Mar 212 min read
199 views
0 comments
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...
Michele Curatolo
Feb 243 min read
183 views
0 comments
Muscle relaxants for chronic pain
Muscle relaxants can help manage chronic pain, but not reliably and not in all types of chronic pain.
Michele Curatolo
Jan 243 min read
215 views
0 comments
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.
Michele Curatolo
Dec 12, 20242 min read
541 views
0 comments
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?
Michele Curatolo
Oct 9, 20242 min read
72 views
0 comments
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.
Michele Curatolo
May 22, 20243 min read
354 views
0 comments
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.
Michele Curatolo
Jan 24, 20243 min read
216 views
0 comments
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.
Michele Curatolo
Nov 1, 20234 min read
209 views
0 comments
Somatosensory tests in personalized pain medicine
Somatosensory tests may be useful in personalized pain medicine. Their usefulness should be addressed by randomized controlled trials,
Michele Curatolo
Sep 11, 20234 min read
185 views
0 comments
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?
Michele Curatolo
Jun 12, 20234 min read
231 views
0 comments
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.
Michele Curatolo
May 22, 20234 min read
620 views
0 comments
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.
Michele Curatolo
Apr 20, 20234 min read
389 views
0 comments
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"?
Michele Curatolo
Mar 1, 20233 min read
6,606 views
2 comments
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.
Michele Curatolo
Feb 6, 20233 min read
207 views
0 comments
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.
Michele Curatolo
Jan 5, 20234 min read
266 views
0 comments
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.
Michele Curatolo
Nov 16, 20223 min read
136 views
0 comments
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.
Michele Curatolo
Oct 24, 20225 min read
278 views
0 comments
Does an injury lead to long-term opioid use?
Acute injury rarely results in long-term use of opioids.
Michele Curatolo
Sep 15, 20222 min read
64 views
0 comments
Chili pepper to treat chronic pain: how does it work?
Why does capsaicin, a constituent of chili pepper, relieve chronic pain?
Michele Curatolo
Aug 24, 20223 min read
8,092 views
1 comment
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.
Michele Curatolo
Jul 20, 20224 min read
1,041 views
0 comments
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