Mechanisms of pain

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.

To know about new blogs, you can subscribe here -->
Your data will not be shared

Michele Curatolo

Jun 12
4 min

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?

146 views0 comments

Michele Curatolo

Nov 16, 2022
3 min

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.

118 views0 comments

Is the distinction between acute and chronic pain meaningful?

Michele Curatolo

Oct 24, 2022
5 min

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.

253 views0 comments

Neck pain and headache: Can stem from the C1-2 joint

Michele Curatolo

Jun 22, 2022
2 min

Neck pain and headache: Can stem from the C1-2 joint

Pain at the upper neck and headache can stem from the C1-2 joint. Steroid injection or surgery can be effective

114 views0 comments

Explaining "pain sensitization" to patients

Michele Curatolo

Jun 8, 2022
3 min

Explaining "pain sensitization" to patients

Sensitization of neural pathways is a crucial determinant of chronic pain, and has treatment consequences. How to explain this to patients?

119 views0 comments

The huge gap between discoveries and availability of effective pain medications

Michele Curatolo

May 25, 2022
3 min

The huge gap between discoveries and availability of effective pain medications

A new research pathway is proposed to translate discoveries of pharmacological targets into effective treatments of pain.

85 views0 comments

What does local tenderness say about the origin of pain?

Michele Curatolo

Feb 23, 2022
3 min

What does local tenderness say about the origin of pain?

Tenderness evoked by pressure is typically interpreted as a sign of injury causing pain. However, it is of very limited diagnostic value.

290 views0 comments

Pain from multiple body areas: when arithmetics doesn't work

Michele Curatolo

Feb 9, 2022
2 min

Pain from multiple body areas: when arithmetics doesn't work

Pain from multiple body sites is frequently highly disabling. 1+1+1 is more than 3. Why, and what can we do?

89 views0 comments

How blood and urine metabolites could help understand chronic pain

Michele Curatolo

Feb 2, 2022
3 min

How blood and urine metabolites could help understand chronic pain

We need to understand better chronic pain at individual level. The study of metabolites (metabolomics) is a promising perspective.

97 views0 comments

Is "chronic pain" a diagnosis? Yes and no.

Michele Curatolo

Jan 11, 2022
3 min

Is "chronic pain" a diagnosis? Yes and no.

We need to translate the complexity and heterogeneity of chronic pain into meaningful diagnoses.

176 views0 comments

Michele Curatolo

Dec 22, 2021
3 min

Muscle pain: Where does it come from?

Muscles can be a source of pain Everyone, at a certain point of their life, has felt pain in their muscles, and some have muscle pain...

189 views0 comments

Michele Curatolo

Dec 8, 2021
3 min

Pain Sensitivity: What is it?

Pain sensitivity has a complex nature. Its understanding will be crucial to better treat patients with pain.

254 views0 comments

About my blogs

To know about new blogs, you can subscribe here --> Your data will not be shared

To know about new blogs, you can subscribe here -->
Your data will not be shared