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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
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.
495 views0 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?
55 views0 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.
208 views0 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.
206 views0 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.
192 views0 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.
132 views0 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.
63 views0 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.
990 views0 comments
Michele Curatolo
Jul 6, 20222 min read
Acute back pain after osteoporotic fractures: Which medication?
Acute back pain after osteoporotic vertebral fractures is a public health issue. Choosing a medication that limits harm is challenging.
181 views0 comments
Michele Curatolo
Jun 22, 20222 min read
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
178 views0 comments
Michele Curatolo
May 12, 20224 min read
Prognostic nerve blocks: meaningful or meaningless?
Prognostic nerve blocks to predict the effect of a subsequent treatment may be meaningful or not, depending on the nature of the procedure.
890 views0 comments
Michele Curatolo
Apr 27, 20222 min read
Improve your sleep, mood and physical function, and you may have less pain
In chronic pain, improvement in sleep, psychological and physical functioning may precede reduction in pain.
245 views0 comments
Michele Curatolo
Apr 13, 20223 min read
Adding a procedure to current treatment of chronic pain
A recent study used a pragmatic approach to demonstrate that adding a hip injection to current treatment improves pain for 6 months.
278 views0 comments
Heather Tick
Mar 15, 20224 min read
Better nutrition, less pain: Turn your pantry into a potent tool for better health and less pain
"You change your body chemistry each time you eat". Evidence for associations between diet and pain are growing.
182 views0 comments
Michele Curatolo
Jan 5, 20224 min read
Why would an anesthetic nerve injection produce long-term pain relief?
Local anesthetics have a short duration of action, so why would they work in chronic pain?
1,303 views0 comments
Michele Curatolo
Dec 29, 20213 min read
Opioid escalation after surgery in patients with opioid use disorder
Definition According to the American Psychiatric Association, opioid use disorder is a condition in which there is uncontrolled use of...
244 views0 comments
Michele Curatolo
Dec 15, 20213 min read
When patients with chronic pain want a procedure, but doctors do not recommend it
Not an uncommon situation that can cause disappointment, frustration, and even anger.
356 views0 comments
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