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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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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
181 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
164 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
208 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
535 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
69 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
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
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
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
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
1,016 views
0 comments
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.
Michele Curatolo
Jul 6, 20222 min read
183 views
0 comments
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
Michele Curatolo
Jun 22, 20222 min read
208 views
0 comments
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.
Michele Curatolo
May 12, 20224 min read
913 views
0 comments
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.
Michele Curatolo
Apr 27, 20222 min read
259 views
0 comments
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.
Michele Curatolo
Apr 13, 20223 min read
287 views
0 comments
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.
Heather Tick
Mar 15, 20224 min read
182 views
0 comments
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?
Michele Curatolo
Jan 5, 20224 min read
1,372 views
0 comments
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...
Michele Curatolo
Dec 29, 20213 min read
248 views
0 comments
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.
Michele Curatolo
Dec 15, 20213 min read
360 views
0 comments
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