Pain
Tick saliva protein (Votucalis) could be developed into chronic pain drug
A protein found in tick saliva may soon be turned into a drug that eases both chronic pain and chronic itching. It is hoped that the protein – called Votucalis – could lead to a replacement for traditional painkillers, for example opioids, that can be ineffective, have serious side-effects and are addictive.
Achieving a good night’s sleep can be difficult, especially for people with arthritis, but Dr Rob Hicks is here to help
Many people with arthritis have an increased risk of sleep disturbance. Let’s look at why this may be, and the positive changes that can be made to help those sleeping with arthritis have the best chance of reaching the holy grail of a good night’s sleep. Information, after all, is power.
Continue readingYoga and meditation reduce chronic pain
A mindfulness-based stress reduction course resulted in improvement in levels of pain, depression and disability, adding to previous research that shows that yoga and meditation are useful for treating chronic pain.
Continue readingNon-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are not associated with more severe coronavirus disease says new study
The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen is not associated with any adverse effects in people who have tested positive for COVID-19, according to a new study in PLOS Medicine.
Continue readingCatastrophising osteoarthritis pain leads to less exercise
How people think about pain influences whether they get enough exercise and kick starts a harmful cycle of avoidance of activity that worsens catastrophising about pain the following day, says new US research.
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