Pain Monitor                                                                                  July 2005

THE NEWS

ALERT: N.J. drug maker suspends manufacturing operations and recalls all drugs.
New Jersey company Able Laboratories suspended manufacturing operations and voluntary recalled all of their drug products because of the FDA's serious concerns that they were not produced according to quality assurance standards. It is important to note that this recall only applies to the drugs produced by Able Laboratories - and not to the same drugs produced by other manufacturers. For more information, please see FDA press release.  Recalled drugs include: Acetaminophen & codeine, Hydrocodone bitartrate apap, Indomethacin, Naproxen Sodium, Propoxyphene naps/apap (generic name and under the Ivax label), and Tramadol HCL (under the Ivax label). Download a sample patient notice at http://www.spine.org/Forms/Able_laboratories_sample.pdf.

Individual Active Treatment Combined With Group Exercise for Acute and Subacute Low Back Pain
The results of this landmark study indicate that the costs of this active back program are more than reimbursed as a consequence of earlier return to work. (Free Medscape registration is required.)

Restless Legs Syndrome Often Undiagnosed
New survey suggests more than 7 percent of people are affected.

Healthbeat: Ketamine for Chronic Pain
Some doctors are using low doses of the anesthetic agent, ketamine to treat Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.

Born on the Fourth of July: The Long Journey Home
Ron Kovic served two tours of duty during the Vietnam War. He was paralyzed from the chest down in combat in 1968 and has been in a wheelchair ever since.

Medical Experts Disagree on Marijuana Ruling
Federal laws banning the use of medicinal marijuana now supersede any state legislation allowing the plant or its derivatives to be used for pain relief when recommended by a physician.

Spray Alternative to Pot on the Market in Canada
Canadians now have access to a legal spray alternative to medical marijuana.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

BALANCE. That’s what its all about. Recently CASA, the National Center On Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, released a report that conveyed alarming and important public health information: that the number one area of rate of growth for substance abuse is the abuse of prescription medicines. According to the report, the abuse of prescription pain medicines is a major concern. This is a serious public health issue that must be addressed. Two important points: (1) This is a public health issue and (2) Any efforts to curb prescription medicine abuse should not impede the access to these medicines by people who need them. Balance demands that we do not tip the scale in the direction of solving one problem while at the same time making the other problem worse. Curbing abuse and diversion should not worsen lives of people affected by pain.

Click here to view a letter signed by 32 Attorneys General addressed to the DEA which details their concerns about the actions of the DEA and the effect of these actions on people affected by pain. These law enforcement officials get it, why doesn’t the DEA get it?

Lawmakers Discuss Treatment of Chronic Pain
Congressman Mike Rogers says chronic pain is draining the economy of billions of dollars, yet federal agencies are doing nothing about it.

SCIENCE & MEDICINE

 

Massage, Chiropractic Top Medical Alternatives
Healing hands are the best alternative medicine, Consumer Reports readers say

Acupuncture
Sticking it to arthritis

 

A Healing Breath Breathwork gains following in the West. Breathing: Basic How To's Breathing is a natural object of meditation. By putting attention on your breath, you will change your state of consciousness, begin to relax, and detach from ordinary awareness.

 

What's Up Doc? Meditate on This
The best way to look at meditation is as a complementary treatment, to be used in conjunction with other treatments.

 

---

 

Información básica sobre el síndrome de fatiga crónica y la fibromyalgia.

The Co-Cure Project is a volunteer patient-driven effort to promote the sharing of information about chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia and related disorders.

El Proyecto Co-Cure está trabajando en la traducción al español de información básica sobre el síndrome de fatiga crónica y la fibromialgia. Este esfuerzo no ha hecho más que empezar, pero contamos ya con estos documentos traducidos:

►  Definición clínica revisada de los Centros para el Control de Enfermedades de Estados Unidos (versión abreviada)

►  Síndrome de fatiga crónica: lista de síntomas del Dr. David S. Bell

►  Deterioro Neurocognitivo en el S.F.C., por Dr. John DeLuca, New Jersey Medical School

►  ¿Qué es el síndrome de la fibromialgia? - de la National Fibromyalgia Partnership, Inc. (NFP)

Thank you to our medical/science editor, Peter J. Vicente Ph.D., ABPP.

It's not too late to join our mailing list by completing our "Get Involved" form. And please forward this to a friend who might be interested in our publications and projects.

The American Pain Foundation is an independent, nonprofit organization that relies upon private donations to fund its programs, services, and distribution of educational materials. There are millions of people who live with unrelieved chronic pain. If you can help, please make a donation to the American Pain Foundation. For other ways you can support APF’s work, please visit our website at www.painfoundation.org.