Treatment of TMJ ankylosis (joint fusion) with rib graft and fat padding – The surgeons deduced that this was a successful procedure for TMJ ankylosis, however, they only followed patients for 6 months after surgery. We would be interested to know how the patients did after. Also, they didn’t mention the pain of this procedure. Many patients have told us that the rib graft was by far the most painful surgery they had. Source.
Does dextrose prolotherapy help patients with painful disc dislocation or locking? – Twelve patients with painful disc subluxation or dislocation were divided into two groups – one received injections of dextrose and mepivicaine, and the other (the placebo group) received injections of saline and mepivicaine. Each group showed improvement by the end of the study in both pain and number of locking episodes. Both groups did not have improvement in their clicking sounds. Larger in-depth study is needed to understand if prolotherapy is effective for TMJ pain patients. Source
More research needed to substantiate effectiveness of alternative treatment for fibromyalgia. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine has been researching and conducting several alternative treatment programs for fibromyalgia. They include acupuncture, Tai Chi, massage therapy, chiropractic care, biofeedback, dietary supplements, hypnosis, and magnet therapy. However, the majority of research in the fibromyalgia studies is still considered “preliminary” for which more thorough research and long-term studies are needed to establish the efficacy of the treatments. Source
Gene linked to development of peripheral neuropathy. Research studies at Yale University and the University Maastricht in the Netherlands have identified mutations in the SCN9A gene which trigger sodium channel hyperactivity which leads to nerve degeneration associated with peripheral neuropathy. Sodium channel blockers have been found to be an effective treatment for slowing down nerve degeneration. Source
Nerve stimulation proves effective relief for chronic migraine pain. For years, chronic migraine sufferers have sought relief in a dark, quiet room in an effort to block out all light and sound, both of which are aggravating factors adding greatly to the intensity and duration of the pain associated a migraine attack. Studies from the Thomas Jefferson College in Philadelphia have shown that occipital nerve stimulation (ONS) is both safe and effective for managing headache pain. A group of 153 migraine patients received neurostimulation system implants and were randomly divided into control groups and studied for a period of 12 weeks. At the end of the evaluation, the results proved to support the safety and efficacy of ONS for managing severe and debilitating headache pain associated with chronic migraine. Source
Annual cost of chronic pain in U.S $635 billion. Studies show that more than 116 million Americans struggle with chronic pain each year, resulting in a cost of at least $635 billion due to associated medical charges and lost productivity. Considered to be a nation-wide public health problem, the study includes 16 recommendations for actions to be carried out by the Department of Health & Human Services, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and other federal agencies. Source
Ever complain about a toothache on Twitter? A study published in the Journal of Dental Research revealed the extent to which Twitter users shared their experiences of having a toothache and how they used this collective resource of information for seeking dental treatment or for relief from pain. The results of this study are indicative of Twitter’s expansive reach into the field of public health – including its ability to distribute health information throughout the vast base of all Twitter users. Source
That concludes our news round-up for the past two weeks! 🙂 Do you have any news to share, or exciting plans for the weekend?