Chronic pain

In the first study of its kind, scientists have found that swimming can provide relief from chronic low back pain. The trial suggests this exercise is clinically effective for treating this hard-to-target condition.

Dipa Kamdar/Kingston University/The Conversation

For decades, lung disease has been the most visible and life-threatening part of cystic fibrosis – but this isn't the whole story. Cystic fibrosis is also a gastrointestinal disease, affecting the gut and organs including the pancreas and liver.

A supplement best known for helping some people get a better night's sleep may also have a surprising painkilling effect in those with a range of chronic conditions. This could help reduce the use of pain medications that come with more risks.

An opioid drug with a low risk of addiction and respiratory depression has emerged as a promising candidate for treating chronic pain and pruritus, a condition that compels people to scratch their skin. And it's already on the market.

New research challenges fears about stopping long-term prescription opioid use, uncovering no associated rise in suicide risk and a sharp drop in overdose death. The findings offer reassurance for clinicians and patients managing chronic pain.

In a review of more than 200 clinical trials, scientists have identified which exercise offers the most benefits in relieving the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis. It's the most comprehensive look at physical activity in treating the condition yet.

People with severe chronic pain were far more likely to have elevated levels of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell, a new study found, hinting at an immune link to pain – but the rise in these cells didn’t make treatments any less effective.

A review of existing research has found that tramadol’s pain relief benefits are minimal and may be outweighed by serious side effects, challenging the drug’s reputation as a “safer” opioid option for treating chronic pain.

Researchers believe they have developed the first blood test to diagnose chronic fatigue syndrome, or myalgic encephalomyelitis, and it has the potential to be a game-changer for millions around the globe suffering with the debilitation condition.

Pain is hard to measure. One person’s “ouch” is another’s agony. Now, scientists say they’ve found a better way to assess pain: putting a price on it. By translating pain into dollars, they’ve created a more accurate, comparable way to measure suffering.

In a clinical trial, six sessions of low-dose radiation significantly eased knee osteoarthritis pain and improved function for months afterwards, hinting at a safe, drug-free alternative for millions living with joint degeneration.