MetaFilter posts tagged with pain

Simulated childbirth

gaspode — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:50:06 -0800

Experiencing the pain of labor...when you're male[slyt]

A new scare?

borborygmi — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:26:11 -0800

You may know it as acetaminophen, paracetamol, APAP, or ... Tylenol. Today an FDA advisory panel recommended banning prescription drugs that contain acetaminophen, such as vicodin and percocet. The panel of experts also voted to give acetaminophen a black box warning, and reduce the maximum dosage of over-the-counter formulations. Acetaminophen is a popular painkiller by itself and, in combination with opiates, is the most commonly prescribed medication in the US. Acetaminophen has known for over a hundred years, though its use in the US began in 1955. The brand has survived scares and maintained its popularity for decades, thanks to some innov ative mark eting (last link is a pdf) and effective analgesia in many clinical settings. Acetaminophen is generally better tolerated than ibuprofen and other painkillers, but it's not without adverse effects -- acetaminophen is now the leading cause of liver failure in the US. The FDA panel hopes these measures will reduce overdoses leading to fulminant liver failure, but similar restrictions in the UK have had mixed results.

The birth of anesthesia

homunculus — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:55:12 -0800

The day pain died. "The date of the first operation under anesthetic, Oct. 16, 1846, ranks among the most iconic in the history of medicine. It was the moment when Boston, and indeed the United States, first emerged as a world-class center of medical innovation. The room at the heart of Massachusetts General Hospital where the operation took place has been known ever since as the Ether Dome, and the word 'anesthesia' itself was coined by the Boston physician and poet Oliver Wendell Holmes to denote the strange new state of suspended consciousness that the city's physicians had witnessed. The news from Boston swept around the world, and it was recognized within weeks as a moment that had changed medicine forever." [Via]

Breathe deeply and It'll all go way.

adamvasco — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 13:31:43 -0800

The idea of Hypnosis and Pain Management has been around a bit.
Now British surgeons are being advised to hypnotise patients for some operations.
The Mayo Clinic: Another Way to manage Pain; and as explained by the American Pain Foundation; also Hypnotic Approaches in the Cancer Patient. If this were a drug, everyone would be using it. (previously 1, 2 (links dead, discusssion only) ).

Toronto Humane Society: one out of three is pretty damn bad

maudlin — Sat, 30 May 2009 14:38:24 -0800

At the Toronto Humane Society, veterinarians say animals die suffering unnecessarily in their cages while pleas to euthanize them are dismissed. Dozens of staff, volunteers and veterinarians have quit in protest. ... A note written by a staff member or volunteer on the medical chart of a cat, animal ID A127495, admitted last fall, reads: "Died Oct 19 3:15 am. Gasped and jerked and cried last breaths, because there was no one in shelter to euthanize or treat. This is not humane." ... [THS president] Mr. Trow says he strives to keep euthanasia rates low for ethical reasons. “How can anyone suggest that, because he might be here longer than anyone would want, that it's better to put [a dog] down?” Mr. Trow asked. “I think that's a strange suggestion, don't you? You live here as long as you can.” Images (yes, they're disturbing.) Video of a puppy adopted out with a broken leg. The THS web site. Mr. Trow maintains that the THS does not have a no-kill policy and denies that the shelter's veterinarians are influenced in their decisions whether or not to euthanize. “There's no pressure on anyone to do anything or not to do anything other than on professionals, professional doctors and professional nurses, to do the best they can,” he said. By law, it is a requirement for veterinarians employed by humane societies to have language in their contract that makes them responsible for all decisions relating to the care of animals. “I couldn't work at the Toronto Humane Society any longer because it violated my professional oath as a veterinarian,” said Johanna MacNaughton, a veterinarian who resigned in April. ... “I would never make a euthanasia decision without great consideration, and I would only euthanize an animal if it was suffering with no chance of recovery,” said Dr. MacNaughton. And an internal memo obtained by The Globe confirms that euthanasia decisions must be cleared by management, many of whom have no medical training.

Do you really want to hurt me? I'm thinking you do, Limahl. I'm thinking you do...

miss lynnster — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 11:15:56 -0800

1980s pop music hasbeen + swing big band = OMIGOD NO MAKE IT STOP.

A Medical Madoff

homunculus — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 22:10:21 -0800

A Medical Madoff: Anesthesiologist Faked Data in 21 Studies. "A pioneering anesthesiologist has been implicated in a massive research fraud that has altered the way millions of patients are treated for pain during and after orthopedic surgeries."

How Opium Can Save Afghanistan

homunculus — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 22:15:42 -0800

Poppy For Medicine. "America's drug war in Afghanistan has been a miserable failure. So why not legalize opium production and let Afghanistan become the Saudi Arabia of morphine?"

Burn patients find relief in Snow World.

GrammarMoses — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:51:37 -0800

Researchers have known for several years now that video games can distract people from pain. Now one virtual-reality game, developed for burn patients, has added a conceptual boost to this idea; the action takes place in a snowy landscape populated by penguins and snowmen. Wounded soldiers who have played the game (wearing VR goggles to help block out the sight of their burns being treated) report a reduction in pain of 30-50%. "Patients reported feeling less pain when playing Snow World, and had greater range of motion in their burnt limbs as their muscles relaxed. Less pain medication was also required, meaning patients were lucid for longer periods of time." In this video, one wounded vet talks about how the game has helped him.

"Taking them off feels like an orgasm."

miss lynnster — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 22:19:59 -0800

Walking a mile in our heels. If you'd like to try it yourself, here are some handy pointers. Just be forewarned: after a few minutes your feet may feel like bloody stumps, but your calves will look irresistably fabulous.

Hush, the babies are sleeping...

Christ, what an asshole — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:53:34 -0800

Justine Dream Experiment (NSFW)

How Shoes Are Ruining the Human Foot

homunculus — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 20:50:31 -0800

You Walk Wrong. "It took 4 million years of evolution to perfect the human foot. But we’re wrecking it with every step we take." [Via]

He got nailed.

Henry C. Mabuse — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 03:07:39 -0800

Doctors successfully removed a two-inch nail from a man's genitals yesterday. Doctors pulled the nail out of his urethra on their first attempt and later said the man could have died if the object had not been spotted on X-ray. The man had admitted himself to SMC on Sunday night with extreme abdominal pain and was unable to speak. The man told doctors the last thing he remembered was having something sprayed in his face and being fondled by one of his assailants before he blacked out. Reminds me of people who insert strange things into their arse and then claim, 'oh doctor, I slipped over in the bath and this artillery shell went up me' khyber, honest!' Also reminds me of the charming Albert Fish, who, among his other awful doings, stuck over a dozen needles into his pelvis and perineum, presumably for kicks.

A new drug for a disease which might not exist

jackbrown — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 05:13:41 -0800

Is fibromyalgia a useful way of categorizing the illnesses experienced by several million Americans? The doctor who pioneered the study and characterization of the illness no longer thinks it exists as a distinct entity, and other experts agree. People who've been diagnosed with the disorder experience real pain, and are comforted by being able to put a name to their illness, but their doctors often think they'd have been better off without the diagnosis. Lyrica, a new drug has been approved; patients are suspicious that it is designed to replace another very similar drug which is going generic; moreover, Lyrica, which was originally developed to treat diabetic nerve pain and seizures, has severe side effects: it increases obesity and edema in a population of patients who are already on average, overweight, edemic, and clinically depressed. The fact that FDA reviewers initially rejected Pfizer's application to sell the drug based on its unimpressive results and severe side effects has personal injury lawyers eying Pfizer already; just as corporate defense lawyers question the existence of the disease.

Socially unacceptable addictions, government encouraged addictions.

orthogonality — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 02:51:56 -0800

When the working poor turn to addictive drugs to manage pain so they can keep working, that's "moral weakness, not a public health problem.":

Every morning before sunup, Trapp drives 120 miles.... "This methadone makes you feel like a human being again," Trapp says. With disability rates as high as 37 percent in coal-mining areas such as Buchanan County, the region has many people with long-term pain management needs. As is the case with lots of aging miners, Trapp's addiction to pills began in a doctor's office, not a back-alley drug deal.... The clinic's counseling staff members say that many patients need to be on some sort of drug to cope with severe, long-term pain and that methadone has made them functional. And for those who lack insurance or access to more personalized care, it is often the only affordable option.

But using an addictive high to take money from the working poor is good government and great business:

Laura Estrada, 33,... earns just more than $22,000 a year [~ $423/wk] as a customer sales representative... but spends anywhere between $100 and $200 a week on scratch-off tickets, including the $50 [single lottery tickets]. She loves the rush. "Losing $50 makes you perspire; it makes you nervous. 'Gosh, I shouldn't have bought that.' But then you win and it makes you feel great," she said. Her reason for continuing to play? "I have to try to get my money back."... The state spends $33 million a year promoting the games that inspire dreams of instant riches, but several years ago eliminated funding for programs to help problem gamblers.

Paeykillers

daksya — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:58:34 -0800

Richard Paey Speaks - An interview with the paraplegic man sentenced to 25 years in prison for treating his own pain, but now out after a full pardon by the Florida Governor. Some related posts on this topic: The war on pain relief Pain Management as a Human Right Many of World's Poor Suffer in Pain RIP Robin Prosser

RIP Robin Prosser

homunculus — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 12:03:14 -0800

Robin Prosser was a former concert pianist and systems analyst who suffered from an autoimmune disease similar to lupus for over 20 years. The disease left her in constant pain and made her allergic to most pharmaceutical painkillers. Only medical marijuana brought her relief, but last spring the DEA seized her medicine. Unable to cope with the chronic pain any longer, she committed suicide on October 18th. [Via Andrew Sullivan.]

Many of World’s Poor Suffer in Pain

homunculus — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 13:15:36 -0800

Drugs Banned, Many of World’s Poor Suffer in Pain "Millions of people die in pain because they cannot get morphine, which is legal for medical use in most nations." [Via TalkLeft.]

Pain Management as a Human Right

homunculus — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 20:15:01 -0800

Recognizing Pain Management as a Fundamental Human Right. These pieces from the journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society argue that under-treated chronic pain is becoming a public health crisis which must be addressed. But a warning to pain doctors in the U.S. who prescribe opioids in doses that seem high to narcotics agents and prosecutors: “Be afraid.” [Via Hit & Run and TalkLeft.]

I was much happier before I knew these existed

madamjujujive — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 22:48:32 -0800

EEEK! (YouTube) [more]

Zip Zap Rap!

Sticherbeast — Wed, 05 Jul 2006 15:24:56 -0800

Pay to shock a man, or to prevent him from being shocked. MeFi's own bleucube wears an electric dog collar for a study in...well...shocking a man, or preventing him from being shocked. Shall good or evil prevail - charity or malice? It's all on the line. And by "on the line," I mean "available for $1-4 a pop." 10% of the proceeds go to charity. The other 90% go to being awesome. Via Projects.

Share the pain!

ikkyu2 — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 22:32:50 -0800

"Doctor, it hurts when I do that." Doctors and patients agree - doctors are lousy when it comes to recognizing, diagnosing and treating pain. The AMA developed this free Continuing Medical Education tool (requires Flash) to help docs learn and understand how to deal with pain - but other folks, folks who are now in pain or might someday be in pain, might find it quite interesting as well. All docs in California have to complete this seminar or a similar one by the end of 2006 to get relicensed; the hope is that this will help the docs and the patients who have to deal with pain on a daily basis.

Brain research.

semmi — Sun, 14 May 2006 10:11:51 -0800

The Pain in the Brain. (NYT)

Safe mutilation

daksya — Sun, 05 Feb 2006 22:04:07 -0800

Some British nurses want patients who are intent on harming themselves to be provided with clean blades so that they can cut themselves more safely.

0wned

crunchland — Fri, 27 May 2005 17:18:22 -0800

You got owned ... an entertaining study of life's little mishaps on video. Some you've seen, some you may not have. (wmv)