COVID-19 infection linked to higher risk of neuropathy symptoms (Links to an external site)

Adding to a growing body of evidence that, for many, problems related to COVID-19 linger longer than the initial infection, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found that some people infected during the pandemic’s early months experienced symptoms of peripheral neuropathy — pain, tingling and numbness in the hands and feet — during and following their bouts with the virus.

Blocking opioid receptor restores motivation in chronic pain patients (Links to an external site)

What if it were possible to develop a pain killer that could curb the negative emotions associated with pain without causing euphoria? Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have taken a step toward that goal. Studying rodents, they have shown they can block receptors in the brain responsible for the emotional components of pain and restore the animal’s motivation. Their findings could lay the groundwork for developing new, less addictive approaches to pain treatment.

Dr. Robert Gereau Honored with Election as Fellow into AAAS

Eleven faculty members at Washington University in St. Louis — the most in a decade-and-a-half — are among 416 new fellows selected by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the world’s largest general scientific society. Samuel Achilefu; Victoria J. Fraser, MD; Robert W. Gereau; Kathleen B. Hall; Joseph Jez; Mark E. Lowe, […]

HHS Leaders visit the Moron-Concepcion Lab in the Department of Anesthesiology

Leaders from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) visited the Washington University Medical Campus Sept. 20 to hear about strategies to address the opioid crisis, which has claimed the lives of more than 200,000 people in the United States since 1999.  Eric D. Hargan, HHS deputy, led a roundtable discussion, accompanied by […]

A Stimulating Approach to Relieve Back Pain without Opioids

As many as one in three Americans suffer from low back pain. Its economic impact is greater than that of heart disease and cancer combined. Doctors who treat patients suffering from back pain are exploring new approaches that help some patients avoid opioid drugs. The highly addictive prescription painkillers are fueling an epidemic of abuse […]

Treating pain in older adults takes more than painkillers

Pharmacotherapy and polypharmacy pose special risks for elderly patients, and the use of interventional strategies is increasingly recognized as important for this population. Dr. Bottros reviews some options to consider. See more from Dr. Bottros here!

Improving Quality of Life Through Cooled Radiofrequence Therapy

As a person ages, increasing joint pain in the knees and hips is not uncommon, and for many, relief can be found through joint replacement surgery. But there are those who either face health concerns that prohibit surgery altogether or who have found their surgery did not eliminate their pain. In these cases, a new […]