Pain

Spread by sandfly bites, the leishmania parasite causes ulcers that for many people are unexpectedly pain-free. For decades scientists have been puzzled by these painless lesions but new research is now homing in on the unusual analgesic mechanisms.

Most of us have woken up with an aching back after a sleepless night, only for that pain to then keep us awake the next night. Now Harvard scientists have discovered a possible link between pain and poor sleep, and maybe even a way to break the loop.

After screening 27 million compounds, researchers have found a small-molecule drug that performed as well as a common painkiller with no side effects in rodent tests. The hope is that the finding could lead to better pain management for humans.

In some heartening news for the 80% of Americans who will endure spinal sensitivity, researchers have found that an existing drug can be redeployed to target senescent osteoclasts – to not just take the pain away but help prevent it from coming back.

A study has found that a higher sensitivity to pain may increase the likelihood that someone will be sympathetic to opposing political views, and may even cause a Trump supporter to vote for Biden and a Biden supporter to vote for Trump.

Good news for the 51 million Americans with chronic pain: Scientists have unraveled the neuronal disturbances that can see acute pain turn into a long-term nightmare, and with some targeted cell therapy, could potentially stop this process altogether.

A new study has found listening to our favorite music and the emotional responses it produces, particularly if it’s bittersweet, is more effective at reducing our perception of pain than unfamiliar relaxation music.

A study has found that methotrexate, a widely available and affordable drug that’s usually prescribed as a first-line treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, is effective at reducing the pain and stiffness suffered by people with hand osteoarthritis.

Researchers have called for a review of the recommendations for the treatment of hand arthritis, after a large study revealed that injections were as ineffective as a placebo for pain relief. Injections are considered the most effective pain reliever.

In a world first, Budapest Zoo gorilla Liesel has received stem-cell therapy for her arthritis. It's hoped that this groundbreaking procedure, which aims to rejuvenate her damaged joint cartilage, will not just help her but be adapted for human use too.

Clinical trials of a novel non-opioid analgesic have found it to be effective in reducing acute postoperative pain, opening the door to a new way of managing short-term pain that avoids the pitfalls associated with using opioids.

Affecting more than 51 million Americans, chronic pain is more common than depression and diabetes, yet there are few medical interventions that offer safe, long-term relief. Scientists are hoping this non-invasive method can change that.