Blog
Radiofrequency Ablation: A Promising Treatment for Chronic Abdominal and Thoracic Pain
This study looked at how well a treatment called radiofrequency ablation (RFA) works for people suffering from chronic pain in the abdomen and chest. Chronic pain in these areas can be difficult to manage, especially when standard treatments, like medications or physical therapy, don’t provide relief. RFA is a procedure where heat is used to target and destroy specific nerves that send pain signals to the brain. The researchers reviewed many studies from 1992 to 2022 to see if RFA helps reduce pain in people with chronic thoracic and chronic abdominal disease states. Out of 575 studies they found, 32 were included in the review. The results showed that RFA provided significant pain relief for most patients, with an average success rate of 84%. The procedure was especially effective for people with certain types of cancer, spinal tumors, and chronic post-surgical pain. However, the researchers noted that more high-quality studies (such as randomized controlled trials) are needed to confirm how well RFA works in the long term, as most current studies are observational. Despite this, RFA appears to be a promising option for people who don’t find relief from other pain management methods.
Read More
The Impact of Exercise on Depression and Suicide Prevention: A 2023 Meta-Analysis
A 2023 meta-analysis found that moderate- to vigorous-intensity aerobic or resistance exercise, excluding mind-body activities like yoga, effectively reduced depressive symptoms with a comparable efficacy to psychotherapy and medication. The analysis also revealed that exercise may decrease suicide attempts in people with mental or physical illnesses. However, addressing psychological barriers such as low motivation and fatigue is crucial for successful exercise implementation, particularly as previous studies involved willing participants with professional support. Clinicians should prescribe specific exercise regimens, ideally supervised, and use behavioral change techniques to increase adherence. Exercise interventions are generally safe, though patients should be screened for pre-existing conditions to ensure suitability
Read More
How Phototherapy is Revolutionizing Pain Relief and Recovery
Phototherapy, or light therapy, is an exciting treatment option that’s being used in new ways to help with a variety of health conditions. While it has long been used to treat skin issues and newborn jaundice, recent studies show that different types of light may also help with pain relief, vision problems, and even conditions like migraines and fibromyalgia. Green light, for example, has been found to reduce pain from chronic conditions, while red light is being used to speed up muscle recovery for athletes. Though research is still developing, light therapy is showing promise as a natural, non-invasive way to treat health issues that are hard to manage with traditional medications.
Read More
New Study Shows rTMS Offers Lasting Relief for Fibromyalgia Pain and Mood
A recent study has found that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a non-invasive treatment that uses magnetic pulses, can significantly help people with fibromyalgia. This technique targets the prefrontal cortex, a part of the brain involved in pain and emotions. Participants who received the active rTMS showed noticeable improvements in pain, mood, and overall quality of life, with these benefits lasting for six months after treatment. The procedure was generally well-tolerated, with only minor and temporary side effects like headaches. This promising result suggests that rTMS could be a valuable option for managing fibromyalgia, though more research is needed to refine the approach and understand its long-term effects.
Read More
2024 CANMAT Guidelines: Comprehensive Approaches for Managing Depression in Adults
The updated 2024 guidelines from the Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) provide new recommendations for managing depression in adults. For mild depression, supervised exercise (30-40 minutes, 3-4 times a week for at least 9 weeks) is suggested as a first-line treatment, while it can also be added to other treatments for moderate depression. Light therapy is recommended as the primary treatment for seasonal (winter) depression. For severe depression with psychotic symptoms, a combination of antidepressant and antipsychotic medications is advised. First-line psychological treatments include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy (IPT), and behavioral activation (BA). There are 17 recommended antidepressants, including SSRIs and SNRIs, tailored to individual needs and depression severity. For difficult-to-treat depression, adjunctive medications like aripiprazole and brexpiprazole are useful. Maintaining antidepressant treatment for up to 12 months after remission is advised, with longer durations for those at high risk of relapse. St. John’s wort is recommended as a complementary treatment for mild to moderate depression. Emerging treatments, such as esketamine, ketamine infusions, and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), are considered for challenging cases. These guidelines emphasize personalized treatment plans to effectively manage depression based on the individual's specific needs and circumstances.
Read More