Gabapentin, Opioids a Deadly Duo: FDA

THURSDAY, Dec. 19, 2019 -- New warnings about the risk of dangerous breathing difficulties when gabapentinoids are used with opioids or by certain patients must now appear on product labels, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday.

Serious breathing problems that can lead to death can occur in patients who use gabapentinoids with prescription opioid painkillers or other drugs that depress the central nervous system. It can also happen to the elderly or to patients who have underlying respiratory conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to the FDA.

General Anesthesia Boosts Postpartum Depression Risk After C-Section: Study

MONDAY, Feb. 10, 2020 -- Women who receive general anesthesia during a cesarean section delivery are at higher risk of severe postpartum depression that requires hospitalization, as well as self-inflicted harm and suicidal thoughts, a new study finds.

Researchers from Columbia University analyzed more than 428,000 discharge records of women who delivered by C-section in New York state hospitals between 2006 and 2013. Eight percent had general anesthesia.

Family Members Are Swiping Hospice Patients' Painkillers: Study

TUESDAY, Feb. 11, 2020 -- In another sign of just how bad the U.S. opioid abuse epidemic has become, a new study finds family members often steal painkillers from dying relatives in hospice care.

In a survey of 371 hospices, 31% reported at least one case in which drugs were taken from a patient in the past 90 days. The thieves were most often relatives.

3 Easy Deskside Stretches to Keep Muscle Pain at Bay

THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2020 -- If you're not taking regular breaks to move around during your workday, your muscles may rebel after being scrunched in your desk chair hour after hour.

The rebellion might be felt in your neck, shoulders, back, hips and legs when you do finally stand up. Stop the insurrection with these three simple stretching exercises you can do without even leaving your workstation or office.

Virtual Reality Can Bring Real-Life Pain

THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2020 -- From carpal tunnel to a stiff neck, too much time on the computer can cause a slew of health problems. But what if you ditch the keyboard and mouse for virtual reality?

New research from Oregon State University in Corvallis showed that even stepping into virtual reality may be bad for the body.

Nerve Stimulation Therapy Could Cut Fibromyalgia Pain

THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2020 -- For people with the mysterious chronic pain condition fibromyalgia, researchers say nerve stimulation may offer some relief.

In a recent study, use of TENS -- transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation -- during movement or activity was shown to significantly reduce pain associated with fibromyalgia after just four weeks.