Once you begin looking for psychosocial causes of pain or illness (Neuroplastic Symptoms) in patients, you find it repeatedly. The same is true for research scientists.

A study from the University of Michigan looked at the electronic health records of over 2 million people in three groups: people with Covid, people with influenza, and people with no infection during a routine health appointment. They determined which of these people had a “chronic overlapping pain condition” (COPC) causing widespread pain often associated with fatigue or problems with sleep, memory, or mood. Next, they assessed whether having a COPC predicted a person’s subsequent development of Long Covid.

Mental health apps have been controversial. Do they work for chronic pain?

In a controlled trial from British Columbia, 198 subjects with chronic pain (non-cancerous) for an average of 13 years were randomly given either the app Curable (at no charge) or their usual care. Curable uses a biopsychosocial model aligned with the approach advocated by the ATNS. 

The previous study from this center has been updated with a much larger number of 126 patients to provide even more evidence of the remarkable benefits of Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy. In this study, the veterans (average age 72 years, 92% male, 55% African American) with chronic musculoskeletal pain were randomized to receive either EAET (Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy, a form of Pain Relief Psychotherapy) or CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy). CBT is the most widely available form of psychotherapy in the U.S. Both treatments were provided as one 90-minute individual session and eight 90-minute group sessions.  The goal for patients was to achieve at least 30% pain relief.

To understand the importance of a new research paper, you should know that the vertebral bones of the spine have several important functions. They must protect the spinal cord, support the head and upper body, and enable egress of nerves that carry sensation and control muscles. They also need to remain flexible enough to allow freedom of movement. To accomplish all this, the vertebra has a complex yet marvelously esthetic structure that includes two wing-like bones called facets. They connect to the main vertebra via a small joint.