A neural circuit hidden in an understudied region of the brain plays a critical role in turning temporary pain into pain that can last months or years, according to new University of Colorado Boulder ...

New research suggests pain is not a simple signal of injury but a process that unfolds across nerves, spinal cord, and brain. Scientists are now targeting earlier points in that pathway, before pain ...

When you strain your back or burn your arm, receptor cells send messages along your nerve pathways to your brain. This results in a feeling of pain, a signal from your body that you must tend to it; ...

A widely prescribed opioid painkiller showed limited effectiveness and increased risk of negative effects in a new analysis published in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine. The study examined tramadol, a ...

This Journal feature begins with a case vignette highlighting a rare clinical problem. Evidence supporting various strategies is then presented, followed by a review of formal guidelines, when they ...

Chronic pain might quietly push people toward developing high blood pressure—and the more widespread the pain, the greater the danger. A massive analysis of over 200,000 adults uncovered strong links ...

But can technology describe something so personal? How are you feeling? I’m genuinely interested in the well-being of all my treasured Checkup readers, of course. But this week I’ve also been ...

Should I try cannabis for my back pain? It's a question spine surgeon Richard Price says he gets at least several times a day from patients who come into his clinic. When Price finally dived into the ...

Scientists have pinpointed Y1 receptor neurons in the brain that can override chronic pain signals when survival instincts like hunger or fear take precedence. Acting like a neural switchboard, these ...

Tramadol, a potent synthetic opioid, has been widely used to treat moderate to severe pain, but a new study suggests that the medication’s potential risks outweigh its “limited” benefits for chronic ...

EDITOR’S NOTE: Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s new book, “It Doesn’t Have to Hurt,” is available now. Watch “Dr. Sanjay Gupta Reports: It Doesn’t Have to Hurt.” at 9 p.m. ET on ...