The American Academy of Pain Medicine

Latest News

Tag line: Your E-Source for Latest on the Specialty of Pain Medicine

 Annual Meeting Updates
  - Register online & get chance to win 2 nites free hotel

 Coding Updates
   - New codes fo

Annual Meeting

AAPM's 25th Annual Meeting, January 28-31, 2009
Honolulu, Hawaii.   More

Early session: Tuesday, January 27th with Essentials in Pain Medicine^TM course
and Wednesday with preconference events on: Opioids and Untrasound Guided Blocks

Earn up to 32 CMEs. Plenaries with Top Names in Pain Medicine. Connect with Colleagues.

Register online before October 31, 2008 at www.painmed.org for a chance to win 2 FREE nights at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

Scientific Poster Abstract Deadline Extended to September 1, 2008. More.

Know someone who is not a member of AAPM? They can save $275 on Special "Join* and Register" rates, when required documentation is provided prior to the start of the meeting.  (New members only).

AAPM Updates

Have You Been Selected?
AAPM and AMA Physician Practice Information Survey. For more info and FAQs...

Support the National Pain Care Policy Act of 2007
This bill remains in committee with no mark-up scheduled and needs your support today. Visit the Advocacy section at painmed.org for quick and easy way s to make an impact on this issue. Read more...

Coding Updates

Understanding Fluoroscopy Coding by Emily Hill, PA
CPT 2007 renumbered and moved certain codes to a new subsection for Fluoroscopic Guidance codes but did not change the descriptors of the codes. There remains an uncertainly about which specific fluoroscopy guidance code to report and when it can be reported. Information about codes frequently used by Pain Medicine physicians is discussed. Full story...

AAPM Releases New Position Statements

AAPM's Position Statement on Safe Prescribed Substances

Safe Controlled Substance Practices
The American Academy of Pain Medicine in Spring 2008 issued this position statement that it supports responsible and safe involving prescribing the use of controlled substances. Read more...


Spinal Cord Neurostimulation
AAPM has issued a new Joint Position Statement with the Neuromodulation Therapy Access Coalition on the use of Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) for chronic neuropathic pain. Read more...

Need Facts on Pain?
Visit AAPM's ‘Facts on Pain' section in the Patient Center of the AAPM website.
These are helpful to have on hand for media calls.  Read More...

Scientific Research on Pain

Weeding Out the Highs of Medical Marijuana
Scientists at the Federation of European Pharmacological Societies Congress present research exploring the full medicinal uses of cannabis without the unwanted side effects and addresses the endocannabinoid system. Full story...

SRI International Research Sheds Light on Fight-or-Flight Response
Ongoing research examines the direct interaction between two neuropeptide systems responsible for stress-induced blockage of pain. The findings examine stress induced analgesia (SIA) in the body's "fight or fight" response. Full story...

General Anesthesia: Sleep During Surgery, Wake Up in Pain
Recent research revealed that the effects of general anesthesia may actually increase post-operative pain. The effects of various anesthetics on the proteins TRPA1 and TRPV1 were examined to see how they responded to pain and chemical irritants. Full story...

Member Honors and Accomplishments

Dr. Paul Christo Selected by The Mayday Pain & Society Fellowship
AAPM member, Paul Christo M.D., M.B.A, was one of six experts in pain management to be selected as a fellow under The Mayday Pain & Society Fellowship. Dr. Christo is Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, and Director, Multidisciplinary Pain Fellowship and Pain Treatment Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Full story...

Dr. Richard OsenbachTakes Position at Cape Fear Valley
Dr. Richard Osenbach, a current AAPM director at large, has recently accepted a position at Cape Fear Valley Neurosurgery, Cape Fear Valley Medical Center's first surgical practice. Full story.

Dr. Fred Burgess recently accepted ‘      ‘ position with RI VA 

AAPM Members in the News

How People in Pain Can Revive Their Sex Lives
Dr. Todd Sitzman, past AAPM president was quoted on health.com article offering  advice to pain sufferers on this subject. how chronic pain can affect a couple's intimacy
Full story.

Dr. Rollin Gallagher

Studies on Pain

USF researchers: Smokers light up after pain
A new study by researchers at University of South Florida (USF) and the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute finds that chronic pain sufferers use smoking to ease their pain. This study gives new insight to smoking addiction and its connection to pain. Full story.

Presynaptic and Postsynaptic Amplifications of Neuropathic Pain in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex
A brief article from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada report how calcium-stimulated adenylyl cyclase 1 (AC1) may serve as a potential therapeutic target fro treating neuropathic pain. Full story.

Practice Management Information
Fibromyalgia Patients Fight Insurers Over Medication Coverage
Although the FDA recently approved Cymbalta as a fibromyalgia treatment, insurance companies may not feel that this medication warrants coverage. Lyrica was approved over a year ago and experienced the same resistance. Full story...

New Medicare Hospice Rules Aim to Boost Physician's Role
New Medicare hospice guidelines and regulations take effect on December 2, 2008. Areas of significant change include patient rights and stricter requirements on patient assessments and medication consultations. Full story...

Legislative Issues

Barriers to Effective Pain Management Still Remain in States
Achieving Balance in State Pain Policy: A Progress Report Card was prepared by the University of Wisconsin Pain & Policy Studies Group (PPSG). The study grades each state based on the quality of its pain policies and regulations and how they affect the ability of a health care professional to effectively manage pain. Full story.

Controlled Substances: News and Views
New CASA Report Finds: Most Web Sites Selling Prescription Opioids, Stimulants and Depressants Require No Prescription
The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) of Columbia University released the fifth annual white paper: You've Got Drugs! V: Prescription Drug Pushers on the Internet. The report examined the number of websites advertising or selling controlled prescription drugs, those requiring a prescription, and sites offering online "medical consultations." Full story.

Baby Boomers and Substance Abuse
The generation of baby boomers experimented with alcohol and illicit drugs more than previous generations. This population segment may have more lenient attitudes about substance abuse, which may create a challenging public health problem. Full story...

Reports on Pain

Painkillers, heart drugs top list of common Rxs
Hydrocodone is the most frequently prescribed pain medication by emergency rooms. For the top 10 most commonly prescribed drugs in 2007. Full story...

Clinical Trials/Studies/Updates

Alkermes Initiates Phase 3 Clinical Study of VIVITROL(R) for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence
VIVITROL (naltrexone for extended-release injectable suspension) approved in 2006 for the treatment of alcohol dependence, is now beginning Phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment of opioid dependence. The multi-center study design focuses on the efficacy and safety of VIVITROL in 200 patients diagnosed with opioid dependence. Full story.

Aches? Pains? An Extra Dose Of Vitamin D May Provide Relief
A review of clinical research examines the effects of low levels of Vitamin D and the link to chronic pain conditions. The report includes 22 clinical investigations of patients with various chronic pain and fatigue syndromes and low levels of vitamin D. Full story...

FDA Warnings/Recalls
Use of rhBMP in Cervical Spine Fusion Linked to Life-Threatening Adverse Events
The FDA reports life-threatening complications linked to recombinant human Bone Morphogenetic Protein (rhBMP) when used in the cervical spine. Full story.