pain relief

A study shows mindfulness meditation may be the best way to reduce pain

Grace McClung - WUFT

Participants in the mindfulness meditation group rated their pain lower than those in the placebo meditation and placebo cream groups.

Back and neck pain affect millions of Americans. New research calls into question the benefits of prescribing opioids to patients with certain forms of acute back pain.

NPR Health

Opioids are overrated for some common back pain, a study suggests

Will Stone

New research calls into question prescribing the drugs even for short-term pain relief – especially given the risk of addiction.

Dr. James Baker holds a photo of his son, Max, who had been sober for more than a year and was in college when he relapsed after surgery and died of a heroin overdose.

NPR Health

How Do Former Opioid Addicts Safely Get Pain Relief After Surgery?

Craig LeMoult

Max Baker got treatment for his opioid dependency and kicked the habit. He'd been clean for more than a year when a car accident and subsequent surgery returned him to addiction's spiral.

NPR Health

POLL: More People Are Taking Opioids, Even As Their Concerns Rise

Jessica Boddy

The number of people who have used opioid painkillers is still rising, according to a new NPR-Truven Health Analytics poll. But they're also worried about addiction, overdose and side effects.