New research targets gaps in chronic pain and health tracking

by Marisol QuinteroOctober 3, 20266 links · ~22 min read · 1 without a length · ~1 min for the TL;DR

The Waiting Room by Marisol Quintero: six links on Health & Wellness every week.

TL;DR

A special issue of a top journal examines the latest discoveries regarding chronic pain and menopause.
Tracking the timing and symptoms of menopause in health records could help address many unanswered questions about this ignored experience.
A £2.3m study is investigating whether a personalised pain management plan can improve quality of life for women with endometriosis.
Pain and fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis can persist due to factors like depression, poor sleep, obesity, and smoking even when inflammation is controlled.
Readers are calling for specialist services to support those with ME/CFS who have been failed by the health system.
Scientists identified that long Covid, ME/CFS, and PTSD may share biological network disruptions in immunity, metabolism, and cellular energy.

From the curator

Recent findings highlight how better data and personalized care can address persistent health challenges. The article from STAT by Annalisa Merelli reports that a top journal’s special issue is examining new discoveries regarding chronic pain and menopause. Meanwhile, the article by Audrey Hendricks in The Conversation notes that capturing data on menopause symptoms could help answer long-standing questions about this common health milestone.

Other research points toward more targeted approaches for chronic conditions. The ScienceDaily article explains that identifying hidden drivers like poor sleep or depression may help manage rheumatoid arthritis pain that persists despite controlled inflammation. Additionally, a ScienceDaily article suggests that five conditions, including long Covid and ME/CFS, may share biological network disruptions, potentially leading to new blood tests and treatments.

Marisol Quintero

Curated for this issue

5 of 6 links are open to anyone.

STAT1 link · subscribers onlyVisit statnews.com

STATTop journal's special issue on women's health casts spotlight on menopause and pain
"Highlighting a ton of open questions": Top journal's special issue on women's health examines the latest discoveries on chronic pain and menopause.
STAT · subscribers only

Annalisa Merelli · curated 1 time

The Conversation4 min readMenopause is a major health milestone, yet health records barely track it - new research
Capturing data about the timing and symptoms of menopause could help address many unanswered questions about this common yet ignored experience.

Audrey Hendricks · curated 1 time

BBC News5 min readEndometriosis trial gives hope to millions of women in pain like me
A £2.3m study will look at whether a personalised pain management plan can improve the quality of life of women who have the debilitating condition.

ScienceDaily3 min readWhy rheumatoid arthritis pain may persist even when inflammation is under control
Pain and fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis can persist even after inflammation improves, with depression, poor sleep, obesity, smoking, and chronic pain potentially helping sustain…

the Guardian3 min readSpecialist services are vital to help people with ME/CFS | Letter
Letters: Readers respond to George Monbiot’s article about how those with myalgic encephalomyelitis, or chronic fatigue syndrome, have been failed by the health system

ScienceDaily6 min readScientists may have found a “unifying theory” of chronic fatigue
Scientists found that five seemingly unrelated conditions, including long Covid, ME/CFS, and PTSD, may disrupt many of the same biological networks involved in immunity,…

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From the curator

STATTop journal's special issue on women's health casts spotlight on menopause and pain"Highlighting a ton of open questions": Top journal's special issue on women's health examines the latest discoveries on chronic pain and menopause.STAT · subscribers only

The Conversation4 min readMenopause is a major health milestone, yet health records barely track it - new researchCapturing data about the timing and symptoms of menopause could help address many unanswered questions about this common yet ignored experience.

BBC News5 min readEndometriosis trial gives hope to millions of women in pain like meA £2.3m study will look at whether a personalised pain management plan can improve the quality of life of women who have the debilitating condition.

ScienceDaily3 min readWhy rheumatoid arthritis pain may persist even when inflammation is under controlPain and fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis can persist even after inflammation improves, with depression, poor sleep, obesity, smoking, and chronic pain potentially helping sustain…

the Guardian3 min readSpecialist services are vital to help people with ME/CFS | LetterLetters: Readers respond to George Monbiot’s article about how those with myalgic encephalomyelitis, or chronic fatigue syndrome, have been failed by the health system

ScienceDaily6 min readScientists may have found a “unifying theory” of chronic fatigueScientists found that five seemingly unrelated conditions, including long Covid, ME/CFS, and PTSD, may disrupt many of the same biological networks involved in immunity,…