Benjamin Johnson, MD I would like to thank our president, Ann Quinlan-Colwell, PhD, APN, for the invitation to write an article regarding diversity in our field of pain medicine. As the first president of the Southern Pain Society possessing African-American heritage, I was overwhelmed with the […]
Ann Quinlan-Colwell, PhD, APN For most of us, this past year has been tumultuous to say the least. In at least some way, we have all been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, protests and the underlying circumstances that initiated them. We are very fortunate that Dr. Ben Johnson wrote a thoughtful and insightful article in […]
Dr. Hu Rosomoff, the founding President of SPS, would take any opportunity to speak during each Annual and Board meeting until his health prevented him from attending. Hu was a veritable fountain of clinical wisdom, as well as a provider of historical perspective into the Society. Now, as the “Old Guy”
A member of our Board of Directors, Dr. Joseph Tramontana, a Clinical Psychologist, has been nominated and is running un-opposed for the position of President-elect of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH). His term will begin March 2021 and will transition to President in March 2022. ASCH is one of the oldest and most […]
Lawrence Robbins, MD INTRODUCTION Migraine often results in disability and diminished quality of life. Despite this, our species remains particularly vulnerable to migraine. Why is this so? Evolution may provide answers. The study of evolution and disease is not simply an academic exercise. In studying the history of our species, and those that preceded us, […]
Last year we began planning our 2020 Southern Pain Society meeting, “Perspectives, Concerns and Options for Managing Pain.” Little did anyone realize that national events of 2020 would necessitate many concerns and needs. We have worked to change our perspective as we explored options for safely coordinating an exciting conference to share timely and innovative pain management information.
Cluster headache is among the most severe pains known to mankind. It is characterized by excruciating, debilitating pain lasting from 15 to 180 minutes, or occasionally longer. Pain is usually located around or through one eye or on the temple. The series of headaches usually lasts several weeks to several months, once or twice per year. Clusters may occur every other year or less frequently.
During the last five years, the focus upon, and priority for effective management of pain have dramatically shifted. After more than a decade of efforts to improve the awareness of pain and the need to manage it, health care administrators and providers were keenly aware that pain management was an important health care need.
As COVID-19 continues to influence individual and corporate function worldwide, The Southern Pain Society leadership is working diligently to ensure the best plan for our upcoming Annual Meeting in September. We would like all to know that while information on the current unprecedented pandemic is evolving quickly, your health and safety remains our primary concern.
The efficacy of new drugs is usually reasonably accurate. We have multiple scales for efficacy, and the studies are powered for clinical effect. However, the studies often produce inaccurate adverse event or adverse effect profiles. To determine the likely adverse effects, post-approval we have to piece together multiple lines of evidence. The physician online chat boards have been very helpful.