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Lifestyle
PubMed · December 1, 2026
A study found that people with chronic widespread pain — meaning long-lasting pain felt throughout the body — who followed a personalized activity plan were more likely to keep up regular physical activity over 12 months. The plan encouraged participants to meet general weekly movement recommendations, such as moderate exercise like walking or cycling for several hours a week, and those who were already somewhat active at the start had the best chance of staying active. Researchers found that sticking with this level of regular movement helped improve how well people could physically function day to day.
What's New
PubMed · July 20, 2026
Researchers found that people with chronic pain got more out of a digital pain self-management program when a real person checked in with them along the way — a setup sometimes called 'blended care' — compared to those who simply downloaded the app on their own with no follow-up support. The extra human contact seemed to help people stick with the program and see better results in areas like how much pain got in the way of daily life and overall well-being. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Lifestyle
PubMed · July 16, 2026
Researchers found that self-managed practices like yoga, meditation, mindfulness, and tai chi or qigong may help reduce symptoms in people living with chronic pain or PTSD (a condition where past trauma continues to cause significant distress). These are activities people can do on their own, without a provider present, which makes them more accessible. How well they worked varied depending on the specific condition being treated.
What's New
PubMed · July 16, 2026
Researchers found that radiofrequency denervation — a procedure that uses heat to quiet nerves sending pain signals in the lower back — did produce small improvements in pain and day-to-day function compared to fake procedures or standard care. However, the improvements were so modest that experts didn't consider them meaningful enough to make a real difference in patients' lives. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 1, 2026
Researchers found that about 1 in 5 people living with chronic pain also experience problems with thinking and memory — things like trouble concentrating, forgetting things more easily, or finding it harder to plan and organize tasks. The research suggests this connection runs in both directions, meaning chronic pain can affect how the brain works, and brain changes may also influence how pain is felt. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 1, 2026
Researchers found that people who are naturally wired to stay up late and wake up later — often called 'evening types' or night owls — were about 54% more likely to experience chronic pain, including headaches, back pain, and muscle or joint pain, compared to people with earlier sleep patterns. This connection held up across 18 different studies, suggesting that when a person's internal body clock is out of sync with their daily schedule, it may play a real role in how much pain they experience. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 1, 2026
Researchers found that a therapy focused on emotions — helping people understand and work through feelings like anxiety and depression alongside their pain — showed promising results for people living with chronic pain. In a study of 31 patients, most people (87%) improved in at least one area, such as how much pain got in the way of daily life, and patients generally felt the approach was believable and worthwhile. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 1, 2026
Researchers found that for people living with long-term muscle or joint pain, working with a health coach over the phone or video was more helpful than using a self-guided online program — especially for men and for people who also had depression. However, when people stuck with either program and completed it, both approaches led to similar improvements in pain. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 1, 2026
Researchers found that a single online class teaching pain management skills — held over Zoom in just one session — did not reduce how much opioid pain medication people were taking after three months, but it did noticeably improve mental well-being compared to a basic health education class. People in the skills class also reported higher satisfaction, and more than 85% showed up and completed it, which suggests this kind of virtual program is something people are willing to try. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 1, 2026
Researchers found that for people living with both chronic pain and trauma-related symptoms — such as flashbacks, anxiety, or emotional distress after difficult life experiences — talk therapy and other psychological approaches helped reduce both pain levels and trauma symptoms at the same time, with those benefits lasting three to six months after treatment ended. This matters because many people with chronic pain also carry emotional wounds from past trauma, and the two problems can feed each other, making both harder to manage. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 1, 2026
Researchers found that the quality of the relationship between a patient and their doctor or therapist — things like trust, empathy, and feeling heard — appears to be linked to how well chronic pain treatments work. Looking at 37 studies involving over 10,000 people with long-lasting pain, the review suggested that a stronger, more connected relationship with a care provider may lead to better pain outcomes across many types of treatment, from physical therapy to psychological support. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 1, 2026
Researchers found that a specific area of the brain — called the anterior midcingulate cortex, which is involved in how we process and respond to pain — showed activity patterns that could predict how well people with fibromyalgia would respond to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a type of talk therapy that helps people manage how pain affects their daily life. Interestingly, this brain activity was actually a better predictor of treatment success than how much pain or distress patients reported feeling at the start. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 1, 2026
Researchers found that people with chronic pain who had been taking higher doses of opioids for longer periods of time were less likely to successfully stop or reduce their opioid use. On the flip side, having a clear, documented plan from their doctor for tapering off opioids was linked to better success — suggesting that structured support may make a real difference. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 1, 2026
Researchers found that treating chronic shoulder pain may work better when doctors look at the whole person — not just the physical injury, but also how the pain affects daily life, mental well-being, and personal circumstances. The study proposed a step-by-step approach to help doctors build a fuller picture of each patient before deciding on care. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 1, 2026
Researchers found that mindfulness-based programs — structured practices like meditation and body awareness exercises — help some people manage chronic pain, but roughly 3 in 10 participants dropped out before finishing. Dropout rates were even higher (about 51%) when programs were delivered online compared to in-person groups (about 26%), suggesting that the format and time demands of these programs may make them hard for some people to stick with. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Lifestyle
PubMed · July 1, 2026
Researchers found that people with ongoing knee pain at least three months after knee replacement surgery who combined sleep therapy — specifically a structured program called CBT-I that helps retrain the brain's sleep habits — with tailored physical rehabilitation exercises reported less pain, better knee movement, and improved sleep and mood compared to those who only took standard pain medications. The study followed 80 patients over 12 weeks, checking in at several points to track pain levels, how well the knee bent and straightened, swelling, sleep quality, and feelings of anxiety or depression. This suggests that pairing a sleep-focused mental health approach with physical rehab exercises several times a week may offer meaningful relief for people struggling with chronic pain after knee surgery.
What's New
PubMed · July 1, 2026
Researchers found that what people believe about their pain — such as whether they feel in control of it, what they think caused it, and whether they trust their treatment — is closely linked to how well they function physically, emotionally, and socially. For example, people who felt more in control of their condition tended to report less physical difficulty, while beliefs about the cause of pain were tied to emotional wellbeing. This suggests that addressing how people think and feel about their pain, not just the physical side, could be an important part of managing it — though this is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 1, 2026
Researchers found that a single online class teaching pain-relief skills may work just as well as a full 8-session online therapy program for people living with long-term pain. This matters because getting access to longer treatment programs can be difficult for many people — a one-session option could make effective help much easier to reach. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Lifestyle
PubMed · June 29, 2026
Researchers found that regular exercise — including cardio activities, strength training, or a mix of both, done at a moderate intensity for 8 to 12 weeks — helped people with lupus feel less fatigued, experience less pain, move more easily, and feel less depressed. The exercise did not appear to change how active the lupus disease itself was, but it meaningfully improved how people felt day to day. These findings came from combining the results of 12 separate studies involving 470 people with lupus.
What's New
PubMed · June 29, 2026
Researchers found that combining online therapy focused on stress management with a physical activity plan did not reduce pain more than physical activity alone for people with widespread chronic pain. The online therapy involved 14 guided sessions teaching mental techniques to cope with stress and pain — but only about one in three participants actually finished all the sessions, which may have affected the results. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
ScienceDaily · June 20, 2026
Researchers found that natural fragrance compounds found in cannabis — called terpenes, the same things that give plants their scent — were able to reduce pain in animal studies, without causing the 'high' associated with THC. One compound in particular, called geraniol, showed especially strong pain-relieving effects. This could matter for people living with chronic pain who want options that don't affect the mind, though this is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Guidelines
PubMed (Guideline Reviews) · June 5, 2026
According to guidelines from the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine and several partner organizations, lower doses of corticosteroid (steroid) injections can work just as well as the higher doses that have traditionally been used for chronic pain procedures — which matters because these injections carry real risks, including raised blood sugar levels, weakening of bones over time, and effects on the body's natural hormone balance. The guidelines cover common pain procedures like nerve blocks and trigger point injections, looking closely at both how well they work and how to use them as safely as possible. People with chronic pain who receive these injections may want to ask their doctor about the dose being used and what side effects to watch for.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether lower doses of corticosteroid injections for the patient's chronic pain would work just as well as the standard doses while reducing risks like higher blood sugar and weaker bones.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
A study found that people with long-term pain after knee replacement surgery who did a 12-week supervised exercise program — combined with sessions teaching them about how pain works in the body — gained measurable improvements in leg strength and power, while those who only attended the pain education sessions did not see those same gains. Interestingly, getting stronger didn't necessarily mean people felt their knee was working better in daily life, suggesting that muscle strength and how someone experiences their knee may not always go hand in hand. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that people with chronic widespread pain — long-lasting pain felt throughout the body — may have a significantly higher chance of developing atherosclerotic disease, meaning a buildup of plaque in the arteries that can lead to serious heart problems like heart attacks or strokes. In fact, the risk appeared to be roughly 50–90% higher compared to people without this type of pain, even after accounting for other health factors. Understanding this connection could be important for people living with chronic widespread pain and their doctors when thinking about overall heart health. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
A study found that sophrology — a practice combining relaxation, breathing exercises, visualization, and gentle movements — may help people with chronic pain feel better in several ways, including reduced anxiety, improved sleep, and a greater sense of wellbeing. Researchers in the UK ran an 8-week program and compared participants to a group that didn't take part, looking at things like pain levels, mood, and how much pain interfered with daily life. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that a spine-based pain treatment called closed-loop spinal cord stimulation — a small implanted device that sends electrical signals to the spinal cord and automatically adjusts itself in real time based on how the nerves are responding — showed promising results for people with long-lasting back and leg pain, with a large share of patients experiencing at least half their pain cut, and many seeing even greater relief. Unlike older versions of this technology that delivered a fixed signal, this newer approach constantly fine-tunes itself, which may help it work more consistently over time. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
A study found that two different talk-based approaches — one combining motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy, the other focused on shared decision-making between patients and their care team — both helped people on high doses of opioids for chronic pain meaningfully reduce how much opioid medication they were taking over 12 months. Importantly, these reductions only happened in people who were already on high doses to begin with; people on lower doses saw little to no change either way. Researchers found that how high a person's starting dose was turned out to be the strongest factor in predicting whether their dose would go down.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
A study found that combining a brain stimulation technique called tDCS — which sends mild electrical signals to the brain to try to reduce pain — with a more common nerve stimulation device called TENS did not work better than using TENS on its own for people with long-term low back pain. Researchers looked at pain levels, ability to move and function, mood, and quality of life, and found no meaningful difference between the combined approach and TENS alone. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
A study found that people with chronic back pain were much more sensitive to unpleasant sounds — not just physical pain — compared to people without chronic pain, and brain scans showed real differences in how their brains processed those sounds. Researchers then tested a therapy called Pain Reprocessing Therapy, which aims to help the brain "relearn" how it responds to pain signals, to see if it could reduce this heightened sensitivity. This suggests that chronic pain may affect how the whole nervous system reacts to the world around a person, not just the area that hurts — which could matter for understanding and treating the condition. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that certain mind-based talk therapy techniques — including mindfulness, shifting perspective on pain, and focusing on personal values — appeared safe and acceptable for women living with lasting pain after breast cancer treatment. The small study tested these approaches online and found that participants were generally satisfied and did not experience their pain getting worse. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
For informational purposes only. Not medical advice. Always consult a physician before making any health decisions.