iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Pain News Network @painnewsnetwork.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

The DEA has amended its scheduling order for 7-OH, placing even more restrictions on sales of the concentrated kratom alkaloid. The DEA’s new order is a big win for American Kratom Association, which represents kratom vendors who were losing business to 7-OH competitors. rebrand.ly/dea-order-b0...

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DEA’s 7-OH Order Amended, Ban To Take Effect Nov. 13 — Pain News Network

By Pat Anson The U.S. Drug Enforcement has amended its scheduling order for 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), placing further restrictions on the manufacture, sale and possession of concentrated forms of ...

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Pain News Network @painnewsnetwork.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Three U.S. Senators are calling on the FDA and DEA to regulate the “entire kratom plant” under the Controlled Substances Act. In a social media post, Sen. Chuck Grassley said that “All Kratom is deadly” and that it's "killing our kids BEWARE of special interest snake oil.” rebrand.ly/three-senato...

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Three U.S. Senators Call for FDA Regulation of Leaf Kratom — Pain News Network

By Pat Anson Three U.S. Senators are calling on the FDA and DEA to regulate the “entire kratom plant” under the Controlled Substances Act, a step that far exceeds current plans by the DEA to classify...

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Pain News Network @painnewsnetwork.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

It's been over 3 months since the Trump administration announced plans to make the kratom alkaloid 7-OH illegal nationwide. It still hasn't happened yet, leaving Crystal Lindell and thousands of others in 7-OH limbo. rebrand.ly/fear-worry-8...

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Fear and Worry Living in 7-OH Limbo — Pain News Network

By Crystal Lindell Ever since the Trump Administration announced on July 1 that it planned to make the kratom alkaloid 7-OH a Schedule One controlled drug , people like me who use it have been liv...

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Pain News Network @painnewsnetwork.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

You're watching TV or working on your laptop when the Fitbit you're wearing tells you to stop and go for a walk. That's what researchers are working on for chronic pain patients to get more exercise. Good idea or no? rebrand.ly/used-prompt-...

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Should AI Be Used to Prompt People in Pain to Exercise? — Pain News Network

By Crystal Lindell We all know that being too sedentary contributes to poor health. It might even make your pain worse. But many of us still spend way too much time sitting in one place watching TV, ...

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Pain News Network @painnewsnetwork.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

You might think that pain is a normal part of growing older and that it often increases with age. But a large new study found that "peak pain" usually begins in early adulthood. Pain prevalence often decreases as we grow older. rebrand.ly/peak-pain-a6...

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‘Peak Pain’ Happens at a Younger Age Than Many of Us Think — Pain News Network

By Pat Anson We often think of pain as a symptom of old age. Aching muscles and sore joints don’t heal as quickly as we grow older, and chronic painful conditions like arthritis, neuropathy and spina...

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Pain News Network @painnewsnetwork.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Older Americans are increasingly using cannabis to treat pain and to help them sleep. But researchers say one out of nine (11.4%) have developed cannabis use disorder. Critics say that's an overused and misleading diagnosis that's harmful to patients. rebrand.ly/seniors-gett...

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Are More Seniors Getting Addicted to Cannabis? — Pain News Network

By Pat Anson Older Americans increasingly identify as cannabis consumers, with nearly 9% of adults over age 65 having used cannabis in the last 12 months.  Most use cannabis therapeutically ...

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Pain News Network @painnewsnetwork.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Crystal Lindell was reluctant to get a cat. She thought a pet would be too difficult to care for while living with chronic pain. Just the opposite is true. Crystal now has six cats and says they give her life meaning, relieve stress, and help take her mind off pain. rebrand.ly/cats-help-b9...

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My Cats Help Me Cope with Chronic Pain — Pain News Network

By Crystal Lindell It is ironic that I was initially opposed to getting a cat because I have chronic pain. I hate getting up early. I hate having to do anything right when I wake up. And I have no m...

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Pain News Network @painnewsnetwork.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Initial reports from law enforcement and the news media falsely suggested that two college students overdosed on kratom. Autopsy results are still pending, but a synthetic kratom alkaloid may have been the culprit. rebrand.ly/kratom-leaf-...

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Kratom Leaf Falsely Linked to Ole Miss Deaths — Pain News Network

By Pat Anson The suspected overdose deaths of two college students in Mississippi has renewed fears and misinformation about kratom and its potent alkaloids.    Ole Miss students Aida...

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Pain News Network @painnewsnetwork.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Pain in your legs while walking may seem like just another sign of growing old. But it could mean you have peripheral artery disease (PAD), a serious condition that raises your risk of a heart attack or stroke. rebrand.ly/peripheral-a...

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Why Peripheral Artery Disease Needs More Attention — Pain News Network

By Matthew Ades, Anthony Sandre and Sonia Anand Pain in your legs when you walk may seem like a normal part of getting older. But it can be a warning sign that the arteries carrying blood to your leg...

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Pain News Network @painnewsnetwork.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

It probably sounds weird to be in a situation where you hope to have cancer. But when you have chronic pain that is undiagnosed and unexplained, a cancer that can be identified and treated may seem like the better option. rebrand.ly/chronic-pain...

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Unexplained Chronic Pain Had Me Hoping for a Cancer Diagnosis — Pain News Network

By Crystal Lindell Having chronic pain that can’t be diagnosed or explained will take you to some pretty messed up places mentally. I had my first mammogram this week, and I have to confess somethin...

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Pain News Network @painnewsnetwork.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

As more states and local governments ban kratom and 7-OH, addiction treatment providers are seeing more people going through withdrawal. Some liken it to the early stages of the opioid crisis, with some of the same unintended consequences for pain sufferers. rebrand.ly/kratom-bans-...

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Kratom and 7-OH Bans Create New Patients for Addiction Treatment — Pain News Network

By Pat Anson With dozens of states, cities and counties banning kratom and concentrated versions of the kratom alkaloid 7-OH, there are growing reports about people who use kratom products going into...

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Pain News Network @painnewsnetwork.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

What do you see when you look in the mirror? A healthy and vibrant person or a sick and disabled one? Experts say mourning (and accepting) the loss of a healthy body is similar to the grief process we go through after losing a friend or loved one. rebrand.ly/mourning-los...

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Mourning the Loss of a Healthy Body — Pain News Network

By  Li-elle Rapaport  Body changes can raise disturbing feelings, such as looking in a mirror and seeing a reflection that may feel spiritually empty, unproductive, ugly or weak. Unpleasan...

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Pain News Network @painnewsnetwork.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Nearly 12 million Americans live in areas -- mostly rural -- that do not have broadband internet speeds fast enough for telehealth These "broadband deserts" make access to healthcare even harder than it already is. rebrand.ly/slow-broadba...

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Slow Broadband Still Hinders Telehealth in Rural Areas — Pain News Network

By Crystal Lindell Unfortunately, the same issue that makes it difficult for some people to access doctors in person can also make it difficult for them to access doctors via telehealth: living in a ...

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Pain News Network @painnewsnetwork.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Thousands of additional comments have come in on the Trump Administration's proposed legal "threshold" for 7-OH concentrates. The vast majority say limiting the dose of 7-OH products to 1 mg is far too low and there is no evidence to support it. rebrand.ly/thousands-pu...

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Thousands of Public Comments Support Keeping 7-OH Legal — Pain News Network

By Pat Anson Over 3,000 additional comments were posted in the Federal Register during the 15-day extension of the public comment period on plans to set a legal threshold for the kratom alkaloid ...

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Pain News Network @painnewsnetwork.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

The virus that causes chickenpox can stay dormant for decades, and then reactivate into a painful and ugly rash. Researchers may finally know what causes shingles -- which could lead to more effective treatments. rebrand.ly/damaged-nerv...

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Damaged Nerve Cells May Cause Painful Shingles Rash — Pain News Network

By Andrew Bubak Shingles can cause pain that is notoriously difficult to manage and can last for months to years for some people. The pain can be so severe that it causes a significant decline ...

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Pain News Network @painnewsnetwork.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Virginia Tech researchers have been awarded a grant of nearly half a million dollars to use artificial intelligence to improve healthcare for older adults in rural areas who have chronic pain. What advice would you give them? rebrand.ly/researchers-...

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Researchers To Use AI to Study Chronic Pain in Rural Older Adults — Pain News Network

By Crystal Lindell Virginia Tech researchers will receive nearly half a million dollars from the federal government to use artificial intelligence (AI) to study chronic pain in older adults living in...

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Pain News Network @painnewsnetwork.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Researchers have discovered what could be one of the leading causes of spinal stenosis. "Hyperactive" stem cells in the lower spine grow so quickly they press against nerves in the spinal canal, causing pain and numbness. rebrand.ly/stem-cells-3...

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‘Hyperactive’ Stem Cells May Cause Spinal Stenosis — Pain News Network

By Pat Anson Stem cells are often touted for their ability to reduce pain, restore damaged tissues and joints, and even treat cancer. But researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine and Hospital for Speci...

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Pain News Network @painnewsnetwork.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

California has taken nearly 8,000 kratom and 7-OH products off store shelves, but online shipments into the state continue. North Dakota, meanwhile, once again allows sales of natural leaf kratom but with age restrictions. rebrand.ly/california-s...

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California Seizes More Kratom and 7-OH, but Online Orders Continue — Pain News Network

By Pat Anson With 7-OH consumers still awaiting final word from the DEA on whether the concentrated kratom alkaloid will be classified as an illegal Schedule One controlled substance, individual ...

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Pain News Network @painnewsnetwork.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

For the first time in four years, PNN's Crystal Lindell is working full-time again, despite having a severe chronic pain condition. Crystal is excited to be working, but worried how much longer she'll be able to manage it. rebrand.ly/able-work-3d...

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How I’m Able to Work Again with Chronic Pain — Pain News Network

By Crystal Lindell How do I do it? On my days off, I sleep for 15 hours, waking up only to eat and pet my cats. I can’t get out of bed without Norco, morphine, Advil, 7-OH , and Tums. And I hav...

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Pain News Network @painnewsnetwork.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

A new analysis of urine drug tests found that 71% of people who tested positive for fentanyl didn't have a prescription for it. The other 29% had a legitimate medical reason for needing the potent analgesic, such as surgery, trauma or a chronic health condition. rebrand.ly/illicit-fent...

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Illicit Fentanyl Use Twice as Common as Medical Use — Pain News Network

By Pat Anson Fentanyl has long played an essential role as a potent analgesic that can treat the most severe types of pain. But illicit versions of the synthetic opioid have been a scourge on the U.S...

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Pain News Network @painnewsnetwork.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

7-OH advocates have been successful in getting more time for public comments on a safe threshold for the concentrated kratom alkaloid. The extension appears to have temporarily put a hold on a nationwide ban on 7-OH by the DEA. rebrand.ly/extension-co...

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Extension of Comment Period Buys 7-OH Advocates More Time — Pain News Network

By Pat Anson Pain patients and advocacy groups who support the continued sale of a concentrated kratom alkaloid have apparently been successful in getting the Trump administration to postpone plans t...

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Pain News Network @painnewsnetwork.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Dawn Gonzalez has lived with adhesive arachnoiditis for 18 years, ever since her spinal canal was punctured by an epidural needle. Dawn was left disabled and bedridden, but slowly rebuilt her life and dreams of a better future. rebrand.ly/building-lif...

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Building a Life With Adhesive Arachnoiditis — Pain News Network

(Editor’s note: Dawn Gonzalez developed adhesive arachnoidits (AA) in 2008 after her spinal cord membrane was accidentally punctured by an epidural needle during childbirth. The severe pain Da...

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Pain News Network @painnewsnetwork.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Do you keep prescription opioids and other controlled substances inside their original pharmacy containers? Patients are supposed to -- but that's often not practical for those who leave home for any length of time. rebrand.ly/carry-prescr...

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How Should I Carry My Prescription Opioids When I Leave Home? — Pain News Network

By Crystal Lindell Personally, I carry my daily dose of morphine and Norco in a Tylenol bottle whenever I leave the house. Just two or three pills rattling around in there, mixed with some regular OT...

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Pain News Network @painnewsnetwork.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

A new study found that older adults and people who live in rural areas are especially vulnerable to chronic pain during heat waves. Many work outdoors, don't have access to air conditioning, or avoid physical activity during hot weather -- which can make pain worse rebrand.ly/hot-weather-...

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Hot Weather Raises Risk of Chronic Pain for Older Adults — Pain News Network

By Feinuo Sun When a heat wave arrives, the public health advice follows a familiar script: drink water, watch for heat stroke, check on people with heart or lung conditions. That list saves lives. B...

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Pain News Network @painnewsnetwork.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

A lot of research and money is being spent on developing new non-opioid pain medications. That's fine, says Neen Monty. But it shouldn't mean taking pain patients off opioids before those treatments are available -- or making pain profitable. rebrand.ly/pain-became-...

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How Pain Became Profitable — Pain News Network

By Neen Monty Why have prescription opioids become virtually verboten? Is it safety? Partly. Evidence? Allegedly. The evidence is pretty thin. But let’s not overlook the less noble explanation: re...

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Pain News Network @painnewsnetwork.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Do you think HIPAA prevents the government from gaining access to your medical records? Think again. The Trump administration is quietly gathering health data domestically and abroad, putting patient privacy at risk. rebrand.ly/feds-pushing...

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The Feds Are Pushing for Unprecedented Access to Your Medical Records — Pain News Network

By Jennifer Oliva You might assume that what you tell a doctor stays between you, your physician and perhaps your insurer. But the reality is more complicated. The Health Insurance Portability and...

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Pain News Network @painnewsnetwork.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

The DEA used misleading and deceptive evidence to justify the banning of concentrated 7-OH kratom products. The nationwide ban could go into effect within days, even though the evidence to support it is anecdotal, at best. bit.ly/4xPW34s

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The Waiting Game: DEA Scheduling of 7-OH Could Come Soon — Pain News Network

By Pat Anson A recent DEA decision to classify the designer drug O-DSMT (O-desmethyltramadol) as an illegal Schedule One controlled substance gives us some insight into how quickly the agency may do ...

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Pain News Network @painnewsnetwork.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Are young women faking disability and seeking attention when they use walking sticks or canes? A UK columnist thinks so, writing that "we need to help them ditch the props, and — quite literally — to stand on their own two feet.” bit.ly/4gdWPRA

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Are Women Who Use Walking Canes Faking Disability? A UK Columnist Thinks So — Pain News Network

By Crystal Lindell When I was still working full-time in the corporate world, I often had to go to trade conferences where I’d spend 12-hour days walking a show floor the size of multiple football fi...

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Pain News Network @painnewsnetwork.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Interest is growing in dry needling, a therapy similar to acupuncture that is touted as a treatment for pain in the back, neck, shoulder, and other muscles. Does dry needling really work? And what are the risks of getting it? bit.ly/4xJcRKk

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Is Dry Needling Effective for Muscle Pain? — Pain News Network

By The Conversation Physiotherapists, chiropractors and osteopaths commonly use dry needling to treat neck, shoulder, back and other types of muscle pain. It involves inserting thin needles into sen...

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Pain News Network @painnewsnetwork.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Researchers have found that people with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome are at higher risk for having Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Still unclear is why the two rare and seemingly unrelated pain conditions share that unusual link. bit.ly/3ScoSsy

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The Unusual Link Between Two Rare Chronic Pain Conditions — Pain News Network

By Crystal Lindell People who have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a genetic connective tissue disorder, are more likely to have Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) – a chronic inflammatory nerve pai...

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Pain News Network @painnewsnetwork.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

A new book by Dr. Lynn Webster looks at the "toxic narratives" that fueled the opioid crisis -- misleading and false information about opioids that led to millions of patients suffering and hundreds of doctors prosecuted. bit.ly/4xxA3Ll

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How ‘Toxic Narratives’ Drove the Opioid Crisis — Pain News Network

By Pat Anson Dr. Lynn Webster has a unique perspective on the opioid crisis. As a pain management expert and prolific researcher, Webster was elected by his peers as president of the American Academy...

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