Michael Vagg News Today

More than 291,000 patients began medical cannabis treatment in Australia between January and June this year – up from just 3086 three years ago.

More than 291,000 patients began medical cannabis treatment in Australia between January and June this year – up from just 3086 three years ago.

Antidepressants are not just used for depression: they’re often prescribed for chronic pain. But researchers question whether this is right.

Australian researchers discover how antidepressants treat nerve pain-

Tricyclic antidepressants help treat nerve pain - but why? A breakthroughanswer to this question could help to find more treatments.

Back pain is the most common form of chronic pain. The most effective way to manage chronic back pain is with a multidisciplinary approach, of which exercise is a key component. “Any single treatment in low back pain is never enough by itself,” says Michael Vagg, a pain medicine physician and dean of the faculty of pain medicine at the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. “But exercise is a fundamental part of recovering from low back pain and managing it if it becomes pers...

Guardian Australia’s summertime round-up of juicy writing as selected by lifestyle editor Alyx Gorman<br>

Exercise is critical for the millions of people who live with chronic back pain. But how can you do it safely and effectively?