from local story: "Sickle cell pain has a mind of its own," said Anesha Barnes, who's had the disease since she was a baby. She says the longer she stays in a pain crisis, the harder it is to break out of it. Johnathon Kelso hide caption
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Dr. Angela Gatzke-Plamann is the only full-time physician in Necedah, Wis., and the only physician in Juneau County, Wis., who has the required training to prescribe the addiction medicine buprenorphine. Coburn Dukehart/Wisconsin Watch for NPR hide caption
In Rural Areas Without Pain Or Addiction Specialists, Family Doctors Fill In The Gaps
Ann Jones has been spending two hours each day in front of a green LED light — an experimental treatment aimed at alleviating migraines and other forms of chronic pain. Will Stone for NPR hide caption
Researchers Explore A Drug-Free Idea To Relieve Chronic Pain: Green Light
Paul Lubell used to vape medical marijuana to manage his chronic back and neck pain, instead of using opioid medications. Now, after getting hospitalized for lung sickness, he doesn't vape. Mary Fecteau/ideastream hide caption
He Started Vaping THC To Cope With Chronic Pain. Then He Got Sick
To deal with chronic pain, Pamela Bobb's morning routine now includes stretching and meditation at home in Fairfield Glade, Tenn. Bobb says this mind-body awareness intervention has greatly reduced the amount of painkiller she needs. Jessica Tezak for NPR hide caption
Meditation Reduced The Opioid Dose She Needs To Ease Chronic Pain By 75%
Sometimes doctors rapidly taper their chronic pain patients' opioid doses. Now a federal agency recommends against this. Douglas Sacha/Getty Images hide caption
Don't Force Patients Off Opioids Abruptly, New Guidelines Say, Warning Of Severe Risks
On the advice of a co-worker, Dehne joined a six-week program through which she learned how to safely walk to ease her pain. Now Dehne briskly walks for exercise and enjoyment multiple times a week. Her knees, she says, "don't hurt me anymore." Eamon Queeney for NPR hide caption
How To Teach Future Doctors About Pain In The Midst Of The Opioid Crisis
xxx Justin J Wee hide caption
Jeannine sorts through a binder of writing assignments from her therapy. In keeping a journal about her past experiences with pain, she noticed that the pain symptoms began when she was around 8 — a time of escalating family trauma at home. Jessica Pons for NPR hide caption
Gail Gray suffers from degenerative disk disease and takes daily painkillers. Her pharmacist was arrested in a recent federal justice department sting. Blake Farmer/WPLN hide caption
Amid Opioid Prescriber Crackdown, Health Officials Reach Out To Pain Patients
X-ray of knee with injury. Peter Dazeley/Getty Images hide caption
Invisibilia: For Some Teens With Debilitating Pain, The Treatment Is More Pain
Megan Baker (left) of Papa & Barkley Co., a Cannabis company based in Eureka, Calif., shows Shirley Avedon of Laguna Woods different products intended to help with pain relief. Stephanie O'Neill for NPR hide caption
Ticket To Ride: Pot Sellers Put Seniors On The Canna-Bus
Baby boomers who use marijuana seem to be using it more often than in previous years, a recent survey finds — 5.7 percent of respondents ages 50 to 64 said they'd tried it in the past month. The drug is also gaining popularity among people in their 70s and 80s. Manonallard/Getty Images hide caption
Janjic found that playing the piano didn't make her pain go away completely, but it eased the pain she felt. Jeff Swensen for NPR hide caption
Inspired By Her Own Pain, A Researcher Explores Alternatives To Opioid Treatments
Opioid prescriptions went down among doctors informed of patients' overdose deaths. WILL & DENI MCINTYRE/Getty Images hide caption
Shannon Hubbard has complex regional pain syndrome and considers herself lucky that her doctor hasn't cut back her pain prescription dosage. Will Stone/KJZZ hide caption
Patients With Chronic Pain Feel Caught In An Opioid Prescribing Debate
Policymakers in Illinois and other states want to make it easier to get medical marijuana for pain relief. LPETTET/Getty Images hide caption
Lawmakers In Illinois Embrace Medical Marijuana As An Opioid Alternative
Side Effects Public Media
Physical therapist Ingrid Peele coaches Kim Brown through strengthening exercises to help her with her chronic pain, at the OSF Central Illinois Pain Center in Peoria. Kyle Travers/WFYI hide caption
For Chronic Pain, A Change In Habits Can Beat Opioids For Relief
Side Effects Public Media
Renea Molden was able to stop taking opioid painkillers with the help of non-opioid alternatives. Alex Smith/KCUR hide caption
Will Gersch teaches a class as part of a Colorado Kaiser Permanente pain management clinic. John Daley / Colorado Public Radio hide caption
Pain Management Program Offers An Alternative To Opioids
Physical therapy as well as cognitive therapy are part of a promising approach to managing chronic pain without drugs. Hero Images/Getty Images hide caption
Across the state of Maine, the number of prescriptions for painkillers is dropping. But some patients who have chronic pain say they need high doses of the medication to be able to function. Fanatic Studio/Getty Images hide caption