New study shows pain meds don't work for 27% of whiplash patients

A new study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Pain explored the effectiveness of pain medications for whiplash patients with chronic pain. The patients were administered morphine or ketamine (both powerful pain drugs). 27% of the patients were classified as non-responders, meaning that the powerful pain drugs were ineffective in relieving chronic whiplash pain. The article "stresses the importance of individualizing the assessment and treatment of subjects with chronic whiplash-associated disorders."

Whiplash treatment isn't a one-size-fits-all approach. Injuries can be painful, permanent, and progressive, and treatments need to be tailored to what works for individual patients. A combination of family doctors, radiologists, neurologists, osteopaths, chiropractors, physical therapists, and massage therapists, among others, is not unusual for patients seeking relief from chronic whiplash pain.

The full citation for the article is M. Persson, J. Sorensen, B. Gerdle, Whiplash Associated Disorders (WAD): Resposnes to pharmacological challenges and psychometric tests, Scandinavian Journal of Pain 3(2012) 151-163.

Nathan wins pro bono bench trial for disabled veteran

A local disabled veteran was sued by a lending institution over a loan made several years ago. The debt collector hired by the lending institution added a whole bunch of fees and costs to make it look like the vet didn't pay what he owed. Instead, the judge ruled he'd already paid it and then some, and ordered the lending institution to refund what the vet had overpaid. I defended the case pro bono, and was happy to serve someone who'd served our country.

New traffic signs?

Taylor co-chairs CLE program

Taylor Chaney is the chair of the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association's Young Lawyers Division, and he's co-chairing a continuing legal education program tomorrow at UALR's Bowen School of Law. He's also teaching a program at the CLE on spinal injury mechanics.

The link to the CLE program is here.

Health care costs: how much is too much for multi-millionaire CEOs?

How many of you have ever heard of David Cordani, Allen Wise, or Angela Braley? Neither have I. But these people are CEOs of major nationwide health insurers, and they make more in a single day than most Americans do in an entire year. They rake in millions of health insurance premium dollars that could be used for health care for their customers. With so many folks struggling to afford health insurance, how can these folks sleep at night?