Pain

Low back pain is the leading cause of disability but there's some big roadblocks if you want to get the best treatment, which focuses on the mind just as much as the body.

Chronic pain is the norm for millions of Australians, but sufferers and advocates say misconceptions are rife. This is what their lives are really like.

Doctors hold growing concerns about a significant shortage of opioid pain medicines given to some of the sickest Australians.

With surgery only offering 50 to 80 per cent chance of success, much improved data is now in on an Australian-made treatment using patients' own cells, giving hope to people with complex tennis elbow cases.

Within the next few years, 24-year-old Haylee will undergo a hysterectomy to solve her chronic pain. But first, she is giving pregnancy one last shot.

It's estimated one in five Australians live with chronic pain and lobby group Painaustralia is calling for more Medicare-funded allied health visits for those living with the condition.

While the role of opioids in the deaths of thousands of Australians who die of drug overdoses has remained relatively stable, there are concerns the presence of potent synthetic opioids like fentanyl may ramp up.

In the short-term, inflammation is a sign your body is healing. But persistent levels of inflammation in blood and tissue — called "inflammaging" — is linked to disease, write Lauren Ball and Emily Burch.

Over time, sucking in your stomach can lead to hourglass syndrome, a condition that can cause changes in the appearance of the stomach — and may also affect other parts of the body, writes Adam Taylor.

The sole distributor of Ordine in Australia will stop supplying the liquid morphine in December, but palliative care professionals say their patients cannot do without it. 

Australian researchers call for an end to the use of opioids to treat acute back and neck pain after finding they are no more effective than a placebo.

Lauren Jackson was granted an exemption to take medicinal cannabis when she made a fairytale comeback to basketball. But its use — both within and outside sport — remains stigmatised while Australia's laws are difficult to understand and navigate.

The agony caused by brushing against the notorious Gympie-Gympie tree can last for months, but researchers think its toxins may one day provide relief to chronic pain sufferers.

There are fears a shortage of nurses in aged care is having an impact on residents being able to access medication, with one nurse claiming it is resulting in proper procedures not being followed.

Despite decades of chronic pain Deborah Parker is living her dream, travelling through regional Australia and painting, teaching art to others with a disability. Produced by Wiriya Sati.

Vanessa Calafiore started Pilates to help with chronic pain that comes with a limb deficiency. What it turned into was a love for bodybuilding, fitness and an awe-inspiring story.

Sam Robinson is a scientist who gets stung in the name of understanding pain. And he's rated the pain from bites and stings by some Aussie animals and plants.

Assistant Minister for Health Ged Kearney will chair the new National Women's Health Council, which will address the range of poorer health outcomes women experience comparative to men.

Ovarian cysts are typically harmless but for some women they can cause painful symptoms, threaten fertility and in rare cases become cancerous. Reporter Rebecca Opie speaks with gynaecologist Sally Reid to break down the different types of cysts, the symptoms to look out for, and when to seek medical attention. 

When she was 12, Lily Bratchell lost her right ovary to a large complex cyst after initially being misdiagnosed with appendicitis. She hopes sharing her story will save others the pain and give them time to protect their fertility. 

Commercially available virtual reality headsets and handsets might be able to help doctors and physiotherapists treat one of society's most debilitating health problems: chronic pain.

IUDs are one of the most effective forms of contraception, but for some women getting one inserted can be excruciating. Here's why — and what can be done to make it less painful.

Joining a Masters sports team brings a wealth of benefits, but without proper prep, you can quickly end up injured. So how can you play without sidelining yourself for the season?

With cannabis now decriminalised for personal use in the ACT, there are growing calls by health professionals to examine which varieties of plants are being grown and how Canberrans are using them.

MORNING BRIEFING: The grieving community of Wollondilly will hold the first of five funerals in Picton today for the teenage victims of a car crash at Buxton last week.