Articles Posted in Medical News

There are many different kinds of injuries and conditions we face in Pennsylvania workers’ compensation matters. One common thread in those injuries and conditions, however, is pain. Often, the pain is to a level that is severe, requiring significant medications to obtain relief. Various types of medications are classified differently. Basically, the more powerful, or dangerous, a medication is perceived to be, the more limited the access to the medication.

Starting early next month, Hydrocodone Combination Products (HCPs) will change from a Schedule III drug to a Schedule II according to the Controlled Substances Act. To the injured worker, this is important for several reasons. First, all hydrocodone prescriptions will now require an actual written “hard copy” prescription. In other words, telephone, fax, verbal and email prescriptions are not acceptable. Second, there are no refills available for this classification of medication. Third, any existing refills for hydrocodone prescriptions will be void as of midnight on October 5, 2014.

For additional information, you can visit the website for Injured Workers Pharmacy (IWP), a mail order prescription service used by many of our clients.

For some time now, it has been known, or at least suspected, that high doses of pain-relieving agent acetaminophen can lead to serious liver damage. Acetaminophen is sold over the counter on its own (Tylenol), or as an ingredient in more powerful pain medications, such as Percocet (oxycodone and acetaminophen) and Vicodin (hydrocodone and acetaminophen). Back in 2011, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a release, taking steps to reduce the risk of liver damage from acetaminophen.

Essentially, the FDA called for two things of medicines containing acetaminophen. First, there must be a clear warning on the box, detailing the potential risk for “severe liver injury.” Second, prescription medications should be limited to a maximum of 325 milligrams of acetaminophen per tablet, pill or capsule.

Recently, the FDA issued a statement that all manufacturers of medications containing more than 325 milligrams of acetaminophen per dosage unit have stopped marketing such products. Additionally, the FDA also issued a statement reminding health care providers not to prescribe such products, and pharmacists to stop dispensing them. In short, the position of the FDA is that “(t)hese products are no longer considered safe by FDA and have been voluntarily withdrawn.”

A couple of months ago, we mentioned the FDA approval of a new pain medication, called Zohydro. The same properties which make Zohydro so exciting for the medical profession, and injured workers everywhere, caused great angst among government and addiction officials. Fast and effective relief of severe pain, unfortunately, also can lead to misuse and/or abuse of any substance. These concerns had officials lobbying the FDA to revoke its approval for this medication.

Recently, the FDA issued a Fact Sheet about Zohydro. After taking a close look at the benefits and risks of this medication, the FDA determined that its approval (for its intended usage) was correct. In fact, the FDA issued this release, in part, to correct some misconceptions about Zohydro.

Specifically, the FDA noted that Zohydro is available in varying strengths. Since it is designed to be a time-release medication, though Zohydro contains more hydrocodone than some other products, it is actually less potent than other opiate-based pain relievers currently on the market, as they are immediate-release products. Further, there is evidence that abuse-deterrent properties of some competing medications, such as Oxycontin, are not completely effective at preventing abuse or addiction. The FDA also recognized that, even if Oxycontin has some abuse-deterrent properties not found in Zohydro, Oxycontin “does not meet the medical needs of all people in severe pain.”

Once limited to a role in science fiction books and movies, nanotechnology is getting ready to invade our lives in beneficial ways. Nanotechnology is the study of, or use of, extremely small things, often at the atomic level. How small? One nanometer is a billionth of a meter, or, in other words, there are 25,400,000 nanometers in an inch. Obviously, we cannot see these things with the naked eye (or even a basic microscope).

Scientists have discussed how nanotechnology could impact medicine for years. Or, at least, they have done so in theory. Nanobots could, in theory, perform surgical tasks in a human body; sort of a real version of the 1966 movie, Fantastic Voyage. Nanotechnology could also assist in prosthetics, medical tools and processes. The possibilities are truly endless.

But, some uses of nanotechnology have left the realm of “theory” and moved into that of “reality.” One recent example is an experiment conducted using an injection of magnetic nanoparticles in place of traditional anesthetic for an ankle block. The study was successful, demonstrating that this process does work (at least in rats). By identifying specific areas in which nanotechnology may benefit us, these researchers are helping other scientists refine realistic use of the nanotechnology.

A common theme we see with work injuries in Pennsylvania, whether with a complex regional pain syndrome, failed back surgery, brachial plexopathy, knee, hip or shoulder replacement, or other permanent conditions, is an injured worker dealing with chronic pain. As a result, we always keep an eye out for new methods of helping patients deal with the lingering agony that can accompany a serious work injury.

While many of these new methods, whether it be medication or other treatment option, arrive quietly, one new medication is coming with quite a fuss. Zohydro ER, manufactured by Zogenix, Inc., is a powerful new hydrocodone product. This medication was recently approved by the FDA, and, as stated in the press release issued by the FDA, “is the first FDA-approved single-entity (not combined with an analgesic such as acetaminophen) and extended-release hydrocodone product.”

Because Zohydro ER is so potent, there is great concern in the medical and news community that the product will cause addiction and health issues. According to ABC News, Zohydro ER can have up to ten times more narcotic than Vicodin. In fact, that same article stated that “the FDA’s own advisory committee voted against approval.”

To properly represent injured workers in PA, we feel it is critical that we be educated not only on the law, but also on the medical side of things. The more we can understand all aspects of a case, the better we can represent our clients.

One of the more common types of work injuries we see are those to the spine, both neck and back. In reviewing and litigating a case, we have to digest all types of medical records, including diagnostic studies. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a type of test frequently performed with spinal injuries. Being lawyers, not doctors, we certainly do not want to be reading films, but we do want to understand what things mean when we see them in MRI reports.

With this in mind, I attended a seminar last night given by Dr. Lisa Sheppard of Garden State Magnetic Imaging. A Board Certified Radiologist with a Certificate of Additional Qualification in Neuroradiology, Dr. Sheppard thoroughly explained the anatomy of a spine, and how it appears on an MRI study. Dr. Sheppard described what abnormal findings on an MRI study may indicate a chronic, perhaps degenerative, condition and what findings would be more suggestive of trauma.

Injured workers in PA are like every other person in society. They are susceptible to conditions that affect everyone else. One of those conditions is a scary disorder called Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) or Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD). Having had trauma, through a work injury, the injured worker may be even more at risk.

We have previously discussed CRPS/RSD on our blog. One of the most frightening aspects of CRPS/RSD is how much the experts don’t know. For example, it is not known how or why a person develops the condition. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, CRPS/RSD is caused by an injury or trauma, but not necessarily a severe one. The condition has been known to develop from sprains, strains, cuts, burns or bruises, in addition to fractures or surgical procedures. Most commonly, CRPS/RSD occurs in a patient between 25 and 55, and women are three times more likely to develop the ailment than men, says the American Society for Surgery of the Hand.

Another area that makes CRPS/RSD difficult is the problems in reaching a proper diagnosis. The hallmark symptom is extreme pain, which appears out of proportion to the injury suffered. There may also be changes to the skin of the injured worker, including discoloring, swelling, dryness, tightness, redness, rashes, changes to the hair or nails and/or an increase or decrease in sweating. Many of these symptoms are common to other conditions as well. Worse, according to a recent presentation by Dr. Pradeep Chopra, Assistant Professor at Brown Medical School and Director of the Pain Management Center in Rhode Island, diagnostic tests, such as x-rays, MRI, bone scan and EMG are “not helpful for diagnosing RSD,” though they may be useful to rule out other causes and diagnoses. Therefore, CRPS/RSD is essentially a “clinical diagnosis,” best made by a physician’s personal observations of the injured worker.

Regular readers to our blog know that, in addition to noting recent court decisions involving workers’ compensation matters in Pennsylvania, we also try to keep injured workers informed about any developments in diagnosing or treating work injuries. Along these lines, one of the frequent topics we blog on is pain, and how it can be relieved. We’ve looked at what methods may be coming in the future, and at other possible contributions to pain.

We have also discussed acupuncture in the past. This treatment method has always been controversial, perhaps even more so in the workers’ compensation setting. Like chiropractic treatment, acupuncture is frequently met by the workers’ compensation insurance carrier with Utilization Review (to challenge whether the treatment is “reasonable and necessary”). According to a recent article published on the website of the International Anesthesia Research Society, there is proof that acupuncture actually can help with certain physical ailments, including post-operative pain, and chronic pain.

This article cited various studies, where acupuncture was tested against a placebo (sort of faked acupuncture). In at least one of these controlled studies, it was definitively shown that “acupuncture is more effective than placebo.” This result led the authors of that study to conclude that, “acupuncture is effective for the treatment of chronic pain and is therefore a reasonable treatment option.” In fact, at least one study showed that the difference between acupuncture and placebo is similar to the difference between medication and placebo, in relieving pain with arthritic knee conditions.

In the Pennsylvania workers’ compensation system, we frequently see cases involving carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). As many of you know, this condition occurs when the median nerve is entrapped in the wrist. There are many potential causes of CTS, including familial history, certain medical conditions, trauma and certain physical activities. CTS can also occur “idiopathically” (without a known cause). Frequently, we see litigation regarding whether CTS in any given case is related to the work activities.

Are we all at the same risk to develop CTS? According to a recent study published in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and referenced in The Wall Street Journal recently, the size and shape of a person’s hand and wrist can show whether that person is predisposed to the development of CTS. Specifically, if a person has a “short and wide hand with square wrist matching to narrow and deep tunnel entrance,” that person has an increased likelihood for developing CTS. Of course, that leads us into an examination of what causes CTS, and whether CTS in any given case can be accepted as a work-related injury.

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, “Work that involves high force or vibration is particularly hazardous (to developing CTS), as is repetitive hand and wrist work in cold temperatures.” They also note that repetitive use of the hands and wrists can cause repetitive stress disorder, overuse syndrome and chronic upper limb pain syndrome. Similarly, the National Health Service in the United Kingdom relates that CTS can be triggered by activities with “strenuous grip, repetitive wrist flexion and exposure to vibration,” including motions associated with manual labor. This is consistent with the view of the National Safety Council, who noted that “(r)epetitive manual work tasks requiring a forceful grip and use of vibrating tools can damage the median nerve in the arm, contributing to CTS.”

As attorneys who limit their practice to representing injured workers in Pennsylvania, we see many different conditions which affect various parts of the body. We see injuries to the feet, ankles and knees, the hands, arms and shoulders, the neck, back and the head. The constant? Well, that’s easy – pain. Often severe and devastating, the vast majority of injuries we see cause various degrees of pain.

Given our experience in dealing with folks in debilitating pain, we always have an eye on medical developments and research, especially when it comes to new ways of dealing with pain. And that is what makes the concept of a wearable pain patch being developed by Thimble Bioelectronics, and reported on Gizmag.com, so interesting.

This device is not your typical pain patch, like Duragesic or Fentanyl, which delivers regulated dosages of pain medication through the skin. This new device would actually be a miniature TENS unit (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation). A TENS unit delivers low voltage electrical stimulation, which provides relief without the use of heavy duty narcotic medications, which contain dangerous side-effects.