Abstract: Effective treatments of pain for extended periods of time are provided. Through the administration of an effective amount of clonidine in a fiber at or near a target site, one can relieve pain caused by diverse sources, including but not limited to spinal disc herniation (i.e. sciatica), spondilothesis, stenosis, discogenic back pain and joint pain, as well as pain that is incidental to surgery. When appropriate fiber formulations are provided within biodegradable polymers, this pain relief can be continued for at least three days.

Abstract: Methods are provided for preparing polymer mixtures having low residual monomer content. The methods comprise mixing the at least two polymers in a solvent to form a polymeric mixture, the polymeric mixture comprising at least one residual monomer; and adding an antisolvent to the polymeric mixture so as to separate the at least two polymers from the polymeric mixture, where the residual monomer is soluble in the antisolvent. In some embodiments, methods are provided for preparing at least two polymers having low residual monomer content, the methods comprise adding an antisolvent to a mixture of at least two polymers dissolved in a solvent so as to precipitate the at least two polymers from the solvent and anti-solvent. The methods provided avoid steps in dry blending of polymers and produces polymer blends that have low residual monomer content.

Abstract: Effective treatments of pain for extended periods of time are provided. Through the administration of an effective amount of immediate release bupivacaine or lidocaine and a sustained release clonidine at or near a target site, one can relieve pain caused by diverse sources, including but not limited to spinal disc herniation (i.e. sciatica), spondilothesis, stenosis, discogenic back pain and joint pain. When appropriate formulations are provided within biodegradable polymers, this relief can be continued for at least three days. In some embodiments, the relief can be for at least twenty-five days, at least fifty days, at least one hundred days, at least one hundred and thirty-five days or at least one hundred and eighty days or longer.

Abstract: Methods are provided for preparing polymer mixtures having low residual monomer content. The methods comprise mixing the at least two polymers in a solvent to form a polymeric mixture, the polymeric mixture comprising at least one residual monomer; and adding an antisolvent to the polymeric mixture so as to separate the at least two polymers from the polymeric mixture, where the residual monomer is soluble in the antisolvent. In some embodiments, methods are provided for preparing at least two polymers having low residual monomer content, the methods comprise adding an antisolvent to a mixture of at least two polymers dissolved in a solvent so as to precipitate the at least two polymers from the solvent and anti-solvent. The methods provided avoid steps in dry blending of polymers and produces polymer blends that have low residual monomer content.

Abstract: Effective treatments of pain for extended periods of time are provided. Through the administration of an effective amount of clonidine in a matrix at or near a target site, one can relieve pain caused by diverse sources, including but not limited to spinal disc herniation (i.e. sciatica), spondilothesis, stenosis, discogenic back pain and joint pain, as well as pain that is incidental to surgery. When appropriate matrix formulations are provided within biodegradable polymers, this pain relief can be continued for at least three days. In some embodiments, the relief can be for at least twenty-five days, at least fifty days, at least one hundred days, at least one hundred and thirty-five days or at least one hundred and eighty days.

Abstract: Effective treatments of pain for extended periods of time are provided. Through the administration of an effective amount of a TRPV1 compound (e.g., capsaicinoid compound) at or near a target site, one can relieve pain caused by diverse sources, including but not limited to, postoperative pain, spinal disc herniation (i.e. sciatica), spondilothesis, stenosis, discogenic back pain and joint pain, as well as pain that is incidental to surgery. When appropriate formulations are provided within biodegradable polymers, this relief can be continued for at least three days. In some embodiments, the relief can be for at least twenty-five days, at least fifty days, at least one hundred days, at least one hundred and thirty-five days or at least one hundred and eighty days.

Abstract: Effective treatments of pain for extended periods of time are provided. Through the administration of an effective amount of immediate release bupivacaine or lidocaine and a sustained release clonidine at or near a target site, one can relieve pain caused by diverse sources, including but not limited to spinal disc herniation (i.e. sciatica), spondilothesis, stenosis, discogenic back pain and joint pain. When appropriate formulations are provided within biodegradable polymers, this relief can be continued for at least three days. In some embodiments, the relief can be for at least twenty-five days, at least fifty days, at least one hundred days, at least one hundred and thirty-five days or at least one hundred and eighty days or longer.