Pain
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Relaxation and imagery and cognitive-behavioral training reduce pain during cancer treatment: a controlled clinical trial.
Few controlled clinical trials of psychological interventions for cancer pain relief exist in spite of frequent support for their importance as adjuncts to medical treatment. This study compared oral mucositis pain levels in 4 groups of cancer patients receiving bone marrow transplants (BMT): (1) treatment as usual control, (2) therapist support, (3) relaxation and imagery training, and (4) training in a package of cognitive-behavioral coping skills which included relaxation and imagery. A total of 94 patients completed the study which involved two training sessions prior to treatment and twice a week 'booster' sessions during the first 5 weeks of treatment. ⋯ Average visual analogue scale (VAS) report of pain within the therapist support group was not significantly lower than the control group (P = 0.103) nor significantly higher than the training groups. Patient reports of relative helpfulness of the interventions for managing pain and nausea matched the results of VAS reports. From these results, we conclude that relaxation and imagery training reduces cancer treatment-related pain; adding cognitive-behavioral skills to the relaxation with imagery does not, on average, further improve pain relief.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Intrathecal steroids to reduce pain after lumbar disc surgery: a double-blind, placebo-controlled prospective study.
This double-blind, placebo-controlled prospective study investigated whether corticosteroids (beta-methasone) influence residual radicular pain after lumbar disc surgery. The study population consisted of 26 patients undergoing surgery for a herniated lumbar disc at our University Neurosurgical Department. Thirteen patients received beta-methasone intrathecally prior to wound closure, and 13 patients received normal saline. ⋯ At follow-up after 6 months, residual radicular pain was rated equally by both groups (4 mm in the treatment vs. 5 mm in the placebo group, P > 0.5). Intrathecal application of steroids provides short-lasting, significant pain reduction after lumbar disc surgery. Benefits of intrathecal steroids are probably outweighed by the risks associated with violation of the dural barrier.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Analgesic efficacy and safety of tramadol enantiomers in comparison with the racemate: a randomised, double-blind study with gynaecological patients using intravenous patient-controlled analgesia.
The opioid analgesic tramadol is a racemate and consists of 50% (+)- and 50% (-)-enantiomer. This study investigated analgesic efficacy and safety of both enantiomers after intravenous (i.v.) injection in comparison with the racemate. Ninety-eight patients recovering from major gynaecological surgery under opioid-free halothane anaesthesia were treated in a randomised, double-blind study with (+)-tramadol, (-)-tramadol or the racemate. ⋯ Assessment of laboratory screening, adverse events, vital signs and blood gas monitoring showed no serious drug-related events. Nausea and vomiting were the most frequently reported non-serious side effects and were most often seen with (+)-tramadol. Taking into account both efficacy and safety aspects, the racemate seems to be superior to either enantiomer alone.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the application of capsaicin cream in chronic distal painful polyneuropathy.
We have completed a 12-week double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized study on the efficacy of the application of capsaicin (CAPS) cream (0.075%) in the treatment of chronic distal painful polyneuropathy. Forty patients were enrolled and 39 completed the study. The 2 limbs were randomly assigned to CAPS or placebo (PLAC). ⋯ All the safety indices showed no difference between sides. We interpret the early hyperalgesia on the CAPS side as being responsible for the better performance of PLAC at early time points. The large percentage of limbs that improved may be a pronounced PLAC response.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Inflammatory models of cutaneous hyperalgesia are sensitive to effects of ibuprofen in man.
A new experimental procedure was developed to quantify the analgesic actions of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in healthy human subjects. In order to mimic the clinical situation, the drug was 'therapeutically' administered 1 day after induction of inflammation by freezing a small skin area. The procedure was easily tolerated and led to a marked hyperalgesia without ongoing pain which was tested using mechanical impact stimulation and magnitude estimation. ⋯ The two dosages of ibuprofen, however, appeared to be equally effective in a way that suggests a plateauing of the antihyperalgesic effect. The two models in which hyperalgesia is affected by ibuprofen, i.e., repeated pinching and impact stimulation after freeze trauma, seem to provide comparable sensitivity. The freeze model may in the future have the advantage to allow for a better temporal resolution of the drug's action profile.