The Clinical journal of pain
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The goal of this study was to examine the relative importance of global affective distress, self-report of depressive symptoms, and presence or absence of major depression to the experience of chronic pain. ⋯ The GSI, Beck Depression Inventory, and Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale were significantly correlated with each measure of the experience of pain, although clinical depression was only significantly related to self-reported disability and negative thoughts about pain. The self-report measures of depression maintained their relation to the dependent measures when the somatic items from the scales were removed, suggesting that the relations were not spuriously due to the influence of pain symptoms on the scales. When examining the unique contribution of each variable to the experience of pain (by simultaneously controlling for the other measures of affect), the GSI was uniquely related to the sensory and affective components of pain. Self-report of depressive symptoms was more highly related to a measure of the evaluative component of pain and uniquely related to self-reported disability and negative thoughts about pain. The results are discussed within the context of theoretical models of the relation between pain and affect, and suggestions for future research are presented.
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The objective was to report on the possibility of allergic reaction to the components of a spinal cord stimulator. ⋯ There exists a possibility that a patient may experience an allergic reaction to spinal cord stimulator components. Recognition of such contact sensitivity is important for physicians implanting such devices. Patients may be misdiagnosed as having infections, which can delay appropriate management; definitive diagnosis can be confirmed with a patch test. Treatment consists of removal of such devices.
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This study was undertaken to examine the relation between muscular tenderness measured as pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) and electromyographic (EMG) signs of fatigue before and after a local standardized static muscle contraction. ⋯ Pressure pain thresholds over shoulder muscles remained elevated up to 10 minutes after a unilateral static endurance test. This time course was completely different from that of EMG-defined muscle fatigue, which showed a fast recovery. These findings indicate that the mechanisms of recovery from fatigue and nociception are independent of each other. The bilateral PPT increases might be explained by central antinociceptive mechanisms activated by static muscle work.