The Clinical journal of pain
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Several types of physical therapy are used in the management of painful musculoskeletal disorders. These treatment modalities can be broadly categorized as electrotherapy modalities (e.g., transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), acupuncture, thermal modalities (e.g., moist heat, ultrasound), manual therapies (e.g., manipulation or massage), or exercise. Within each of these broad categories significant variations in treatment parameters are possible. ⋯ There is some preliminary evidence to support the use of manual therapies, exercise, and acupuncture in the management of some categories of musculoskeletal pain. Limitations of the existing research base are discussed and recommendations for areas of future research are provided.
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The efficacy of peripheral sympathetic interruption after stellate ganglion blockade was assessed by a sympathetic function test. Results were compared with clinical signs such as temperature changes, pain reduction, and the development of Horner syndrome to evaluate the correlation with clinical investigations. ⋯ Clinical investigation is not reliable in the assessment of stellate ganglion blockade. Proof of sympathetically maintained pain based on pain relief after stellate ganglion blockade is not conclusive.
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Previous studies have indicated that many patients with chronic pain (PWCP) referred to pain facilities for the treatment of neck and/or low back pain complain of associated headaches. The purpose of this study was to characterize the nature of these headaches according to International Headache Society (IHS) headache diagnostic criteria. ⋯ Headache can and should be considered a frequent comorbid condition in PWCP. Because of the overlap data, more precise diagnostic criteria may be required to separate cervicogenic headache from migraine headache. Neck-associated symptoms seem to be important even to those PWCP diagnosed with migraine headache.
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Progress in advancing understanding of the role of "catastrophizing" in pain and associated physical and psychosocial disability may be furthered by (1) consideration of the construct of catastrophizing, (2) evaluation of the extent to which currently available measures of pain catastrophizing tap into that construct, (3) investigation of the relation of catastrophizing to personal trait variables (e.g., neuroticism and worry), and (4) identification of the conditions (or states) under which catastrophizing is most likely to occur. In this article, the authors discuss these issues and suggest directions for future research.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Plasma levels of interleukin-6 and interleukin-10 are affected by ketorolac as an adjunct to patient-controlled morphine after abdominal hysterectomy.
Because morphine affects various immune functions, patient-controlled analgesia with morphine may further deteriorate the immune mechanisms after surgery. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine differences between morphine patient-controlled analgesia and a combination of morphine and ketorolac in interleukin-6 and interleukin-10 responses, and in analgesia and morphine-related side effects. ⋯ The authors conclude that supplementation using ketorolac plus administration of morphine modifies cytokine responses and may contribute to immune augmentations during postoperative periods.