The Clinical journal of pain
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Hypoalgesia in the referred pain areas after bilateral injections of hypertonic saline into the trapezius muscles of men and women: a potential experimental model of gender-specific differences.
The study was to assess the local pain intensity, referred pain patterns, and changes in the pressure pain thresholds of the local and referred pain areas following bilateral injections of hypertonic saline into trapezius muscles and to delineate gender differences in pain profile and the possible modulation of pressure pain thresholds. ⋯ These findings indicate that both excitatory and inhibitory mechanisms modulate pain response characteristics in bilateral neck-shoulder pain conditions and suggest that there may be a more potent inhibitory control mechanism in men than women. This experimental model may be potentially used to detect gender differences in descending inhibition.
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A case study was conducted to examine a patient with chronic neuropathic pain of the right foot following peripheral nerve injury and characterize associated sensory abnormalities. ⋯ The profound sensory disturbances suggest a possible deafferentation type of tactile allodynia mediated by changes within the central nervous system, such as a disruption of normal tactile or thermal inhibition of nociception. The functional magnetic resonance imaging data suggest that tactile allodynia is represented in similar brain regions as experimental pain.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Topically administered ketamine reduces capsaicin-evoked mechanical hyperalgesia.
The n-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonists such as ketamine relieve chronic pain but their oral and parenteral use is limited by the adverse effects. Experimental studies indicate that the peripheral n-methyl-d-aspartate receptors are involved in nociception. Recent clinical findings suggest that ketamine gel alleviates neuropathic pain, but no placebo-controlled randomized studies are available on the neurosensory effects of ketamine gel in experimental neurogenic pain. ⋯ A significant reduction of mechanical hyperalgesia was produced by topically and pre-emptively applied ketamine in healthy patients. We propose that the mechanism of action would be the reduction of central sensitization caused by the absorption of ketamine in circulation.
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The concept of rational polypharmacy is now well established in the field of pain management. This concept has evolved in concert with progress in understanding the pathophysiologic mechanisms of pain diseases and disorders and how medications affect these processes. ⋯ This article will review how pain diagnosis, pain mechanisms, pain phenomenology, medication efficacy, and risk profile influence medication selection in pain medicine practice, with a selective focus on the treatment of neuropathic pain. In addition, the role of psychosocial factors as they affect pain management will be discussed.
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Although those in the field of pain management have long recognized the multidimensional character of pain, global pain intensity remains the most frequently assessed domain measured in clinical trials of pain treatments. However, a number of specific pain qualities have been shown to be associated with neuropathic versus nociceptive pain and, as such, can be used for diagnostic purposes. ⋯ A number of such measures are currently available, each with its strengths and weaknesses. These measures are reviewed, and potential future uses of these tools are discussed.