The Clinical journal of pain
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Review Historical Article
Opioids: after thousands of years, still getting to know you.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Thermal and visceral hypersensitivity in irritable bowel syndrome patients with and without fibromyalgia.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder characterized by both visceral and somatic hyperalgesia, producing a similar effect seen with the central hypersensitivity mechanism in fibromyalgia (FM). ⋯ FM+IBS patients show greater thermal hypersensitivity compared with IBS patients. However, IBS patients exhibit higher pain ratings to rectal distension compared with FM+IBS patients. This data suggests that regions of primary and secondary hyperalgesia are dependent on the primary pain complaint.
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We describe a case of spontaneous complex regional pain syndrome developing first in the left arm and 2 years later in the right foot of a 14-year-old girl. Physical examination showed abnormalities in tactile and thermal sensitivity. ⋯ We suggest that the observed electrophysiologic alterations could result from a temporary dysfunction of attentional systems, which are assumed to contribute greatly to the LEPs vertex complex. Further studies are needed to test this hypothesis.
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The aim was to investigate whether increased pericranial tenderness or decreased pressure pain threshold (PPT) was related to headache intensity, duration, and frequency in chronic tension-type headache (CTTH). ⋯ Increased tenderness may predispose the patients to other perpetuating factors in inducing headache attacks. Further research is needed to clearly define the role of pericranial tender tissues or other factors in the genesis and maintenance of CTTH.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Effect of acupuncture-like electrical stimulation on chronic tension-type headache: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.
The aim of this study was to examine the effect of acupuncture-like electrical stimulation on chronic tension-type headache (TTH) in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. ⋯ The use of acupuncture-like electrical stimulation was not associated with significant adverse effects. These results indicate that acupuncture-like electrical stimulation is a safe and potentially analgesic-sparing therapy that may be considered as an adjunctive treatment for patients with chronic TTH although the clinical effect on pain seems to be marginal in the present set-up.