The Clinical journal of pain
-
This study compared clinical pain outcomes between patients in a pain treatment program that was conducted in-person, compared with a virtual program. ⋯ While some changes were unique to the In-Person program, overall, patients in the Virtual program achieved similar treatment outcomes, suggesting that it can successfully treat Veterans seeking pain management, with less need for in-person facilities for both patients and clinicians.
-
Beliefs and knowledge about pain can influence how an individual approaches pain management. At present, there have been no investigations into the beliefs and knowledge that females hold about their pelvic pain; therefore, pain intervention approaches may not be targeted at current patient understandings. Exploring beliefs and knowledge may help inform and subsequently improve pain intervention outcomes for pelvic pain by allowing more tailored content to be delivered. This study aimed to identify beliefs and knowledge that females hold about their pelvic pain. ⋯ This study provides insight into the perspectives of females with pelvic pain. Recommendations for clinicians are provided with a focus on delivering targeted education and equipping patients with helpful representations of their pain.
-
Research has shown that there has been an increase in the prevalence of chronic back pain (CBP) in adolescents, especially in female adolescents. The purpose of the current study was to test the hypothesis that the observed increase in the prevalence of early menarche in female adolescents is contributing to the increase in the prevalence of CBP over time in this population. ⋯ The increase in the prevalence of CBP in female adolescents observed over the last decade may be explained, in part, by the decrease in the age of menarche. This finding, coupled with research showing a decline in early menarche worldwide, highlights the need to delve deeper into the underlying mechanisms of the association between early menarche and pain-particularly CBP-in female adolescents.
-
Noncancer chronic pain is a clinical challenge because pharmacological treatment often fails to relieve pain. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a treatment that could have the potential for pain relief and improvement in quality of life. However, there is a lack of clinical trials evaluating the effects of tDCS on the pain system. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of 5 days of anodal tDCS treatment on the pain system in patients with chronic noncancer pain using quantitative sensory testing and quality of life questionnaires: (1) Brief Pain Inventory-short form, (2) European Organization for Research and Treatment of Life Questionnaire-C30, and (3) Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale. ⋯ This study adds to the evidence in the literature that tDCS may be a potential therapeutic tool for the management of noncancer chronic pain.
-
Brain areas activated during pain can contribute to enhancing or reducing the pain experience, showing a potential connection between chronic pain and the neural response to pain in adolescents and youth. ⋯ These changes could indicate that reduced brain protective responses to pain were associated with treatment-related improvements. This pilot study highlights the need for larger trials designed to better understand the brain mechanisms involved in pediatric widespread pain treatment.