The Clinical journal of pain
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Ultrasound-guided Pulsed Radiofrequency in the Management of Thoracic Postherpetic Neuralgia: A Randomized, Double-blinded, Controlled Trial.
This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) for the intercostal nerves (ICNs) in the management of thoracic postherpetic neuralgia. ⋯ Ultrasound-guided PRF for ICNs in combination with pharmacotherapy seems to be a safe and effective treatment modality for postherpetic neuralgia.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Acute Procedural Pain in Children: Intervention With the Hospital Clown.
Hospitalized children often describe needle-related procedures as the worst pain possible and such procedures may be emotionally traumatic. The use of hospital clowns (HCs) related to painful medical procedures in children may offer pain relief, but this has not been systematically evaluated. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of a therapeutic clown in comparison with standard care on the experience of pain in children receiving venipuncture. ⋯ Assessing the pain experience of children receiving venipuncture with the presence of an HC indicates a pain relieving effect for children older than 6 years. However, future studies should carefully study the effects on younger children where mixed effects may be present.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Using Illness Perceptions to Cluster Chronic Pain Patients: Results From a Trial on the Chronic Pain Self-Management Program.
The aims of our study were (1) to identify possible subgroups of individuals with chronic pain based on their illness perceptions (IPs); (2) to examine whether these subgroups differed in health status and health expenditure; and (3) to examine whether the subgroups differed in their response to participation in a lay-led Chronic Pain Self-Management Program (CPSMP). ⋯ Clusters based on IPs meaningfully distinguished individuals with chronic pain on health measures and outcome of participating in the CPSMP, and may prove useful in future studies to understand responses to treatment.
-
It is important to identify aspects of analgesic use that are associated with harm in chronic pain. Historically, the focus has been patterns of use (eg, overuse). This study evaluated another aspect of use-rather than evaluating how analgesics were being used, the primary interest was in why they were being used. ⋯ Results support the utility of examining reasons for analgesic use; use to achieve emotional modulation/sedation may be particularly associated with risk. The data also provide support for the questionnaire developed, the Reasons for Analgesic Use Measure.
-
Over 25% of Persian Gulf War (PGW) veterans with Gulf War Illness (GWI) (chronic health symptoms of undetermined etiology) developed gastrointestinal (GI) (diarrhea and abdominal pain) and other somatic symptoms. ⋯ Our findings show that there is widespread somatic hypersensitivity in veterans with GWI/GI symptoms that is positively correlated with abdominal pain ratings. In addition, veterans with somatic hypersensitivity that overlap have the greatest number of extraintestinal symptoms. These findings may have a translational benefit: strategies for developing more effective therapeutic agents that can reduce and/or prevent somatic and GI symptoms in veterans deployed to future military conflicts.