The Clinical journal of pain
-
The validity of studies conducted with patient registries depends on the accuracy of the self-reported clinical data. As of now, studies about the validity of self-reported use of analgesics among chronic pain (CP) populations are scarce. The objective of this study was to assess the accuracy of self-reported prescribed analgesic medication use. This was attained by comparing the data collected in the Quebec Pain Registry (QPR) database to those contained in the Quebec administrative prescription claims database (Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec [RAMQ]). ⋯ Information about current prescribed analgesic medication use as reported by CP patients was accurate for the main therapeutic drug classes used in CP management. Accuracy of the past year self-reported prescribed analgesic use was somewhat lower but only for certain classes of medication, the concordance being good on all the others.
-
To investigate potential relationships of clinical (age, function, side of pain, years with pain), physical (cervical range of motion, pinch grip force), psychological (depression), and neurophysiological (pressure and thermal pain thresholds) outcomes and hand pain intensity in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). ⋯ This study showed that 36.5% of the variance of pain intensity was associated to clinical (function), neurophysiological (localized PPT and HPT), psychological (depression), and physical (finger pinch tip force) outcomes in women with chronic CTS.
-
Factors influencing disability and work absence in complex regional pain syndrome type-1 (CRPS)-1 have not been thoroughly described in the literature. We sought to determine whether demographic variables, work-related factors, CRPS clinical severity ratings, pain scores, or psychological variables were associated with disability and sick leave in early CRPS-1. ⋯ Although the study was cross-sectional and so cannot differentiate cause from effect, results suggest that even in the early stages of CRPS, a cycle of pain, disability, depression, and work absence can emerge. Treatments aimed to prevent this cycle may help prevent adverse long-term outcomes.
-
Opioid-induced pruritus is a common side effect of opioid treatment in patients with acute pain associated with surgery or childbirth. There are several options available to treat opioid-induced pruritus, including nalbuphine. However, it is not known whether nalbuphine offers greater efficacy in treating pruritus without attenuation of analgesia and an increase in the incidence of adverse outcomes. ⋯ Nalbuphine is superior in treating opioid-induced pruritus when compared with placebo, control, diphenhydramine, naloxone, or propofol in patients receiving neuraxial opioids for acute pain related to surgery or childbirth. Therefore, it is recommended that nalbuphine should be used as a first-line treatment of opioid-induced pruritus.