The Clinical journal of pain
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Reduces Postsurgical Opioid Consumption in Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA).
Although pain is often a symptom that precedes total knee arthroplasty (TKA), the procedure itself is associated with considerable postoperative pain lasting days to weeks. Postoperative pain control is an important factor in determining recovery time, hospital length of stay, and rehabilitation success. Several brain stimulation technologies including transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) have demonstrated promise as treatments for a variety of pain conditions. The present study examined the effects of 4 sessions of tDCS on post-TKA pain and opioid consumption. ⋯ Results from this pilot feasibility study suggest that tDCS may be able to reduce post-TKA opioid requirements. Although these results are preliminary, the data support further research in the area of adjunctive cortical stimulation in the management of postsurgical pain.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Predicting Prognostic Factors in a Randomized Controlled Trial of Acupuncture Versus Topiramate Treatment in Patients With Chronic Migraine.
This study aimed to identify predictive factors of outcome in patients with chronic migraine (CM) treated with acupuncture or topiramate in a randomized controlled trial. ⋯ Some variables can predict outcome in acupuncture or topiramate treatment of CM patients. Identifying predictors of prognosis of both treatments for CM may help improve outcomes in future work.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Botulinum Toxin A in Postherpetic Neuralgia: A Parallel, Randomized, Double-Blind, Single-Dose, Placebo-controlled Trial.
Cumulative evidence support a beneficial effect of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) in postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). We aimed to assess efficacy, safety, and tolerability of BTX-A in the management of PHN, performing a randomized, double-blind, single-dose, placebo-controlled trial. ⋯ Data confirm that BTX-A is effective and well tolerated in the treatment of PHN.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Pain Physiology Education Improves Health Status and Endogenous Pain Inhibition in Fibromyalgia: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.
There is evidence that education on pain physiology can have positive effects on pain, disability, and catastrophization in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain disorders. A double-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) was performed to examine whether intensive pain physiology education is also effective in fibromyalgia (FM) patients, and whether it is able to influence the impaired endogenous pain inhibition of these patients. ⋯ These results suggest that FM patients are able to understand and remember the complex material about pain physiology. Pain physiology education seems to be a useful component in the treatment of FM patients as it improves health status and endogenous pain inhibition in the long term.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Long-term Safety of Gastroretentive Gabapentin in Postherpetic Neuralgia Patients.
This study evaluated the long-term safety and tolerability of a gastroretentive formulation of gabapentin (G-GR) and its effect on weight gain in postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) patients participating in a 14-week, open-label extension to a 10-week double-blind study. ⋯ Long-term treatment (up to 24 wk) with G-GR of 1800 mg was well tolerated and associated with little weight gain (< 1 kg) in patients with PHN. No new safety issues emerged with G-GR long-term treatment.