The Clinical journal of pain
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Three cases of different types of nerve injuries following orthopedic and chest surgery are described. Recovery from these nerve injuries was prolonged and incomplete. By constant awareness of potential nerve damage during operation, it is possible to prevent such injuries.
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Comparative Study
American and Japanese chronic low back pain patients: cross-cultural similarities and differences.
The study compared and contrasted medical, psychological, social and general behavioral functioning of American and Japanese low back pain patients and normal controls. The Sickness Impact Profile and a standardized Medical Examination Protocol for Pain instrument were used to assess all subjects. Findings showed that the American and Japanese low back pain patients had similar and significantly higher medical-physical findings than their respective controls. ⋯ Finally, despite similar medical and physical findings, the Japanese low back pain patients were significantly less impaired in psychological, social, vocational, and avocational functioning than the American low back pain patients. It was concluded that there were significant cross-cultural differences between the American and Japanese low back pain patients, primarily in the psychosocial and behavioral areas. However, given the small sample size, any conclusion should be considered with caution; replication is needed before more definite conclusions are possible.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effectiveness of alprazolam in the treatment of chronic pain: results of a preliminary study.
One hundred chronic pain patients were begun on alprazolam, 1.5 mg/day. No other medication changes or therapeutic interventions were made. ⋯ The average score of all patients had decreased from 3.6 to 2.2 on a verbal analog scale that rated pain severity from 0 to 5. There was no difference in response among the various diagnostic groups represented in the study population.
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The treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (TN), which is resistant to medical therapy, has benefited from many surgical techniques. It is not possible, in light of the present level of knowledge, to establish exactly which method is the most suitable. It does, however, seem significant that certain side effects appear, in varying percentages, in all kinds of operations. ⋯ The tip of the needle is accurately placed among the roots desired under fluoroscopic control. The clinical effects on the conscious patient of a prognostic block with local anesthetics are evaluated before producing the neurolysis. Follow-up has been long enough to show that SETN is a highly selective procedure, which shouldn't be underrated in the centers that use it routinely.
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Review Comparative Study
Comparison of clinical characteristics in myogenic, TMJ internal derangement and atypical facial pain patients.
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders have been collectively grouped as myofascial pain-dysfunction syndrome (MPDS) or temporomandibular joint dysfunction syndrome (TMJDS). In the past, these terms have been used synonomously to describe a set of clinical signs and symptoms that include pain in the TMJ and muscles of mastication, limited or deviant opening of the mandible, and/or joint sounds. The present study segregated two major subgroups subsumed within this diagnostic classification and assigned them to a myogenic facial pain (MFP) group and a TMJ internal derangement (TMJID) group. ⋯ Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) scores from 95 subjects were compared with self-report measures of depression and anxiety. It was concluded that subcategorization of myofascial pain dysfunction patients into a MFP and TMJID group is justified on the basis of psychometric differences, clenching habits, masseter EMG levels, and male:female ratio. Furthermore, psychopathological factors are more significant among MFP and AFP subjects than TMJID patients.