Der Schmerz
-
Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease of unknown origin characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, disordered sleep and joint stiffness among other symptoms. ⋯ Myofascial therapy and lymph drainage may be effective in patients with fibromyalgia. Further work is needed as the scientific evidence available is still insufficient.
-
The treatment of patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) takes place in an interdisciplinary and multimodal setting. Physical therapies represent a major treatment focus along with physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and analgetic treatments. This review explains their importance in current clinical practice and gives an impression of the evidence on different treatments including electrotherapy, neuromodulating procedures, manual lymphatic drainage, CO2 applications and paraffin wax baths. As far as ascertainable from clinical experience and the scientific literature, treatment recommendations are presented in accordance with current guidelines.
-
The complexity of the symptoms of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) poses a particular challenge for both those affected and those treating persons with the condition. The present study deals with the questions of coping with FMS from the perspective of both those affected and those treating them and their assessment of needs and requirements in terms of health services. ⋯ Self-help groups and regionally available networks represent important support possibilities, not least with regard to the psychosomatic component of FMS. Improved coordination of care services can be achieved by promoting interdisciplinary networking. Strengthening the self-initiative of patients and promoting the work of self-help groups can help those affected to develop individual coping strategies.
-
Chronic pain affects all aspects of human life, which raises spiritual questions that should be included within the framework of multimodal care. ⋯ Finding strategies for effectively dealing with chronic pain represents a turning point in life. Open discussion with health care professionals that allow for spiritual issues facilitates this process.
-
Since 2017, the diagnosis of patients with orofacial pain at the University Center for Dental Medicine Basel has been supplemented by using standardized image graphics (Dolografie® [Affolter/Rüfenacht, Bern, Switzerland]). For this purpose, patients select from a set of 34 cards those that visually best match their pain and then explain the reason for their choice. ⋯ The use of standardized image cards as a "visual communication tool" has proven to be a time-efficient procedure in the context of history taking, which helps to obtain clinically relevant information not previously expressed by the patient.