European journal of pain : EJP
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Extensive audio-motor training and psychological stress can cause professional musicians acute overstrain-injury and chronic pain, resulting in damaged careers and diminished quality of life. It has also been previously shown that musicians might perceive pain differently than non-musicians. Therefore, the aim of our study was to quantify differences between musicians and non-musicians regarding their subjective responses to painful contact heat stimuli and assess how emotional traits might influence these responses. ⋯ The findings of this report justify musicians' repetitive sensorimotor training as an important model for plasticity and contribute to a better understanding of pain perception in musicians.
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Persistent postsurgical pain (PPSP) following thoracic surgery affects 40%-60% of patients undergoing lung resection due to malignancies. Postoperative pain-related symptoms are common, leading to limitations in activities of daily living (ADL) and deterioration in physical function, which significantly impacts quality of life. Pain-related limitations are of interest, as postsurgical pain may present as a target for intervention to improve postoperative rehabilitation. This study aimed to evaluate the association between PPSP and ADL limitations during the first 12 postoperative months after surgery for lung cancer. ⋯ Surgery remains a cornerstone in the treatment of early-stage lung cancer. Despite advances in minimally invasive techniques and rehabilitation, persisting postsurgical pain and pain-related limitations in daily activities may endure. This study investigated specifically the pain-related limitations in activities of daily living and described recovery trajectories during the first 12 postoperative months. Patients with persistent postsurgical pain experienced multiple limitations compared to pain-free patients. Although partial recovery was observed, impairments remained significant for up to 12 months after surgery.
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Observer pain scales are commonly used to assess pain in individuals with impaired cognition. However, nursing staff have highlighted that extremely tight time schedules and increasing workload demands prevent regular use. With the development of a short version of the Pain Assessment in Impaired Cognition (PAIC15), we aimed to reduce implementation barriers in everyday clinical practice. ⋯ Observer pain scales are commonly used to assess pain in individuals with impaired cognition. However, nursing staff have highlighted that extremely tight time schedules and increasing workload demands prevent regular use. To address this, we developed PAIC6, a short version of the Pain Assessment in Impaired Cognition 15 (PAIC15). PAIC6 includes six items and takes 2 min for completion after training, realising a 60%-time reduction compared to the original scale while keeping the psychometric quality high.
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High-impact chronic pain (HICP), defined as chronic pain with a significant impact on daily function, affects approximately 8% of the Western population. In Denmark, HICP still remains to be described at the population level. Some patients with HICP are referred to the Danish pain centres, where they are registered with a procedural code. We conducted a nationwide registry-based study of all Danish patients registered with a visit to a pain centre from January 2005 to March 2022, to explore time trends in the prescription of analgesics and sedatives in this HICP subpopulation. Furthermore, data on socioeconomics and hospital diagnoses are reported. ⋯ This nationwide study of 66,577 Danish patients with high-impact chronic pain reveals a significant decrease in filled opioid prescriptions over the past 15 years, with a simultaneous rise in gabapentinoid use before referral to pain centres. These findings suggest a shift in clinical practice towards alternative pain management strategies. The study underscores the need for continued research into the long-term effects of these changes and their impact on patient outcomes.
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This study assessed the effect of expectation of analgesia on conditioned pain modulation (CPM) in healthy participants stratified into inhibitors and non-inhibitors. ⋯ Several studies have investigated whether cognitive modulation can alter the magnitude of the inhibitory response of conditioned pain modulation (CPM), yet some gaps remain. This study accounted for measurement error to accurately determine changes in CPM influenced by expectation of analgesia.