European journal of pain : EJP
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We describe the changing pattern of analgesic and new central acting drug (NCAD) use (pregabalin, duloxetine, milnacipran) in fibromyalgia and measure NCAD effectiveness in clinical practice. ⋯ There is a changing pattern of drug treatment in fibromyalgia, consisting mostly of decreased NSAID and amitriptyline use and an increase in NCAD. Drug costs are substantially higher because of NCAD use, but we found no evidence of clinical benefit for NCAD compared with prior therapy.
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Some recent studies have provided evidence that alteration in central motor control may have causative impact on the emergence and sustenance of chronic pain. We hypothesized that comparison of postural control between patients with high (HP) and low pain (LP) level would display intergroup differences in favour of the LP group lending support for the postulated relationship between altered cortical function and pain. ⋯ Body balance measurements seemed to confirm the hypothesized role of the altered executive function in the CLBP problems, with a further support from pain assessment that indicated central sensitization. Patients with higher self-reported pain level displayed deficit in the postural adaptability to environmental challenge and lower level of postural automaticity.
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Radon therapy is clinically useful for the treatment of pain-related diseases. However, there have been no studies regarding the effects of radon inhalation on neuropathic pain. In this study, we aimed to determine whether radon inhalation actually induced a remission of neuropathic pain and improved the quality of life. ⋯ This study showed that inhalation of 2000 Bq/m(3) radon prevented and alleviated CCI-induced neuropathic pain in mice.
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Pain is a major ailment that motivates individuals to look for treatment. Despite its enormous clinical relevance, very little is known about the factors that influence our preference of an analgesic (or pain-relieving treatment). The current study investigated the influence of the information regarding the probability and the magnitude of the expected analgesic effect on preference of analgesic options. ⋯ Our findings revealed that preference of analgesic options is mediated by the overall probability of analgesic effect and the relative potency of analgesics. The expected relief one imagines to obtain from analgesics would guide preference. The findings highlight the importance for clinicians to understand how patients subjectively frame the probability and magnitude factors related to decision making in medical context.