European journal of pain : EJP
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The most recent Danish health survey of 2005 is based on a region-stratified random sample of 10.916 individuals. Data were collected via personal interviews and self-administrated questionnaires. Respondents suffering from chronic pain were identified through the question 'Do you have chronic/long-lasting pain lasting 6 months or more?' The prevalence of chronic pain among individuals with a present or earlier cancer diagnosis was also assessed. ⋯ Persons with earlier or present cancer diagnosis were more likely to report chronic pain. A substantial part of persons with chronic pain were not satisfied with the examinations and treatments offered. In conclusion, over a five-year period the prevalence of chronic pain in Denmark has remained stable, but high.
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While neuroimmune interactions are increasingly recognized as important in nociceptive processing, the nature and functional significance of these interactions is not well defined. There are multiple reports that the activation of spinal microglia is a critical event in the generation of neuropathic pain behaviors but the mediators of this activation remain disputed. ⋯ An essential role for spinal CCL2 is demonstrated by the inhibition of neuropathic pain behavior and microglial activation by a specific neutralising antibody to CCL2 administered intrathecally. Thus, the neuronal expression of CCL2 provides a mechanism for immune activation, which in turn regulates the sensitivity of pain signaling systems in neuropathic pain states.
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Beliefs about pain conditions appear to influence recovery in a variety of musculoskeletal conditions. Little is known about population beliefs about neck and arm pain. ⋯ Population beliefs related to neck pain, arm pain, and WAD in the two Canadian provinces sampled were consistent with the literature in regard to remaining active, but appeared misinformed relating to the prognosis of these conditions. Strategies for reeducating the public are indicated.
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With 12-month prevalence rates of more than 70%, back pain is currently one of the major health problems for German adults and entails major economic consequences. The aim of this study was to estimate back pain-related costs from a societal perspective and to determine the impact of sociodemographic variables on costs. Based on back pain-related survey data of a large German adult sample (9267 respondents, response rate 60%), costs were assessed using a prevalence-based bottom-up approach. ⋯ Male gender, increasing age, single status, low education, unemployment, and increasing back pain grade had a significant positive impact on the cost magnitude in multivariate analysis. Despite several limitations, this study provides important information concerning the relevance of back pain as a health problem and its socioeconomic consequences. The information may be of value for decision-making and allocation of research fund resources.
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Tibia fracture in rats evokes chronic hindpaw warmth, edema, allodynia, and regional osteopenia, a syndrome resembling complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Previous studies suggest that the pathogenesis of some of these changes involves an exaggerated regional inflammatory response to injury and we postulated that inflammatory cytokines contribute to the development of CRPS-like changes after fracture. ⋯ These results suggest that pro-inflammatory cytokines contribute to the nociceptive and vascular sequelae of fracture and that PTX treatment can reverse these CRPS-like changes.