Current review of pain
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Current review of pain · Jan 2000
ReviewClinical and experimental aspects of temporomandibular disorders.
Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are currently viewed as a family of related pain conditions in the craniofacial muscles, temporomandibular joint, and associated structures. The etiology and pathophysiology of pain is still far from being known, but several important neurobiological aspects have emerged in the last decade. This article reviews the present knowledge on three clinically relevant topics in TMD: referred pain mechanisms, somatosensory changes, and sensory-motor integration in the craniofacial region. It is proposed that the synthesis of this information from systematic studies in experimental animals and healthy human volunteers together with controlled clinical trials in well-defined patient populations is an essential prerequisite in order to advance the diagnostic procedure and management of TMD pain.
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Pain is one of the cardinal presenting symptoms in cancer patients and often seems to progress in the natural history of the disease. In light of the past neglect of this problem, it is becoming crucial for clinicians and researchers in the fields of oncology, pain management, and others dealing with this patient population to have a thorough understanding of the often complex pain syndromes that are relevant to managing cancer. In this article we briefly review the important topics related to cancer pain syndromes with some emphasis on those that typically generate localized pain.
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Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most common complication of herpes zoster, and as such has been an area of extensive medical research for the past three decades. The patients at highest risk for PHN include those older than 50 years, those with severe acute cases of zoster, and those with shingles in a trigeminal distribution. As persons with malignancy are at a high risk for developing zoster itself, PHN is a complication that will be faced by many of these patients and their caregivers. This article reviews the available treatments and preventative measures for this debilitating condition.
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Uncommon stimulation refers to the use of peripheral nerve and spinal cord stimulation for nontraditional applications. There has been much interest recently with subcutaneous suboccipital stimulation for occipital neuralgia, sacral stimulation for pelvic pain, trigeminal stimulation for trigeminal neuralgia, and spinal cord stimulation for angina and peripheral ischemia. The indications and techniques used for accomplishing each method are discussed.
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Current review of pain · Jan 2000
ReviewThe role of radiofrequency in the management of complex regional pain syndrome.
The nomenclature, pathophysiology, and treatment modalities of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) are controversial. Thus far there are no specific, scientifically valid treatments for the management of CRPS. ⋯ Minimally invasive radiofrequency lesioning for managing CRPS is a modality in its developmental stages. This article describes radiofrequency lesioning techniques in managing CRPS.