Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
-
While the safety and efficacy of peripheral nerve blocks for postoperative pain management has been established in several well controlled prospective trials, the local anesthetic (LA) concentration and volume used in these studies was associated with a significant increase muscle weakness due to motor nerve block. The purpose of the present retrospective study of patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty was to assess the relative analgesic efficacy and functional outcomes of the low concentration, low volume of LA used in peripheral nerve blocks for postoperative pain management. ⋯ This analysis supports the use of low concentration, low volume of LA based peripheral nerve blocks for postoperative pain management.
-
The cost of caring for patients with chronic pain conditions poses a significant burden to both the healthcare system and patients. We were interested in analyzing the financial costs and benefits of treating these patients in a comprehensive outpatient pain rehabilitation program. ⋯ The appropriate use of a comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation program for chronic pain patients can result in a significant reduction in medical costs.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation for the treatment of withdrawal syndrome in heroin addicts.
To assess the therapeutic effect of transcutaneous electric acupoint stimulation (TEAS) for the treatment of withdrawal syndrome in heroin addicts. ⋯ TEAS of 2/100 Hz for 10 days in abrupt abstinence of the heroin addicts resulted in a marked reduction of the withdrawal syndrome as well as a reduced requirement for rescue opioids.
-
In April 2014, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Drug Safety Communication requesting that corticosteroid labeling include warnings that injection of corticosteroids into the epidural space of the spine may result in rare but serious adverse events, including loss of vision, stroke, paralysis, and death. ⋯ The International Spine Intervention Society spearheaded a collaboration of more than a dozen other medical societies in submitting the letter below to the FDA on November 7, 2014. We are publishing the letter to ensure that the readership of Pain Medicine is aware of the multisociety support for the safety and effectiveness of these procedures. A special note of thanks to all of the societies who signed on in support of the message.
-
To illustrate the potential value of pharmacogenetic testing to identify patients at risk for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced gastropathy. ⋯ Although pharmacogenetic testing is not routinely used in clinical decision making, pain physicians must be aware of the potential benefits of this testing for managing patients with pain, and to improve drug efficacy and safety profile.