Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of a Peer-Led Pain Management Program for Nursing Home Residents with Chronic Pain: A Pilot Study.
OBJECTIVES : To examine the feasibility of a peer-led pain management program among nursing home residents. DESIGN : A quasi-experimental design. SETTING : Two nursing homes. ⋯ There was an enhancement in happiness level for the experimental group (p < 0.001), while the loneliness level dropped significantly for the experimental group (p < 0.001) and the control group (p = 0.031). The peer volunteers showed a significant increase in self-rated pain management knowledge (2.9 ± 2.6 to 8.1 ± 1.2, p < 0.001) and self-efficacy in volunteering (5.8 ± 2.9 to 8.3 ± 1.5, p = 0.032). CONCLUSION : The peer-led pain management program was feasible and has potential in relieving chronic pain and enhancing the physical and psychological health of nursing home residents.
-
An Online Survey of Patients' Experiences Since the Rescheduling of Hydrocodone: The First 100 Days.
To conduct an Internet patient survey through the National Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Association on reactions to the first 100 days following the rescheduling of hydrocodone. ⋯ The unintended consequences for people with chronic pain that have been caused by the rescheduling effort to impede hydrocodone abuse are negatively impacting thousands. These consequences include suffering from being placed on less effective drugs, increased cost, inconvenience, and negative influence on physician-patient and pharmacist-patient relationships.
-
Observational Study
Percutaneous Epidural Adhesiolysis with Epidural Steroid Injection: A Non-inferiority Test of Non-particulate Steroids Versus Particulate Steroids.
To evaluate the efficacy of dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DSP), a non-particulate steroid, during percutaneous epidural adhesiolysis (PEA), as compared with triamcinolone acetate (TA). ⋯ DSP presents non-inferiority to TA in terms of success rate and percentage decrease of the VNRS 6 months after PEA.
-
Despite current guideline recommendations against the use of opioids for the treatment of fibromyalgia pain, opioid use is reported in approximately 30% of the patient population. There is a lack of information describing the process and results of tapering of chronic opioids. The purpose of this study is to describe opioid tapering and withdrawal symptoms in fibromyalgia patients on opioids. ⋯ Fibromyalgia patients on higher doses of opioids were tapered off over a longer period of time but no differences in withdrawal symptoms were seen based on opioid dose. Duration of opioid use did not affect the time to complete opioid taper or withdrawal symptoms. Despite opioid tapering, pain-related measures improved at the completion of the rehabilitation program.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Extra Corporeal Shock Wave Therapy Versus Local Corticosteroid Injection in the Treatment of Chronic Plantar Fasciitis, a Single Blinded Randomized Clinical Trial.
Plantar fasciitis is a self-limiting condition, but can be painful and disabling. Among the different treatments which exist, corticosteroid injections are effective and popular. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is another treatment modality used for resistant conditions. In this study, the authors evaluated the efficacy of radial ESWT versus corticosteroid injections in the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis. ⋯ Both interventions caused improvement in pain and functional ability 2 months after treatment. Although inter-group differences were not significant, the FFI was improved more with ESWT and patients were more satisfied with ESWT, thus shockwave therapy seems a safe alternative for management of chronic plantar fasciitis.