Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
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Pain can persist long after the resolution of herpes zoster, but little is known regarding its health care costs. The objective of this study was to determine the health care expenditures associated with persisting pain following herpes zoster by comparing expenditures for patients with postherpetic neuralgia or subacute herpetic neuralgia with a control group without these conditions. ⋯ The substantial health care costs associated with persisting pain in herpes zoster have important public health implications given evidence that the incidence of herpes zoster is increasing and that the population is aging in the United States. The results provide a basis for evaluating the cost-effectiveness of existing treatments and emerging prevention strategies.
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Open-label, multicenter study of combined intrathecal morphine and ziconotide: addition of morphine in patients receiving ziconotide for severe chronic pain.
To assess the safety and efficacy of adding intrathecal morphine to intrathecal ziconotide in patients treated with stable ziconotide doses. ⋯ Intrathecal morphine, combined with stable intrathecal ziconotide doses, reduced pain in patients with previously suboptimal pain relief on ziconotide monotherapy.
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To assess the safety and efficacy of adding intrathecal ziconotide to intrathecal morphine in patients being treated with a stable intrathecal morphine dose. ⋯ Ziconotide, combined with stable intrathecal morphine, may reduce pain and decrease systemic opioid use in patients with pain inadequately controlled by intrathecal morphine alone.
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A previous study of radiofrequency neurotomy of the articular branches of the obturator nerve for hip joint pain produced modest results. Based on an anatomical and radiological study, we sought to define a potentially more effective radiofrequency method. ⋯ The method that we described has the potential to produce complete and reliable nerve coagulation. Moreover, it minimizes the risk of penetrating the great vessels. The efficacy of this approach should be tested in clinical trials.
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Gabapentin is an antiepileptic used for neuropathic pain treatment. Glaucoma can be conceptualized an optic neuropathy associated with characteristic structural damage to the optic nerve and associated visual dysfunction. ⋯ Gabapentin may relieve pain in a painful, blind, glaucomatous eye.