Pain physician
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Case Reports
Serratus Plane Block for Persistent Pain after Partial Mastectomy and Axillary Node Dissection.
Persistent pain after breast cancer surgery (PPBCS) is defined as chronic neuropathic pain that persists for more than 3 months after surgery. The pain can be sufficiently severe to cause long-term disabilities and interfere with sleep and daily life. Serratus plane block (SPB) is a novel, ultrasound-guided regional anesthetic technique that is suggested to achieve complete anesthesia of the anterolateral chest wall. ⋯ With her improved pain control, she was able to perform physical therapy and subsequently experienced marked improvement in her functional status and ability to perform daily activities. She has not required any interventional pain management since the last SPB performed 11 months ago. SPB represents one of the treatment modalities for PPBCS and is an advantageous technique because it can be performed more safely and easily than neuraxial approaches.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of 3 Different Doses of Intrathecal Dexmedetomidine (2.5µg, 5µg, and 10 µg) on Subarachnoid Block Characteristics: A Prospective Randomized Double Blind Dose-Response Trial.
The extended analgesic efficacy of intrathecal dexmedetomidine (ITD) has been investigated in a few clinical trials; however, there is a lack of conclusive evidence upon its ideal dosage. ⋯ The addition of 10 µg compared with 2.5 µg or 5µg ITD to 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine is associated with significantly earlier onset of sensory and motor block as well as prolonged duration of sensory block, motor block, analgesia, and DA with a comparable adverse effect profile.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of Stress and Relaxation on Central Pain Modulation in Chronic Whiplash and Fibromyalgia Patients Compared to Healthy Controls.
Compelling evidence has demonstrated that impaired central pain modulation contributes to persistent pain in patients with chronic whiplash associated disorders (WAD) and fibromyalgia (FM). However, there is limited research concerning the influence of stress and relaxation on central pain modulation in patients with chronic WAD and FM. ⋯ A single relaxation session as well as cognitive stress may have negative acute effects on pain modulation in patients with FM, while cognitive stress and relaxation did not worsen bottom-up sensitization in chronic WAD patients and healthy persons. However, endogenous pain inhibition, assessed using a CPM paradigm, worsened in chronic WAD and FM patients, as well as in healthy people following both interventions.
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Comparative Study
What is the Correlation Between Facet Joint Radiofrequency Outcome and Response to Comparative Medial Branch Blocks?
Facet joint pain is a common cause of low back pain. There are no physical exam findings that provide a reliable diagnosis. Diagnosis is made by medial branch block injections (MBB). Once the source of pain has been determined, radiofrequency neurotomy (RFN) can be performed. Previous studies have shown that RFN reduces level of pain and improves function. No study has tried to correlate MBB results with outcomes after RFN. ⋯ Patients had improved disability scores and decreased pain after RFN. No correlation was seen between results on MBB and pain relief after RFN. It is still unclear how many medial branch blocks are needed and the criteria for MBB results before proceeding to RFN.
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This a unique case of severe scapular pain following unintentional epidural space air injection during epidural steroid injection. A 70-year-old woman presented for a fluoroscopically guided C7-T1 interlaminar epidural steroid injection. Three injection attempts were made using the loss of resistance with air technique. ⋯ The authors theorize that unintentional prefilling of the epidural space with air prior to the injection of the subsequent steroid mixture added sufficient pressure to the epidural space to cause right-sided C4 nerve root stretching/entrapment and ensuing radicular pain to the right scapular border. The subsequent intravenous diazepam provided cervical muscle relaxation and facilitated foramina passage of air out of the spinal canal. This case demonstrates that under certain conditions entry of air into cervical epidural space can lead to unexpected, albeit temporary, neurological symptoms.