Pain physician
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Currently, evidence regarding fear avoidance beliefs as potential predictors for lumbar surgery outcomes seems insufficient and strong conclusions are not yet available. ⋯ Best evidence synthesis showed moderate evidence indicating that preoperative pain-related fear is not a significant predictor for postoperative pain and function following surgery for lumbar degenerative disease. Additionally, limited evidence was found for a lack of predictive value of preoperative pain catastrophizing for postoperative health-related quality of life. As current evidence regarding the predictive value of preoperative fear avoidance beliefs following such a surgery is mixed, further research is required before more definitive conclusions can be made.
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Epidural steroid injections (ESI) are one of the most commonly performed pain procedures; however, there has been variation in techniques and approaches amongst pain physicians in the United States. The formation of a multidisciplinary working group was made with considerations to help guide ESI practice. ⋯ Since the 2015 multidisciplinary pain workgroup recommendations were made for ESI, there appears to be a trend towards following these guidelines compared to prior surveys looking at ESI practices. However, our survey shows there continues to be variations in ESI practice that deviates from these guidelines.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Comparison of Thoracic Erector Spinae Plane Block With Thoracic Paravertebral Block for Pain Management in Patients With Unilateral Multiple Fractured Ribs.
Rib fractures occur most commonly because of blunt thoracic trauma and occur in up to 12% of all trauma patients. Adequate analgesia is paramount in enhancing pulmonary hygiene aimed at preventing atelectasis and pneumonia. Erector spinae plane block, one of the novel multiple thoracic ultrasound-guided techniques, can provide analgesia to both the anterior and posterior hemithorax, making it particularly useful in the management of pain after extensive thoracic trauma. ⋯ Ultrasound-guided thoracic erector spinae plane block was as effective as thoracic paravertebral block for pain alleviation in patients with unilateral multiple fractured ribs with a comparable duration of analgesic effect, reduction of opioid consumption, and stable hemodynamic profile. However, thoracic erector spinae plane block had the advantage of a lower adverse effect incidence. Clinicians could choose either of the 2 techniques according to their clinical experience and personal choice.
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Approximately 17.3 million adults in the United States have had a minimum of one major depressive episode. Comorbidity of depression and pain can affect individuals of any age, but is more prevalent in the elderly affecting up to 13% of people in the elderly population. Given that depression and suicidal ideation (SI) pose a considerable burden resulting in enormous suffering, there is a need to understand the factors of the relationship between chronic pain (CP), depression, and SI. ⋯ Psychiatrists and other physicians must be cognizant of the presence of CP and the risk of suicide, especially when patients present with depressive symptoms. The treatment plan for this patient population should include routine screening for pain symptoms and risk assessment for SI.
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Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic disease, with no effective treatments for this disorder. The origin is suspected to be a misprocessing of signals in the central nervous system. One of the experimental treatments is very low intensity transcranial magnetic stimulation (LITMS) used to perform central neuromodulation. ⋯ This treatment improves the patients' symptomatology, and also produces statistical changes in alpha brain activity in the DLPFS. Furthermore, a normalization was observed in this frequency and in this area, similar to that of the controls.