Pain physician
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Generalized pain is the core symptom of fibromyalgia (FM). Few studies have described FM's different pain characteristics under various conditions. ⋯ Gender significantly affected pain severity, chest pain, numbness, and shooting pain. Jaw pain, lower leg pain, cold/freezing pain, tenderness, pain caused by light touch, piercing pain, and pain-affective descriptors are closely related to emotional states in FM. A comprehensive understanding of pain characteristics in patients with FM would be helpful for disease education, diagnosis, and treatment.
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A more secure and efficacious therapy than has been developed so far is imperative for patients suffering from recurrent trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Despite numerous reports on the use of enhanced percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) techniques, such as altering compression duration and balloon pressure, none have yielded satisfactory outcomes. With these issues in mind, we have employed the PBC double-compression technique for the first time. This technique involves initially inflating a balloon to expand the adhesive tissue in Meckel's lumen, followed by emptying of the contrast medium and subsequent slight catheter adjustment for further compression. The total duration of compression remains unchanged and may even be shortened. ⋯ The double PBC method boasts a high cure rate, a low recurrence rate, and minimal complications, rendering the option appropriate for patients with recurrent TN and thus deserving of clinical promotion.
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Posterior percutaneous endoscopic cervical discectomy (PPECD) has been proven safe and effective for foraminal cervical disc herniation (CDH). However, central CDH has long been considered as the contraindication of PPECD, because the path is obstructed by the spinal cord and nerve root. ⋯ Our preliminary experience indicates that PPECD is a feasible and promising alternative for symptomatic single-level soft, huge central CDH.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Erector Spinae Plane Block versus Transversus Abdominis Plane Block for Robotic Inguinal Hernia Repair: A Blinded, Active-Controlled, Randomized Trial.
Regional anesthetic nerve blocks are widely used in the treatment of pain after outpatient surgery to reduce opioid consumption. Erector spinae plane (ESP) block is a recently described technique with promising results in different scenarios. ⋯ ESP block was not superior to TAP block in the treatment of post-operative pain among patients undergoing robotic inguinal hernia repair.
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Millions of interventional pain procedures are performed each year to address chronic pain. The increase in these procedures also raises the concern of health risks associated with ionizing radiation for interventional pain management physicians who perform fluoroscopy-guided operations. Some health concerns include cancers, cataracts, and even pregnancy abnormalities. Little is known regarding the long-term and cumulative effects of small radiation doses. ⋯ Implementing safety precautions, such as wearing protective gear, providing educational programs, and keeping a safe distance, demonstrated a significant decrease in radiation exposure. The experience of interventional pain management physicians also factored into their radiation exposure during procedures. Radiation is a known carcinogen, and more research is needed to better understand its risk to interventional pain management physicians.