Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain
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Physical and psychological symptoms of individuals with chronic whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) are modulated by successful treatment with cervical radiofrequency neurotomy (cRFN). However, not all individuals respond to cRFN, and it is unknown which clinical features predict successful response to cRFN. ⋯ Low levels of pain catastrophizing and disability independently predicted a successful response to cRFN in patients with chronic WAD.
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Mechano-insensitive ("silent") nociceptors contribute to neuropathic pain. Their activation causes an axon-reflex erythema, but their high electrical excitation thresholds complicate their assessment, particularly in painful neuropathy. We therefore developed electrical stimulation paradigms for brief nociceptor activation and explored their sensitivity for clinical trials. ⋯ Electrical stimulation at high current density using pin electrodes is a sensitive method for investigating "silent" nociceptors, which might therefore preferably be applied in neuropathic pain conditions.