Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain
-
Radiotherapy for metastatic bone pain can induce a transitory increase in pain known as pain flare. Several studies have described the use of prophylactic corticosteroids to prevent pain flare. However, the role and efficacy of corticosteroids to prevent pain flare remain unclear. ⋯ Overall, the findings of this systematic review indicate that glucocorticoids appear to be an effective prophylactic treatment to prevent pain flare in patients undergoing radiotherapy for bone metastases. New CT are needed to confirm these results and to determine the optimal dose of dexamethasone.
-
To determine if there are sex differences in a sample of patients participating in a 4-week interdisciplinary pain treatment program in (1) pretreatment pain intensity, physical function, psychological function, pain beliefs, kinesiophobia, pain catastrophizing, and activity management patterns; and (2) treatment response. ⋯ The results of this study suggest that men and women have a comparable profile with respect to the overall burden of chronic pain. Nevertheless, sex differences were found for certain pain beliefs and coping styles. Women appear to reap more benefits from the interdisciplinary pain management program than men. These findings indicate that further research to develop sex-specific assessment procedures and tailored pain treatments may be warranted.
-
Lumbar adhesive arachnoiditis is a debilitating neuropathic condition and is difficult to diagnose owing to lack of definitive diagnostic criteria. By focusing on the intrathecal mobility of nerve roots, we assessed whether useful diagnostic criteria could be established using MRI. ⋯ In patients with a known risk for lumbar adhesive arachnoiditis, nerve roots lose their potential to migrate in the dural sac in the gravitational force direction on MRI.
-
Interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation programs are an evidence-based biopsychosocial treatment approach for chronic pain. The purpose of the current study is to assess outcomes for a 10-week interdisciplinary, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)-based, outpatient treatment model and to evaluate the relationship between psychological process variables (ie, pain catastrophizing, pain acceptance, pain self-efficacy) and treatment outcomes. ⋯ This study supports a 10-week, ACT-based treatment model for interdisciplinary chronic pain rehabilitation. In addition, pain catastrophizing, pain acceptance, and pain self-efficacy were each found to be mechanisms by which individuals achieve successful treatment outcomes. This research provides further support for interdisciplinary rehabilitation approaches for chronic pain.