Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain
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The aim of this study was to evaluate patient characteristics, concomitant analgesic medication, and pain intensity in a real-world setting in Germany, focusing on the repeated application of high-concentration capsaicin patch (HCCP) for neuropathic pain. ⋯ This study provides evidence for the effectiveness of HCCP treatment in reducing pain intensity and concomitant opioid use in patients with neuropathic pain. Further research is needed to explore the long-term outcomes and optimal treatment regimens for different patient populations.
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Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a debilitating disturbance among patients who received chemotherapy, with no effective treatment available. Scrambler therapy (ST) is a noninvasive treatment capable of improving multiple quality-of-life symptoms beyond pain. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of ST for pain and nonpain symptoms related to CIPN. ⋯ The results of this pilot trial support the use of ST by demonstrating improvement in multiple domains of quality of life for CIPN patients during an extended follow-up of 6 months. However, further large-scale studies are needed to confirm our findings.
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Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a well-established treatment option for chronic pain. Pain over the implantable pulse generator, or pocket pain, is an incompletely understood risk of SCS implantation which may limit the efficacy of treatment and patient quality of life. The goal of this narrative review is to analyze the literature to gain a more thorough understanding of the incidence and risk factors for the development of pocket pain to help guide treatment options and minimize its occurrence in the future. ⋯ There is a relative dearth of primary literature that examines the incidence, characteristics, and health economic implications of pocket pain in patients with SCS. This highlights the need for large-scale, high-quality prospective or randomized controlled trials examining pocket pain. This may ultimately help prevent and reduce pocket pain leading to improved efficacy of treatment and greater patient quality of life.
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Hench introduced the fibromyalgia syndrome almost 50 years ago. In the meantime, the prevalence has increased, the clinical criteria have changed and the way we explain (chronic) pain has altered. ⋯ In total, 286 medical doctors from 43 countries spread over 6 continents filled out the survey. In most of the countries, the diagnosis fibromyalgia was used. Only 10% adhere to the ACR criteria, widespread pain (44%), unrefreshed sleep (24%), fatigue (20%) and cognitive problems (8%) were most used diagnostic criteria. Of the respondents, 94 (32%) mentioned that the cause is unknown or idiopathic, but also a wide variety of other causes was mentioned. More than 70 different treatment options were provided, of which 24% of the responses were classified as according to the clinical guidelines. From this study, we conclude that many medical doctors do not follow the ACR criteria; the majority has an inappropriate knowledge of causes for fibromyalgia and that a minority of treatment advice adhere to the guidelines.