Articles: low-back-pain.
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We collected the specimens of lumbar intervertebral discs from patients with discogenic low back pain, to study the histopathological features and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expressions. ⋯ The painful degenerative disc is significantly different from the asymptomatic degenerative disc with regard to histopathological findings. The strong CTGF expression in the painful disc may be related to disc fibrosis and degeneration.
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Eur J Phys Rehabil Med · Mar 2009
Comparative StudyA comparison of functional assessment instruments and work status in chronic back pain.
The aim of this cross sectional study was to analyse whether low back pain (LBP) functional assessment instruments correlate well with work status measures. ⋯ The studied standard LBP outcome measures and work status are not interchangeable. The impact on work status should not be assumed based on the severity of these outcome measures and should be recorded as a separate outcome measure in chronic low back pain.
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Lumbar discectomy is the most common type of back surgery performed in the United States. Outcomes after this procedure can be variable and it appears that Workers' Compensation patients might be at increased risk for poor outcomes. ⋯ Results of this study suggest that compensated back surgery patients are at greater risk for poor lumbar discectomy outcomes than noncompensation patients. Presurgery correlates of poor outcomes may be useful in identifying high-risk compensation patients.
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Background. Previous reports have indicated that ketamine anesthesia may produce significant improvement if not complete recovery of patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Aims. ⋯ The observed changes in brain response to evoked stimuli provide a readout for the subjective response. Conclusion. Future studies of brain function in these patients may provide novel insight into brain plasticity in response to this treatment for chronic pain.