Articles: chronic-pain.
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Smokers with fibromyalgia have greater pain intensity and function impairment compared to nonsmokers. Patients' perceptions of interactions between smoking and fibromyalgia symptoms have not been described. The primary aim of this study was to report the perceptions of female smokers with fibromyalgia on how smoking affects symptoms. ⋯ Smokers with fibromyalgia reported smoking helped to cope with fibromyalgia pain but generally did not directly ameliorate fibromyalgia physical symptoms.
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Validation of a self-report questionnaire. ⋯ 3.
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Longitudinal studies have shown that the symptoms of chronic low back pain (CLBP) will follow an episodic trajectory characterized by periods of high and low pain intensity that can persist for many years. There is a growing belief that the contemporary approach of limiting physical therapy to short, but intense courses of treatment for (CLBP) may be sub-optimal because these limited "windows" of clinical care are not congruent with the natural history of this condition. Recent research has suggested that people with CLBP undergo substantial, and individualized long-term variations in the neural processing of nociception over time. This has led to the concept of a "unique biosignature of pain" that may explain much of the variation in a person's clinical picture. These and other findings have led to the reconceptualization of CLBP as an individualized, and continually evolving condition that may be more suitably managed by empowering the patient toward self-management strategies that can be modified as needed over time by the PT. ⋯ Longitudinal care using assisted self-management strategies is more congruent with the natural history of CLBP than are traditional approaches for PT intervention. This approach may empower patients to undergo lifestyle changes that will favorably influence long-term outcomes; however additional research is needed.
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Childhood adversity is a vulnerability factor for chronic pain. However, the underlying pain mechanisms influenced by childhood adversity remain unknown. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the impact of childhood adversity on dynamic pain sensitivity in young adults. ⋯ These findings suggest that enhancement of central sensitization may provide a mechanism underlying the pain hypersensitivity and chronicity linked to childhood adversity.
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To compare secondary conditions in people with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) and non-traumatic spinal cord dysfunction (SCDys). ⋯ Secondary conditions following spinal cord damage do not appear to be influenced by etiology. Prevention and management of secondary conditions following need to consider people with non-traumatic SCDys as well as those with traumatic SCI.