Articles: chronic-pain.
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Chronic pain is a common condition that confers a substantial burden--physical, psychological, and economic--to individuals and society. There are a wide variety of interventions available for this condition. ⋯ For drug therapy, this review will focus on three classes of medications: antidepressants, opiates and antiepileptic medications. For device therapy, the utility of electrical stimulation to neural structures (dorsal column, peripheral nerve and deep brain) and intrathecal therapy for chronic pain will be described.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Outcomes of follow-up visits to chronic nonmalignant pain patients.
Follow-up visits by clinical nurse specialists are beneficial for patients with various chronic conditions. It is unknown whether patients with chronic nonmalignant pain can achieve similar benefit. The aim of this study was to assess outcomes of follow-up visits by clinical nurse specialists to chronic nonmalignant pain patients regarding health-related quality of life (HRQoL), pain, opioid treatment, quality of sleep, and depression. ⋯ Follow-up visits by clinical nurse specialists appeared to offer positive benefits to patients with chronic nonmalignant pain after discharge from multidisciplinary pain treatment. The intervention improved physical functioning, reduced bodily pain and pain intensity and prevented opioid dosage increase. Most episodes of depression were identified and referred to relevant treatment.
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Chronic neuropathic pain (CNP) in spinal cord injury (SCI) is a significant problem that has physical, functional, and psychosocial repercussions beyond the consequences of SCI. The notion that acceptance may be a viable alternative to suffering when resolution of pain is unattainable was explored. Studies indicate that acceptance of pain is associated with lower pain intensity, less pain-related anxiety and avoidance, less depression, less physical and psychosocial disability, more daily active time, and improved work status in patients who have other types of chronic pain. ⋯ The findings in this study suggest that acceptance of pain appeared to be beneficial in terms of reducing suffering and facilitating a more satisfying and fulfilling life in these SCI individuals. A decreased emphasis on continued searching for a cure for CNP and movement toward a self-management approach was associated with increased pain coping for these SCI individuals. Clinical implications suggest that early intervention to facilitate effective coping and an exploration of the notion of acceptance could be beneficial.
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Comparative Study
Representations of symptom history in women with fibromyalgia vs chronic low back pain: a qualitative study.
To compare fibromyalgia (FM) and chronic non-specific low back pain (LBP) patients' narratives about symptom onset. This investigation aimed to better understand how patients with FM relate to their pain problem and the physicians in charge of making the diagnosis. ⋯ The narratives of patients with FM expressed high psychological loads and dramatic connotations and emphasized legitimacy issues. In contrast, patients with LBP stressed overload, wear and tear, and treatment inefficacy. The combination of chronicity and lack of specificity may render FM and LBP prone to raise skepticism in the therapists. Investigating and discussing patients' perceptions allows overcoming the apparent uniformity of patients' complaints. It contributes defining realistic and shared treatment goals and help therapists cope with pain chronicity.
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The aim of this investigation was to describe the performance profile and the requirements for the management of complex pain patients for the structures of a consultation service. ⋯ Within the scope of the pain consultation, a wide spectrum of pain diagnoses and difficult patients are examined. Mixed forms of acute, chronic, and tumor-related pain are often present. Therapeutically, optimization of only the pharmacological regimen is often not sufficient. Similar requirements for a multimodal diagnosis and therapeutic concept as established in ambulatory and/or specialist care are ultimately needed.