The Clinical journal of pain
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The purpose of this review is to examine the accumulating evidence indicating that lamotrigine is effective in the treatment of neuropathic pain. ⋯ A review of the literature suggests that lamotrigine may be effective in the management of neuropathic pain.
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The objective of this study was to determine if intractable pain from erythromelalgia could be successfully treated with intrathecal hydromorphone and clonidine. ⋯ Administration of intrathecal opioid and an alpha2-agonist can be effective in the treatment of the pain of erythromelalgia and offers an alternative pain treatment modality for patients with unremitting pain refractory to more conservative therapy.
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To determine the general risk and the prognostic factors of postherpetic neuralgia and focal sensory denervation in ophthalmic zoster disease. ⋯ The severity of acute skin rash, based on a specific manifestation of cutaneous herpes zoster eruptions, and the extent of infection to other neural pathways were clearly associated with postherpetic neuralgia and focal sensory denervation at a 2-month follow-up. These findings suggest that the inability of the immune system to control the spread of replicating varicella-zoster virus in the initial phase of the disease is an important factor in the pathogenesis of chronic zoster-related neuropathy.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Comparison of epidural butamben to celiac plexus neurolytic block for the treatment of the pain of pancreatic cancer.
To compare pain relief in metastatic pancreatic cancer patients between neurolytic celiac plexus block (NCPB) and epidural 5% butamben suspension (EBS), a material-based delivery system of a local anesthetic that produces a long-lasting differential nerve block. ⋯ EBS appears to be a safe and effective alternative to NCPB in the treatment of pancreatic cancer pain.
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To determine the sleep quality and quality of life for individuals with degenerative spinal disease or failed back surgery syndrome. ⋯ These data suggest that physical functioning, duration of pain, and age may be more important than pain intensity and depressed mood in contributing to decreased overall sleep quality and sleep latency. The contribution of physical functioning was particularly strong and should be included in subsequent studies of sleep, pain, and mood. The SF-36 should be compared to pain-specific quality-of-life measures to further evaluate the usefulness of this instrument with outpatients with chronic nonmalignant pain conditions.