The Clinical journal of pain
-
To determine perception and pain thresholds in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome and in healthy controls, and to investigate whether patients with fibromyalgia syndrome can be grouped with respect to thermal hyperalgesia and whether these subgroups differ from healthy controls and in clinical appearance. ⋯ Patients with fibromyalgia syndrome were subgrouped by quantitative sensory testing (i.e., thermal pain thresholds). Subgroups show clinical differences in pain intensities, number of tender points, and sleep quality. Cold pain threshold was especially linked to these clinical aspects.
-
Review Meta Analysis
Gabapentin for neuropathic pain: systematic review of controlled and uncontrolled literature.
To assess the efficacy/effectiveness and side effects of gabapentin for the treatment of neuropathic pain. ⋯ Gabapentin seems to be effective in multiple painful neuropathic conditions. The variable prescribing patterns of the uncontrolled studies raise the suspicion that effectiveness may be reduced if one limits administration of the drug to very low doses, whereas rapid dose escalation may be associated with increased central nervous system side effects. Well-designed controlled trials may provide insight into differential symptom sensitivity to the drug.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Acupuncture for chronic low back pain: a randomized placebo-controlled study with long-term follow-up.
The authors sought to determine whether a series of needle acupuncture treatments produced long-term relief of chronic low back pain. ⋯ The authors found a long-term pain-relieving effect of needle acupuncture compared with true placebo in some patients with chronic nociceptive low back pain.
-
The literature contains many different viewpoints on the impact of compensation on recovery from chronic pain. ⋯ Filing a compensation claim for costs, retaining a lawyer, or higher pain intensities were limited predictors of longer claims (level 3). As the ratio of compensation to preinjury wage increases, there is moderate evidence (level 2) that the duration of the claim increases and that disability is more likely. Compensation status, particularly combined with higher pain intensities, is associated with poorer prognosis after rehabilitation treatment programs (level 3).