The Clinical journal of pain
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Pressure algometry is used for assessment of pain sensitivity. In this study the relation between tissue characteristics and pressure pain thresholds was investigated. ⋯ The pressure pain sensitivity of the deep layer is related to the amount of muscle strain, which is affected by the muscle hardness and the thickness of adipose tissue. This is clinically relevant as these two factors are not taken into consideration when pressure pain assessments are performed in clinical routine.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Evaluation of the analgesic efficacy of local dexmedetomidine application.
To determine the analgesic effects of locally applied dexmedetomidine in third molar surgery under general anesthesia. ⋯ Dexmedetomidine seems to have an antihyperalgesic effect when administered locally after bilateral third molar surgery. There is no delay in psychomotor recovery or increase in postoperative clinically significant adverse events.
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Review Case Reports
Necrotic arachnidism and intractable pain from recluse spider bites treated with lumbar sympathetic block: a case report and review of literature.
Brown recluse (Loxosceles reclusa) spider bites mainly occur in the southern and Midwestern United States. The clinical manifestation of brown recluse spider bites varies from skin irritation, a small area of tissue damage to neuropathic pain, necrotic arachnidism and severe systemic reactions such as acute renal failure and even death. Treatment is controversial and nonspecific. ⋯ Both his pain and tissue necrosis improved significantly with lumbar sympathetic block with local anesthetic. After a series of lumbar sympathetic blocks, his symptoms resolved and lower extremity wound healed rapidly. We discuss the benefit of sympathetic blockade not only for neuropathic pain but also possibly as a treatment for necrotic arachnidism from a brown recluse spider bite.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effectiveness of a psychoeducational treatment program implemented in general practice for fibromyalgia patients: a randomized controlled trial.
A recent meta-analysis concluded that multicomponent treatments are effective for some fibromyalgia (FM) symptoms. The objective of this study was to examine whether a psychoeducational intervention implemented in primary care is more effective than usual care for improving the functional status of patients with FM. ⋯ A 2-month psychoeducational intervention improves the functional status of FM patients to a greater extent than usual care, at least in the short-term. The social desirability bias did not explain the reported outcomes. Trait anxiety was associated with response to treatment.
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To investigate the effect of experimental neck muscle pain on the activation of the cervical extensor muscles during the performance of a cervical extension exercise by the use of muscle functional magnetic resonance imaging. ⋯ This is the first study that has shown pain to immediately affect the activity of both deep and superficial cervical extensor muscle layers during a cervical extension exercise. The findings support recommendations for evaluation of cervical extensor muscle function early in the management of painful cervical spine injuries.