The Clinical journal of pain
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Whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) have been associated with sensory disturbances such as hypersensitivity or hypoesthesia. Different psychological factors seem to be important for prognosis and symptom presentation in WAD. Multivariate correlations between pain thresholds for pressure (PPT), cold and heat (CPT, HPT), detection thresholds for cold and warmth, pain intensity variables, and psychological aspects in women with chronic WAD (n=28) and in healthy pain-free controls (n=29) were investigated. ⋯ Pain intensity aspects were generally the strongest predictors of PPT in WAD. In contrast, no correlations existed between QST and PPT variables and psychological variables in controls. These results indicate the need to consider that a blend of factors influences the pain thresholds in chronic WAD and emphasize the need for a biopsychosocial model when interpreting QST and PPT variables.
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The mild lumbar decompression procedure is a minimally invasive therapy for the treatment of symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Mild offers LSS patients an early alternative after failed conservative therapy and before open surgery. This report describes 6-month safety and efficacy of mild patients treated at a single center. ⋯ The safety profile of mild, combined with the significant improvement in quality of life for these patients at 6-months is remarkable. Having failed conservative therapy, the high level of effectiveness of the mild procedure is particularly important in this patient population. In this series, mild has been shown to be a safe, effective, and cost-effective treatment for LSS patients with neurogenic claudication.
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This study in children and young adults having cancer-related amputation aimed to examine the incidence of phantom limb pain (PLP) in the first year after amputation and also the proportion of patients who had preamputation pain. ⋯ PLP after cancer-related amputation in children and young adults seems to be common but generally short lived in most patients.
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To identify factors that were predictive of improved pain status among older adults with chronic back pain participating in the Adaptive Physical Activity (APA) program and to identify factors that were predictive of adherence to APA. ⋯ Given that adherence to APA is the key predictor of improved back pain, future efforts should focus on strategies to improve adherence. Our data suggest that enhanced training of exercise trainers, development of separate classes for people with different functional levels, and use of psychosocial interventions to reduce health pessimism and depression may be potential targets for improving adherence.