The Clinical journal of pain
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Adaptations in somatosensory function characterize several chronic pain conditions, including nonspecific neck pain (NNP). Early signs of central sensitization (CS) contribute to pain chronification and poor treatment responses after conditions such as whiplash injury and low back pain. Despite this well-established association, the prevalence of CS in patients with acute NNP, and accordingly, the potential impact of this association, is still unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether changes in somatosensory function occur during the acute phase of NNP. ⋯ Changes in somatosensory function occur already in acute NNP. Local mechanical hyperalgesia demonstrated peripheral sensitization, while enhanced pain facilitation, impaired conditioned pain modulation, and self-reported symptoms of CS suggest adaptations in pain processing already early in the stage of NNP.
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Chronic pain and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) co-occur in youth at high rates. Current conceptual models of mutual maintenance do not identify specific youth resilience factors, such as benefit finding in this co-occurrence. Benefit finding is the process of perceiving positive benefits as the results of experiencing adversity. It has been viewed as a potential mitigator for illness symptoms; however, only minimal cross-sectional research has been conducted and none has longitudinally examined the possible buffering effect of benefit finding in the co-occurrence of chronic pain and PTSS in youth. This longitudinal investigation examined whether benefit finding changes over time, influences pain outcomes and moderates the relationship between PTSS and chronic pain in a clinical sample of youth with chronic pain. ⋯ These findings replicate previous research that found positive cross-sectional associations between PTSS and chronic pain, and between benefit finding and worse pain intensity and interference. Further research on resilience in pediatric chronic pain is needed.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Mindfulness Combined with Exercise Online (MOVE) Compared with a Self-Management Guide for Adults with Chronic Pain: A Feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial.
Limited studies exist combining mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and exercise in a pain management programme (PMP), with none thus far delivering a combined intervention as an online PMP. This study aimed to explore the acceptability and feasibility of a combined MBSR and exercise online PMP for adults with chronic pain and to examine the feasibility of conducting a randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing MBSR and exercise delivered online with an online self-management guide. ⋯ The findings suggest both interventions explored are acceptable and feasible. A fully powered RCT examining the effectiveness of MBSR combined with exercise, delivered live online is warranted.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
An Analysis of how Herpes Zoster Pain affects Health Related Quality of Life of Placebo subjects from Three Randomized Phase III Studies.
Herpes zoster (HZ) is a painful condition caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, negatively affecting the lives of patients. In this post hoc analysis, we describe the impact of HZ pain on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and activities of daily living (ADL) of immunocompetent individuals 50 years of age and older and in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients age 18 years of age and older. ⋯ Moderate and severe HZ pain had a substantial negative impact on all aspects of HRQoL and ADL. This impact was independent of age and immunosuppression.
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Chronic pain is a major health problem given its high prevalence and its multiple consequences on the physical and psychological functioning of patients. It is therefore important to determine the relationship between these consequences and pain management strategies such as activity pacing. This review aimed to examine the association between activity pacing and the level of negative emotions in chronic pain. A second objective was to explore sex differences in this association. ⋯ Pacing is multidimensional and consists of various strategies of pain management which are not equally associated with negative emotions. It is important to use measures reflecting this conception to strengthen knowledges about the role of pacing in the development of negative emotions.