The Clinical journal of pain
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effectiveness of a multidimensional physical therapy program on pain, pressure hypersensitivity, and trigger points in breast cancer survivors: a randomized controlled clinical trial.
To evaluate the effects of an 8-week multidimensional physical therapy program, including strengthening exercises and recovery massage, on neck and shoulder pain, pressure hypersensitivity, and the presence of active trigger points (TrPs) in breast cancer survivors. ⋯ An 8-week multidimensional program including strengthening exercises, and massage as major components was effective for improving neck and shoulder pain and reducing widespread pressure hyperalgesia in breast cancer survivors compared with usual care treatment.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
EMG assessment of analgesia in treatment of posttonsillectomy pain: random allocation, preliminary report.
Surface electromyographic (sEMG) study of posttonsillectomy swallow-evoked muscular reactions was performed to assess validity of EMG in evaluation of analgesic drugs. ⋯ sEMG might be used for quantitative evaluation of analgesic drugs by assessment of muscular reactions to pain and to analgesia. This method might add quantitative justification to the information obtained by VAS pain testing and clinical data.
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Review Case Reports
Meningitis after invasive treatment of the trigeminal ganglion: two case reports and a review of the literature.
The objective of this case is to report the rare complication of a meningitis after an invasive treatment of the trigeminal ganglion. ⋯ This complication should be recognized as early as possible to prevent deterioration of the situation. Meningitis must be suspected when a patient reports headache and fever within days after an invasive treatment of the trigeminal ganglion.
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Research has provided us with an increased understanding of nociception-motor interaction. Nociception-motor interaction is most often processed without conscious thoughts. Hence, in many cases neither patients nor clinicians are aware of the interaction. It is aimed at reviewing the scientific literature on nociception-motor interaction, with emphasis on clinical implications. ⋯ The clinical consequence of the shift in thinking is to stop trying to restore normal motor control in case of chronic nociception. Activation of central nociceptive inhibitory mechanisms, by decreasing nociceptive input, might address nociception-motor interactions.
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The postthoracotomy pain syndrome (PTPS) has a prevalence of 30% to 40%. Although intraoperative nerve damage during thoracotomy has been demonstrated, it has not been clearly linked to PTPS and detailed quantitative sensory characterization data have so far not been presented, comparing PTPS and pain-free patients. ⋯ Neurophysiological assessments indicate nerve injury to be common in pain and pain-free patients after thoracotomy. The combination of increased thresholds together with hyperesthesia, suggests consequences of nerve injury to be more pronounced in PTPS patients.