The Clinical journal of pain
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To determine the clinical factors associated with the success and failure of radiofrequency denervation of the lumbar facet joints. ⋯ It is counterproductive to use 'facet loading' as the sole basis for choosing patients for facet interventions. In patients at high risk for treatment failure, taking additional steps to reduce the rate of false-positive screening blocks may improve outcomes.
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Phantom limb pain is difficult to treat as existing therapies have limited effectiveness and what works for one person may not work for another. This makes the fact that research is ongoing and advancing even more important to many people who have this problem. We are reporting a case of intractable phantom limb pain whose pain did not respond to usual line of treatment and only high dose of morphine made the patient totally pain free.
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The sensations of restless legs syndrome (RLS) are described as paresthesias and dysesthesias, sensations which also occur in neuropathic pain. Whether validated pain assessment tools can be used to measure the quality and severity of RLS sensations has not been explored. ⋯ The quality and severity of the sensation of RLS can be measured on the MPQ, and severity calculated from MPQ indices correlates significantly with a standard RLS severity measure. Thus the nonpainful sensations of RLS appear to be a subclinical form of pain.
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The aim of this study is to investigate whether quantitative sensory testing with Von Frey monofilaments (VFMs) can be used for the quantification of allodynia in patients with chronic neuropathic pain, and how the pain threshold of affected skin differs from healthy skin. ⋯ We showed that although etiology and pathophysiology of allodynia vary individually, with VFMs the clinical symptom allodynia can be quantified in a simple and practical fashion in almost all patients.
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The assessment of cognitive reactions to chronic pain is less well developed than other areas of pain assessment. The aim of the first study was to revise the Cognitive Evaluation Questionnaire of Philips whereas the second study examined its properties and validity in a new sample of people with chronic pain. ⋯ The revised cognitive scales in themselves were significant predictors in Study 2, and their contribution was more effective for depression than for psychosocial functioning. The results showed promise for the revised scale and are discussed in relation to previous research, with recommendations for future research into the cognitive reactions of individuals with chronic pain.