Der Schmerz
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The spectrum of perioperative pain treatment is discussed in the present review. The analgesic efficacy of various drugs and the dosage methods of administration and side effects reported for them in such reference works as the practical guide on the management of acute pain recently published by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) are described. Effective postoperative analgesia can diminish stress reactions following surgery. ⋯ Investigations performed by the author of this review have shown that epidural infusion of highly diluted mixtures of bupivacaine/fentanyl is highly effective in the analgesic treatment of patients undergoing prostatectomy, providing excellent physical mobilization. The potential dangers of drug combinations and contraindications are also discussed. The concept of using balanced analgesia to induce additive or synergistic effects following the administration of analgesic drugs requires further clinical studies.
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The reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) syndrome usually shows a distally generalized distribution pattern of symptoms. Here we report a case with a distally localized form of RSD. ⋯ In contrast to the common clinical picture of RSD, with a distally generalized distribution of symptoms, the present case showed a so-called localized form of RSD, its triad affecting only the thumb with the lesion. Typically, the pain showed an orthostatic component and was suppressed by the ischemia test. The sympathetic block was immediately successful, proving the occurrence of this form of RSD for the first time. In similar clinical cases, this form of RSD should be considered as a differential diagnosis.
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We report the case of a 65 year old man who has been suffering from segmental back pain for 10 years. The diagnosis postherpetic neuralgia following herpes zoster sine herpete was fixed 9 years after the beginning of pain. All treatments prior to ours were ineffective. Acupuncture and the use of homeopathic drugs led to success at last.
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The severe pain of a renal colic is an emergency and requires a fast and sufficient analgesic therapy with few side-effects. The release of the ureteral obstruction is secondary to this initial treatment. Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis directly interferes with the mechanism of renal colic pain. ⋯ They should be administered intravenously if possible. Narcotic agents and their derivatives are the second choice. Spasmolytic agents are unnecessary in the treatment of renal colic.