Der Schmerz
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Methodological reflections on pain research and pain therapy focussing on addiction risks are addressed in this article. Starting from the incompleteness of objectification of the purely subjectively fully understandable phenomena of pain and addiction, the relevance of a comprehensive general psychology is underlined. It is shown that that reduction of pain and addiction to a mainly focally arguing neurobiology is only possible if both disciplines have a systemic concept of pain and addiction. With this aim, parallelized conceptual network models are presented.
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On behalf of the Medical/Psychological Pain Associations, Pain Patients Alliance and the Professional Association of Pain Physicians and Psychologists, the Joint Commission of Professional Societies and Organizations for Quality in Pain Medicine, working in close collaboration with the respective presidents, has developed verifiable structural and process-related criteria for the classification of medical and psychological pain treatment facilities in Germany. Based on the established system of graded care in Germany and on existing qualifications, these criteria also argue for the introduction of a basic qualification in pain medicine. In addition to the first-ever comprehensive description of psychological pain facilities, the criteria presented can be used to classify five different levels of pain facilities, from basic pain management facilities, to specialized institutions, to the Centre for Interdisciplinary Pain Medicine. The recommendations offer binding and verifiable criteria for quality assurance in pain medicine and improved pain treatment.
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Tension-type headache is the most frequent form of headache. The local topical treatment with peppermint oil (oleum menthae piperitae) has proven to be significantly more effective than placebo in controlled studies. ⋯ Solutions of 10 % peppermint oil in ethanol are licensed for the treatment of tension-type headache in adults and children above 6 years. It is included in treatment recommendations and guidelines by the respective professional societies and is regarded as a standard treatment for the acute therapy of tension-type headaches.
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Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is an extremely painful and partially disabling disease. It often occurs secondary to trauma, but also spontaneously. The emergence of CRPS has been reported following nerve root compression and/or spinal surgery, but its incidence is unknown. In this article, the present knowledge about the incidence of CRPS in the context of nerve root compression and spine surgery is reviewed and therapeutic and diagnostic consequences are discussed.
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Review Case Reports
[Spinal cord stimulation for thalamic pain : Case report and review of the current literature].
Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an established procedure for treatment of chronic neuropathic pain of peripheral origin. The efficacy of SCS in case of central poststroke pain (CPSP), especially thalamic pain, has not been adequately proven. ⋯ The efficacy of SCS might be caused by segmental and supraspinal processes and collaboration of activating and inhibiting pathways. The integrity of the spinothalamic tract is mandatory. SCS is a treatment option for central pain syndrome, especially thalamic pain. Comparable studies confirm the potency of this technique. In contrast to other neuromodulation procedures spinal cord stimulation is less invasive, has a lower perioperative risk and is often less expensive. Further studies are needed to define its potential and role in the treatment of thalamic pain.