Der Schmerz
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Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) can lead to severe pain and limited functionality in the long term. Guidelines should help to optimize treatment procedures. It should be investigated which outcome is achieved after 1 year with guideline-based therapy. ⋯ Guideline-based treatment led to a good outcome in terms of pain and functionality in the majority of patients. Early diagnosis correlated with better outcome, so suspected cases should be referred quickly to a medical facility with appropriate expertise.
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In order to properly inform patients about their pain and initiate targeted therapies, it is important for physiotherapists to learn about the latest scientific evidence on pain during their training. ⋯ The knowledge of German physiotherapy students about pain seems to be insufficient for an evidence-based treatment of pain patients. A PNE-based online learning program with the latest scientific evidence can significantly improve physiotherapy students' knowledge about pain.
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Chemotherapy-induced polyneuropathy (CIPN) encompasses a spectrum of symptoms ranging from hypoesthesia with impaired gait, stance and fine motor skills to painful dysesthesia and allodynia and significantly impairs the quality of life of those affected. In the present pilot study, quantitative sensory testing (QST) was used to investigate CIPN as a common adverse effect of cytostatic drugs in patients with incurable cancer. The QST is a standardized examination procedure that is not yet routinely used in cancer patients. ⋯ Overall, the patients showed significant heat hypoalgesia after chemotherapy as a sign of damage to small nerve fibers. In addition, there were signs of deterioration of the quality of life. The feasibility of QST in patients with incurable cancer and palliative, neurotoxic chemotherapy was demonstrated in this pilot study.
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Chronic pain affects an enormous number of patients in Germany. Therefore, early detection is important using easy, quick and reasonable screening methods. The avoidance-endurance fast screen is currently available in two different versions: one asking for pain-related behaviour in light and severe pain and the other assessing overall severe pain-related behaviour. In this study we aim to examine the agreement between both scales and for the first time describe the role of protective psychological features such as resilience and self-compassion in this model. ⋯ Based on the results of this study, the quality of agreement between the two AEFS versions is considered strong. Without the comparison between mild and strong pain, endurance behaviour was reported more often. According to these findings, overestimation of pain persistence behaviour using the one-level version might result. Therefore, future studies should re-evaluate the cut-offs. As reported in previous studies, protective psychological features showed the highest scores in the eustress-endurance subgroup.