European journal of pain : EJP
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Randomized controlled trial to compare the effect of simple distraction interventions on pain and anxiety experienced during conscious surgery.
High levels of anxiety during surgery are associated with poorer post-surgical outcomes. This prospective, non-blinded randomized controlled trial aimed to compare the effectiveness of four intraoperative distraction interventions for anxiety and pain management during minimally invasive venous surgery under local anaesthetic. ⋯ The use of simple intraoperative distraction techniques, particularly interacting with nurses, using stress balls or watching a DVD during surgery conducted under local anaesthetic can significantly improve patients' experiences.
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Comparative Study
Efficacy and cost-effectiveness: A study of different treatment approaches in a tertiary pain centre.
Chronic pain is considered to be a complex phenomenon, involving an interrelation of biological, psychosocial and sociocultural factors. Currently, no single treatment or therapy can address all aspects of this pathology. In our expert tertiary pain centre, we decide to assess the effectiveness of four treatments for chronic pain classically proposed in our daily clinical work: physiotherapy; psycho-education; physiotherapy combined with psycho-education; and self-hypnosis/self-care learning. ⋯ This clinical report demonstrates the relevance of biopsychosocial approaches in the improvement of pain and psychological factors in chronic pain patients. The study further reveals the larger impact of self-hypnosis/self-care learning treatment, in addition to a cost-effectiveness benefit of this treatment comparative to other interventions.
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Low back pain (LBP) is associated with alterations in control of trunk movements and changes within central nervous system (CNS). Evidence shows that some of these alterations within the CNS are reversible when the symptoms are relieved, whereas other shows the opposite. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to investigate whether alterations in voluntary activation (VA) of central neural drive, as assessed using twitch interpolation to measure VA, are present in subjects with a history of low back pain (HLBP), who are free from pain at the time of experiment. ⋯ The ability to voluntarily activate back extensor muscles maximally does not appear to be impaired in subjects with a history of LBP during pain-free episodes.
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Cuff algometry is used for quantitative pain assessment although it is not clarified which tissues are actually challenged by the stimulation. This study investigated the mechanical stress and strain distribution in superficial and deep tissues during cuff algometry applied on the lower leg at three different intensities (mild pressure, pain threshold and supra pain threshold). ⋯ This study shows the better capability of cuff algometry for stimulation of deep somatic tissue in terms of generation of mechanical stress and strain in contrast to the more superficial muscle tissue previously demonstrated to be strained by single-point pressure algometry.
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Childhood adversities (CAs) have been associated with adult-onset chronic pain. However, to date, most single country studies on this association have been undertaken in Western countries. This study examined the association in Japan where information is scarce. ⋯ The results of this study suggest that in Japan, some forms of CA may be associated with certain types of adult-onset chronic pain, in particular neck/back pain.