European journal of pain : EJP
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Recently, a new classification system for chronic pain was included in the 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). This study aims to investigate how expectancies of coping, that is pain catastrophizing and general self-efficacy, are associated with ICD-11 chronic pain categories in a large pain clinic population. Furthermore, we investigate how coping expectancies are associated with pain-related disability, cross-sectionally and longitudinally across the novel pain classifications. ⋯ Levels of coping expectancies, demographic characteristics, pain-related disability and pain intensity are similar across all ICD-11 chronic pain diagnostic categories. Thus, chronic primary pain is not stronger associated with psychosocial factors such as catastrophizing and self-efficacy than chronic secondary pain. Therefore, chronic pain patients, independent of diagnosis, may benefit from the assessment of these psychosocial factors and targeted interventions such as CBT should be considered.
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There is limited research on the long-term effectiveness of epidural steroid injections (ESI) in older adults despite the high prevalence of back and leg pain in this age group. We tested the hypotheses that older adults undergoing ESI, compared to patients not receiving ESI: (1) have worse pain, disability and quality of life ('outcomes') pre-ESI, (2) have improved outcomes after ESI and (3) have improved outcomes due to a specific ESI effect. ⋯ In this large, two-year, prospective study in older adults with a new episode of low back pain, back pain, leg pain, disability and quality of life improved after epidural steroid injections; however, propensity-score matching revealed that the improvement was unlikely the result of a specific effect of the injections, indicating that epidural steroids are unlikely to provide long-term benefits in older adults with new episodes of back and leg pain.
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Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) can impact sensory, pain and tolerance thresholds in various ways, which can be accessed via quantitative sensory testing (QST). The objectives of this study were to (1) assess the subjective sensory responses using QST in patients following SCS therapy for PSPS and (2) to get a clinical impression of the results of SCS during an interview of these patients with PSPS and SCS during long term follow-up. ⋯ This study provides an overview of the effect of SCS on sensory, pain and tolerance thresholds in patients with PSPS throughout the SCS treatment process. In addition, this study presents data from 40 patients with PSPS treated with SCS, analysing several long-term patient-reported outcome measures. The results serve to give more insight into the mechanism of SCS and document SCS as a possible treatment for PSPS.
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Low back pain is common and remains one of the leading causes of disability globally. This study aimed to develop an evidence map of the quantity of available evidence assessing approaches to manage low back pain, to identify potential redundancies or gaps in the synthesized data, and guide future research focus. ⋯ Substantial evidence (systematic reviews and primary trials) exists for 10 approaches to manage low back pain. The quantity of available evidence has continued to increase over time. The quantity and large heterogeneity of inclusion criteria in available systematic reviews may influence conflicting recommendations in clinical practice guidelines. Justification of the need for further systematic reviews and primary trials is essential to avoid potential research redundancy.