Current review of pain
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Current review of pain · Jan 2000
ReviewPain complaints in patients with fibromyalgia versus chronic fatigue syndrome.
Individuals with fibromyalgia (FM) and/or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) report arthralgias and myalgias. However, only persons with FM alone exhibit abnormal pain responses to mild levels of stimulation, or allodynia. We identify the abnormalities in the neuroendocrine axes that are common to FM and CFS as well as the abnormalities in central neuropeptide levels and functional brain activity that differentiate these disorders. These two sets of factors, respectively, may account for the similarities and differences in the pain experiences of persons with FM and CFS.
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Pain is one of the cardinal presenting symptoms in cancer patients and often seems to progress in the natural history of the disease. In light of the past neglect of this problem, it is becoming crucial for clinicians and researchers in the fields of oncology, pain management, and others dealing with this patient population to have a thorough understanding of the often complex pain syndromes that are relevant to managing cancer. In this article we briefly review the important topics related to cancer pain syndromes with some emphasis on those that typically generate localized pain.
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Current review of pain · Jan 2000
ReviewThe role of radiofrequency in the management of complex regional pain syndrome.
The nomenclature, pathophysiology, and treatment modalities of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) are controversial. Thus far there are no specific, scientifically valid treatments for the management of CRPS. ⋯ Minimally invasive radiofrequency lesioning for managing CRPS is a modality in its developmental stages. This article describes radiofrequency lesioning techniques in managing CRPS.
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Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most common and devastating complication of acute herpes zoster (HZ). HZ occurs more frequently in the patient with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and with certain leukemias and lymphomas. PHN occurs more frequently in the elderly, in patients with severe pain in the acute stage, and in patients with lesions in the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve. ⋯ A wide variety of therapeutic approaches have been advocated over the years, but most are not very effective. Early aggressive treatment of HZ with antiviral drugs may be the most important step in prophylaxis against PHN. This article reviews the current knowledge of the pathogenesis and treatment of PHN.
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Sex-related differences in the experience of both clinical and experimentally induced pain have been widely reported. Specifically, females are at greater risk for developing several chronic pain disorders, and women exhibit greater sensitivity to noxious stimuli in the laboratory compared with men. Several mechanisms have been proposed to account for these sex differences. ⋯ Sex hormones are also known to affect pain responses, which may mediate the sex differences. Although the magnitude of these effects has not been well characterized, there are potentially important practical implications of sex differences in pain responses. These implications are discussed, and directions for future research are delineated.