Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
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Many older people suffer from degenerative and chronic diseases resulting in chronic pain. It is important for health professionals and researchers to gain insights into experiences of chronic pain sufferers, so that they may understand the patient's perspective and instigate appropriate treatments. ⋯ "Keeping going" was a priority for most of the participants. It may be beneficial to identify the ways in which older people persevere despite chronic pain. It is important for health professionals to appreciate the social factors which are important to, and valued by, older people who experience chronic pain.
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Comparative Study
Postoperative pain intensity assessment: a comparison of four scales in Chinese adults.
To determine the psychometric properties and applicability of four pain scales in Chinese postoperative adults. ⋯ These findings demonstrate that although all four scales can be options for Chinese adults to report pain intensity, the FPS-R appears to be the best one. Providing tool options to address individual needs or preferences is suggested.
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Neuropathic pain is a common problem in later life. It remains relatively refractory to treatment and in terms of social consequences may be particularly problematic for older people. ⋯ The study raises important questions concerning the relationship between neuropathic pain, its physical and emotional consequences and social outcomes. The results highlight the importance of viewing neuropathic pain as a social phenomenon in which treatment and management should pay closer attention to the interpersonal and social needs and quality of life outcomes for the spouse or partner and family as well as the patient.
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Intrathecal inflammatory masses or granuloma have been described extensively in the literature in patients receiving chronic spinal infusions for pain. After an extensive literature review, no reported cases of baclofen causing this disorder when administered as a sole agent were identified. Intrathecal baclofen has been used to treat spasticity secondary to stroke, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, and other neurological disease. ⋯ We report two cases of inflammatory mass in patients receiving baclofen as a sole intrathecal agent. The authors would recommend vigilance in any patient receiving intrathecal baclofen. If the suspicion arises of this problem, a magnetic resonance imaging or computerized tomography myelogram should be obtained with a focus on the catheter tip.