Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
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To examine the demographic, physical, and mental health characteristics; current drug use patterns; motivations for use; and diversion sources among elderly prescription opioid misusers. ⋯ Findings suggest that this group of elderly participants often misuse their own prescriptions for pain management. This study highlights the need to educate prescribing professionals on appropriate pain management for older adults while still being sensitive to issues of substance abuse and dependence.
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Previous research has demonstrated a significant relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and pain. While several models attempt to explain this relationship, significant questions remain regarding factors that may play a role in this interaction. The purpose of this study was to determine whether posttraumatic cognitions mediate the relationship between PTSD and pain. ⋯ In particular, negative cognitions regarding the self were associated with the level of pain-related interference, and partially mediated the relationship between PTSD and pain. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
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Observational Study
The noninferiority of the nonparticulate steroid dexamethasone vs the particulate steroids betamethasone and triamcinolone in lumbar transforaminal epidural steroid injections.
To assess whether a nonparticulate steroid (dexamethasone, 10 mg) is less clinically effective than the particulate steroids (triamcinolone, 80 mg; betamethasone, 12 mg) in lumbar transforaminal epidural steroid injections (TFESIs) in subjects with radicular pain with or without radiculopathy. ⋯ This retrospective observational study reveals no evidence that dexamethasone is less effective than particulate steroids in lumbar TFESIs performed for radicular pain with or without radiculopathy.