Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
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Clinical Trial
A virtual reality system combined with biofeedback for treating pediatric chronic headache--a pilot study.
Pediatric headache is highly widespread and is associated with distress and reduced quality of life. Pharmacological treatment of chronic headache in children has been only partially effective and, as in medication-overuse headache, can sometimes be counterproductive. Therefore, there is a substantial need to develop other effective methods of treatment. Here we present the rationale, feasibility, and preliminary results of a pilot study applying a novel system, combining virtual reality and biofeedback, aimed as an abortive treatment of pediatric chronic headache. ⋯ This novel system, combining biofeedback and virtual reality, is feasible for pediatric use. Randomized controlled studies in larger populations are needed in order to determine the utility of the system in reducing headache, improving daily functioning, and elevating quality of life.
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Chronic rectal pain secondary to radiation-induced proctitis is fast-becoming a leading cause of chronic pain, especially for prostate cancer survivors. Currently, many elderly patients resort to increased opioid intake to alleviate the pain. However, this increase in opioid consumption often leads to constipation and further aggravates the anorectal pain, thus leading to a perpetual, vicious cycle. We reasoned that blocking the ganglion impar could attenuate this sympathetically maintained pain, which would lead to a reduction in the consumption of opioids, lessen constipation, and lead to an improvement in the patient's quality of life. ⋯ Based on this case's success, a prospective study or randomized control trial evaluating the efficacy of the ganglion impar block as a treatment option for chronic anorectal pain secondary to radiation-induced proctitis appears warranted.
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To compare health care resource utilization before and after minimally invasive lumbar decompression (MILD) procedure. ⋯ Not only is MILD a reliable method to treat LSS, MILD also appears to reduce the consumption of limited health care resources.
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We elaborated the rat hippocampi in order to assess for central nervous system changes following a peripheral neuropathic injury. ⋯ Our results showed that the peripheral nerve injury altered rat hippocampal miRNA.