Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
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To quantitatively evaluate interval magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes in disc morphology following plasma-mediated percutaneous discectomy. ⋯ Based on MRI examinations, subtle anatomic changes may occur following plasma-mediated percutaneous discectomy. Further study is required to determine the clinical relevance of these changes.
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A growing number of studies have shown that opioid craving (i.e., the perceived need or desire to consume opioids) is one of the strongest determinants of prescription opioid misuse in patients with chronic pain prescribed opioid therapy. To date, however, the factors that are associated with craving in patients with pain remain largely unexplored. Based on previous research, there is reason to believe that catastrophizing might be associated with heightened opioid craving. ⋯ Our preliminary findings provide valuable new insights into the determinants of craving in patients with pain. The finding that catastrophizing was associated with craving even after controlling for a host of demographic, psychological, medical, and medication regimen variables is particularly striking, and raises questions concerning the factors that underlie the association between catastrophizing and craving in patients prescribed opioid therapy.
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The Opioid Risk Tool (ORT) is a screening instrument for assessing the risk of opioid-related aberrant behavior in chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) patients. ⋯ Significant differences existed between this study population and the patient sample from which the ORT was derived. Limitations of this study are discussed. We concur with the authors of the original study that the ORT may not be applicable in different pain populations and settings. Based on our findings, we encourage caution in interpreting the ORT in general CNCP settings until further studies are performed.