Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
-
The concept of neuromodulation via the use of spinal cord stimulators (SCS) was first established over forty years ago. Since then, its popularity has grown as numerous studies have demonstrated its utility to reduce chronic pain, improve patient function, and reduce long-term health care costs. The aim of this study was to update the pain medicine community on the evolution of SCS practice trends in academic centers. ⋯ Standardized SCS training is imperative as the implementation of neuromodulation therapy continues to increase.
-
To investigate the presence of widespread pressure pain sensitivity in cancer patients following partial colorectal resection in the abdominal and lower back area and to describe the presence of abnormalities in abdominal and lower back muscle morphology. ⋯ Ten months after oncology treatment, colon cancer survivors show widespread pressure pain muscle hyperalgesia and reduced depths of dominant-side internal oblique muscles compared with matched controls.
-
The goal of this project was to explore the association between post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) pain scores recorded within the first and second hour of the end of surgery with maximum and median pain scores recorded on postoperative days (PODs) 1 through 5. ⋯ Maximum scores measured within the PACU likely reflect a set of circumstances distinct from those experienced on PODs 1 through 5.
-
Review the current evidence-based pharmacotherapy for phantom limb pain (PLP) in the context of the current understanding of the pathophysiology of this condition. ⋯ Currently, the best evidence (level 2) exists for the use of IV ketamine and IV morphine for the short-term perioperative treatment of PLP and PO morphine for an intermediate to long-term treatment effect (8 weeks to 1 year). Level 2 evidence is mixed for the efficacy of perioperative epidural anesthesia with morphine and bupivacaine for short to long-term pain relief (perioperatively up to 1 year) as well as for the use of gabapentin for pain relief of intermediate duration (6 weeks).