Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Management of hot flushes in breast cancer survivors: comparison between stellate ganglion block and pregabalin.
Women who have survived breast cancer have hot flushes that are "significantly more frequent, severe, distressing, and of greater duration" than in other women. We compared the efficacy and safety of stellate ganglion block and pregabalin for the relief of hot flushes in breast cancer survivors. ⋯ The stellate ganglion block had superior efficacy in the management of hot flushes in breast cancer survivors.
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The aim of this study is to evaluate prospectively the efficacy of caudal epidural steroid injection (CESI) and transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) in lumbar spinal stenosis patients with sciatic pain. ⋯ The effectiveness of transforaminal steroid injection for the stenosis patients with sciatica was superior to caudal at 6 months postinjection.
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We sought to determine the prevalence of chronic post-thoracotomy pain, defined as persistent or recurring incisional pain for at least 2 months after thoracotomy, in children. ⋯ Our study reports a low prevalence of post-thoracotomy pain in childhood and adolescence, and stands in contrast to previously published adult data.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Ropivacaine 0.1% versus 0.2% for continuous lumbar plexus nerve block infusions following total hip arthroplasty: a randomized, double blinded study.
Continuous lumbar plexus blocks provide excellent analgesia for total hip arthroplasty (THA), but their utility has been questioned as they may increase motor weakness. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of two different concentrations of ropivacaine on both postoperative analgesia and motor function. ⋯ Following primary THA, lumbar plexus perineural infusion of 0.1% ropivacaine provided similar benefits for postoperative analgesia and functional recovery as 0.2% ropivacaine.
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This manuscript reviews peer-reviewed literature published from 2010-2012 relevant to the management of chronic pain in the primary care setting. ⋯ There is growing evidence for the risks, benefits, and limitations of the multiple modalities available to primary care providers for the management of chronic pain. The dissemination and implementation of the evidence from these studies as well as novel system-level interventions warrant additional study and support from clinicians, educators, and policy makers.