Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
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Observational Study
An Examination of Pain Catastrophizing and Endogenous Pain Modulatory Processes in Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain.
Research on chronic low back pain (cLBP) has focused heavily on structural abnormalities with emphasis on diagnostic imaging. However, for many cLBP patients, clinical pain and disability are not clearly associated with identifiable pathology of the spine or associated tissues. Therefore, alternative determinants such as psychological factors and dysfunctional pain modulatory processes have been suggested to be important. ⋯ This study suggests that endogenous pain modulatory processes are altered for cLBP patients, particularly TS of mechanical and heat stimuli. Pain catastrophizing and TS of mechanical pain may have important clinical relevance for cLBP, given associations with clinical pain and disability; however, future research is needed to replicate these findings.
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To evaluate widespread pressure pain in patients with chronic plantar heel pain compared with that in healthy controls and to investigate the differences in ultrasound imaging and quality of life between these two groups. ⋯ Patients suffering from chronic plantar heel pain showed widespread and bilateral hypersensitivity, increased thickness of the plantar fascia in the affected foot, and deterioration in quality of life and physical functioning compared with matched controls.
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Letter Case Reports
Unexpected Symptomatic Catheter Tip Mass in Chronic Intrathecal Opioid Therapy.
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Review Meta Analysis
The Impact of Massage Therapy on Function in Pain Populations-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials: Part II, Cancer Pain Populations.
Pain is multi-dimensional and may be better addressed through a holistic, biopsychosocial approach. Massage therapy is commonly practiced among patients seeking pain management; however, its efficacy is unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis is the first to rigorously assess the quality of massage therapy research and evidence for its efficacy in treating pain, function-related and health-related quality of life in cancer populations. ⋯ Based on the evidence, weak recommendations are suggested for massage therapy, compared to an active comparator, for the treatment of pain, fatigue, and anxiety. No recommendations were suggested for massage therapy compared to no treatment or sham control based on the available literature to date. This review addresses massage therapy safety, research challenges, how to address identified research gaps, and necessary next steps for implementing massage therapy as a viable pain management option for cancer pain populations.