Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
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To explore the subjective experience of pain relief by cannabis. ⋯ We propose the term Restored Self to conceptualize the effect of medical cannabis. Restored Self is the experience of regaining one's sense of self, sense of normality, and sense of control over one's life.
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To investigate differences in gait variability induced by two different single-dose opioid formulations and an inert placebo in healthy volunteers and knee osteoarthritis patients. ⋯ In opioid-naïve and neurologically intact individuals, tapentadol seems to reduce movement variability during treadmill walking, compared with placebo and tramadol. This can be interpreted as a loss of adaptability that might increase the risk of falling if the system is perturbed.
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We aimed to define the potential complications of intra-articular steroid injections into the lateral C1-2 articulations and safety margins to the relevant structures. ⋯ Although injection of steroid into the lateral C1-C2 articulation for pain management has historically been reported to carry risk of severe complications due to close proximity and location variability of surrounding structures, our study quantifies the potential risk of such injections. Further, our analysis suggests that preprocedural imaging should be considered.
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To evaluate the short-term safety and effectiveness of amniotic membrane/umbilical cord particulate (AMUC) in managing pain in patients with various severities of knee osteoarthritis (OA). ⋯ AMUC particulate injection relieved pain and improved physical function in patients with symptomatic knee OA.
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To determine the relationship between opioid dose change, pain severity, and function in patients with chronic pain. ⋯ The results suggest that escalating opioid doses may not necessarily result in clinically significant improvement of pain or disability. Similarly, significant opioid dose reductions may not necessarily result in worsened pain or disability. This exploratory investigation raised questions of possible subgroups of patients who might demonstrate improvement of pain and disability with opioid dose adjustments, and further research should prospectively explore this potential, given the limitations inherent in retrospective analyses. Prescribers should still consider reduction of opioid doses as recommended by current guidelines, in an effort to mitigate the potential risks associated with high-dose treatment.