Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
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Clinical review on outcomes using burst spinal cord stimulation (SCS) in the treatment of chronic, intractable pain. ⋯ Burst SCS has been shown to be both statistically and clinically superior to tonic stimulation and may provide additional benefits through different mechanisms of action. Further high-quality controlled studies are warranted to not only elucidate the basic mechanisms of burst SCS but also address how this unique stimulation signature/pattern may more adequately handle the multiple affective dimensions of pain in varying patient populations.
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This is a comprehensive, structured review synthesizing and summarizing the current experimental data and knowledge about the mechanisms of action (MOA) underlying spinal cord stimulation with the burst waveform (as defined by De Ridder) in chronic pain treatment. ⋯ Burst spinal cord stimulation likely provides pain relief via multiple mechanisms at the level of both the spinal cord and the brain. The specific waveforms and temporal patterns of stimulation both play a role in the responses observed. Differential modulation of neurons in the dorsal horn and dorsal column nuclei are the spinal underpinnings of paresthesia-free analgesia. The burst stimulation pattern also produces different patterns of activation within the brain when compared with tonic stimulation. The latter may have implications for not only the somatic components of chronic pain but also the lateral and affective pathway dimensions as well.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Exploring Lived Experiences of Chronic Pain Through Photo-Elicitation and Social Networking.
To understand how patients' use of photo-elicitation and online social networks (Facebook) enhances their understanding of what it means to live with pain. ⋯ Photo-elicitation is an innovative way to shed light on patients' lived experience with chronic pain. Despite some technical challenges, Facebook support groups utilizing photo-elicitation can provide a readily available platform that can facilitate interchange of patient experiences and might help patients communicate with their providers.
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To evaluate the influence of pain sensitization in the early recovery of distal radius fractures (DRFs) on the occurrence and prognosis of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) type I. ⋯ Patients with CRPS I after DRF exhibited significantly higher pain sensitization in the early post-trauma period, and the degree of initial pain sensitization and high-energy injuries were associated with prolonged CRPS I signs and symptoms up to one year after initial injury.
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Associations between chronic pain, opioid use, and sexual problems are acknowledged, but population-based investigations are sparse. Our study aimed at investigating the associations between chronic noncancer pain (CNCP), opioid use, lack of/low sexual desire, and dissatisfaction with sexual life. ⋯ Long-term opioid therapy for CNCP requires special attention due to its potential in suppressing sexual desire.