Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
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To examine the outpatient opioid prescribing practices and the factors associated with opioid prescriptions in patient visits with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). ⋯ One in four adult RA visits resulted in opioid prescriptions, and the opioid visits more than doubled during the study period. Several patient and provider factors were associated with the opioid prescribing among RA visits. Understanding these prescribing practices can help to devise strategies for safe opioid prescribing practices in RA.
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Meta Analysis
Effects of abdominal binders on postoperative pain and functional recovery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of abdominal binders (ABs) on postoperative pain and functional recovery in patients receiving abdominal surgery. ⋯ ABs probably improve postoperative pain and physical function, especially on the fourth day or more following abdominal surgery, but they have no effects on pulmonary function.
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Review
Neuroscience Education as Therapy for Migraine and Overlapping Pain Conditions: A Scoping Review.
Neuroscience education therapy (NET) has been successfully used for numerous overlapping pain conditions, but few studies have investigated NET for migraine. ⋯ NET is an established treatment for pain conditions, and future research should focus on refining NET for migraine, examining delivery modality, dosage, components of other behavioral therapies to integrate, and migraine-specific NET curricula.
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About one-third of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) suffers from chronic and excruciating central neuropathic pain (CNP). The mechanism underlying CNP in MS is not clear, since previous studies are scarce and their results are inconsistent. Our aim was to determine whether CNP in MS is associated with impairment of the spinothalamic-thalamocortical pathways (STTCs) and/or increased excitability of the pain system. ⋯ CNP in MS is characterized by a specific impairment of STTC function, the innocuous thermal pathways, and by pain hyperexcitability. Whereas CNP presence is associated with STTC impairment, its severity and extent are associated with pain hyperexcitability. Interventions that reduce excitability level may therefore mitigate CNP severity.
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To examine the prevalence and duration of skeletal muscle relaxant (SMR) treatment among commercially insured adults in the United States. ⋯ SMRs are widely used in the United States. Their use slightly increased in recent years, but trends varied among individual agents, patient groups, and geographic regions. Despite limited evidence to support efficacy, a sizable number of U.S. adults used SMRs for long-term and off-label conditions. Further study is needed to understand determinants of treatment as well as outcomes associated with such use.