Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
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The contribution of psychological risk factors to the intensification of pain experienced among individuals with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is relatively under-studied. The present study aims to explore associations between FMS-related somatic symptom severity and two personality tendencies: anxiety sensitivity (AS) and socially prescribed perfectionism (SPP). Furthermore, the relative contributions of these personality tendencies are examined vis-à-vis the experience of potentially traumatic events (PTEs) and the psychopathology of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). ⋯ The present study supports the assumption that psychological risk factors may affect the expression of somatic symptoms and the interpretation of pain stimulus arising in the body that might eventually be experienced as excessively painful. The study also suggests that above and beyond psychological risk factors, PTSS may express a high predominance and affect pain perception among participants with FMS.
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Individuals with chronic pain are uniquely challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic, as increased stress may exacerbate chronic pain, and there are new barriers to receiving chronic pain treatment. In light of this, using a large online sample in the United States, we examined 1) the early impact of COVID-19 on pain severity, pain interference, and chronic pain management; and 2) variables associated with perceived changes in pain severity and pain interference. ⋯ We may expect to see a long-term exacerbation of chronic pain and related interference in functioning and chronic pain management among individuals most impacted by the pandemic. These individuals may benefit from remotely delivered intervention to effectively mitigate COVID-19-related exacerbations in chronic pain and interruptions in face-to-face treatment.
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Colorectal cancer surgery is commonly performed with adequate analgesia essential for patient recovery. This study assessed the effectiveness of intrathecal morphine and patient-controlled analgesia (ITM + PCA) vs patient-controlled analgesia alone (PCA) for postoperative pain management in colorectal cancer surgery. ⋯ This retrospective study demonstrated that ITM + PCA can achieve similar analgesic effects after laparotomy and laparoscopy colorectal cancer surgery compared with PCA alone while resulting in a reduction of oral opioid consumption and lower incidence of sedation.