Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
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Dry needling is commonly used for the management of plantar fasciitis. This meta-analysis evaluated the effects of dry needling over trigger points associated with plantar heel pain on pain intensity and related disability or function. ⋯ Moderate- to low-quality evidence suggests a positive effect of trigger point dry needling for improving pain intensity and pain-related disability in the short term and long term, respectively, in patients with plantar heel pain of musculoskeletal origin. The present results should be considered with caution because of the small number of trials.
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Review
Radiofrequency Ablation for Chronic Posterior Sacroiliac Joint Complex Pain: A Comprehensive Review.
Radiofrequency ablation of the sacral lateral branches targets the innervation of the posterior sacroiliac ligaments and posterior portion of the sacroiliac joint. These structures are also collectively referred to as the posterior sacroiliac joint complex. This review will discuss current diagnostic block paradigms and selection criteria for sacral lateral branch radiofrequency ablation, varying techniques and technologies utilized for sacral lateral branch radiofrequency ablation, and updates on the clinical outcome literature. The current evidence suggests that sacral lateral branch radiofrequency ablation can provide relief for posterior sacroiliac joint complex pain, but the literature is limited by variability in selection criteria, the specific nerves targeted by radiofrequency ablation, and the types of radiofrequency ablation technology and techniques utilized in clinical outcome studies.
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To evaluate the dose trajectory of new opioid tapers and estimate the percentage of patients with sustained tapers at long-term follow-up. ⋯ In an insured and Medicare Advantage population, over two-thirds of patients who initiated opioid dose tapering sustained long-term dose reductions, and the likelihood of sustaining tapers increased substantially from 2008 to 2018.