Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
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Low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of pain and disability. Substance use complicates the management of LBP, and potential risks increase with aging. Despite implications for an aging, diverse U.S. population, substance use and LBP comorbidity remain poorly defined. The objective of this study was to characterize LBP and substance use diagnoses in older U.S. adults by age, gender, and race. ⋯ Older adults with LBP have high relative rates of opioid diagnoses, irrespective of gender or age. Most older adults with opioid-related diagnoses have LBP, compared with a minority of those not opioid diagnosed. In caring for older adults with LBP or opioid-related diagnoses, health systems must anticipate complexity and support clinicians, patients, and caregivers in managing pain comorbidities. Older adults may benefit from proactive incorporation of non-opioid pain treatments. Further study is needed.
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The Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) is a self-administered questionnaire used in cardiac patients to quantify angina based on five scales: physical limitation scale, anginal stability scale, anginal frequency scale, treatment satisfaction scale, and the disease perception scale. Here we report the use of the SAQ to assess angina symptoms in 18 patients who underwent spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for refractory angina pectoris (RAP) at the Mayo Clinic. ⋯ The SAQ is useful as a comprehensive measure specific to patients with RAP assessing function, pain, and satisfaction. The utilization of this tool pre- and post-operatively may provide additional information to analyze the effectiveness of SCS for RAP.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
High Thoracic Erector Spinae Plane Block for Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery: A Randomized Prospective Double-Blind Study.
Moderate to severe pain may occur following arthroscopic shoulder surgery. An erector spinae plane block (ESPB) may be used for painful conditions of the shoulder. The primary hypothesis of this trial is that ultrasound-guided ESPB would provide effective analgesia by reducing opioid consumption. The secondary hypothesis is that ESPB would result in low pain scores and reduce the use of rescue analgesia. ⋯ ESPB may provide effective analgesia treatment following arthroscopic shoulder surgery.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Short-term effect of scalp acupuncture on pain, sleep disorders and quality of life in patients with temporomandibular disorders: a randomized clinical trial.
To evaluate the effects of Chinese scalp acupuncture in patients diagnosed with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) on pain, sleep, and quality of life (QOL), and compare these results with the results from traditional therapies. ⋯ The scalp acupuncture proved to be another alternative for pain relief in patients with TMD, demonstrating positive results in the short term. However, it was not as effective in improving quality of life and sleep.
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Meta Analysis
Nabiximols in chronic neuropathic pain: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials.
Pooled analysis of nabiximols and placebo in randomized controlled studies (RCTs) of chronic neuropathic pain. ⋯ Nabiximols was superior to placebo for reduction of chronic neuropathic pain, with a small effect size. Larger RCTs designed to assess the effect of nabiximols in neuropathic pain are required to reach more definitive conclusions.