Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
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Back pain is a very prevalent complaint, affecting two-thirds of the US population, and it accounts for $100 billion annually in health care expenditures. The occurrence of depression has been reported in existing literature among patients with back pain, but there is limited information regarding health care expenditures among patients with back pain and concurrent depression. ⋯ This study demonstrates that the presence of depression in adults with spondylosis, intervertebral disc disorders, and other back problems is associated with greater economic burden. These findings remained consistent after adjusting for all independent sets of variables. The study's findings suggest that interventions resulting in better management of depression have the potential to significantly reduce the economic burden in this population.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Aging Back Clinics-a Geriatric Syndrome Approach to Treating Chronic Low Back Pain in Older Adults: Results of a Preliminary Randomized Controlled Trial.
Treating chronic low back pain (CLBP) with spine-focused interventions is common, potentially dangerous, and often ineffective. This preliminary trial tests the feasibility and efficacy of caring for CLBP in older adults as a geriatric syndrome in Aging Back Clinics (ABC). ⋯ These preliminary data suggest that ABC care for older veterans with CLBP is feasible and may reduce pain and exposure to other potential morbidity.
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Marijuana use is common among patients on long-term opioid therapy (LTOT) for chronic pain, but there is a lack of evidence to guide clinicians' response. ⋯ Experts disagree and are uncertain about the importance of opioid tapering for patients with marijuana use. Experts were influenced by patient factors, provider beliefs, and marijuana policy, highlighting the need for further research.
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This study aimed to characterize the population prevalence of pain and mental health problems postinjury and to identify risk factors that could improve service delivery to optimize recovery of at-risk patients. ⋯ Targeted interventions delivered to people with the risk factors identified may help to attenuate the severity and impact of pain and mental health problems after transport injury.
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Clinical Trial
Transcutaneous Supraorbital Stimulation as a Preventive Treatment for Chronic Migraine: A Prospective, Open-Label Study.
Successful preventive treatment in chronic migraine (CM) remains an unmet need in some cases, and new therapeutic strategies are emerging. We aimed to test the effect of noninvasive, transcutaneous supraorbital nerve stimulation (tSNS) in a group of patients with CM. ⋯ tSNS could hold preventive properties in the treatment of CM, but the effect may be either mild or controversial. Double blind, sham-controlled studies are essential to confirm these findings and to outline their clinical relevance in the CM therapeutic scenario.