Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
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To describe the development of a virtual reality (VR) treatment for phantom limb pain (PLP) and phantom sensations and provide feasibility data from testing the treatment in a population of veterans. ⋯ This feasibility study of a novel VR intervention for PLP was practical and was associated with significant reductions in PLP intensity and phantom sensations. Our findings support continued research in VR-based treatments in PLP, with a need for direct comparisons between VR and more established PLP treatments.
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Studies have shown a relationship between insulin resistance (IR) and migraine that is more evident in some migraineurs. Long-term use of various drugs and increased risk of diverse side effects is an unavoidable reality in this population of patients. Thus, in this study, we aimed to investigate factors associated with IR in migraine and the impact of chronic usage of various drugs, which might play a part in development of IR. ⋯ Our study demonstrates an association between metoclopramide and NSAID treatments and IR in migraine.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Wireless High-Frequency Spinal Cord Stimulation (10 kHz) Compared with Multiwaveform Low-Frequency Spinal Cord Stimulation in the Management of Chronic Pain in Failed Back Surgery Syndrome Subjects: Preliminary Results of a Multicenter, Prospective Randomized Controlled Study.
This study aimed to evaluate the wireless Freedom Spinal Cord Stimulator (WSCS) System for the treatment of chronic back and/or leg pain associated with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) refractory to standard medical treatment utilizing 10-kHz stimulation (high-frequency [HF]) in comparison with 10-1,500-Hz stimulation (low-frequency [LF]) waveforms. ⋯ These preliminary results demonstrate that WSCS devices can reduce FBSS chronic pain substantially with both LF and HF stimulation waveforms over a seven-month period (30-day trial period and six-month post-trial evaluation).
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Objective The increased use of opioids to treat chronic pain in the past 20 years has led to a drastic increase in opioid prescribing in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain recommends the use of nonopioid therapy as the preferred treatment for chronic pain. This study analyzes the prevalence of nonopioid prescribing among commercially insured patients with chronic pain. ⋯ NSAIDs and antidepressants were the most commonly prescribed nonopioids among patients with chronic pain. Having prescriptions for only nonopioids was more common among patients aged 50-64 years and among female patients. Conclusions This study provides a baseline snapshot of nonopioid prescriptions before the release of the CDC Guideline and can be used to examine the impact of the CDC Guideline and other evidence-based guidelines on nonopioid use among commercially insured patients with chronic pain.