Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
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The objectives of this study were to test for differences in prescription monitoring program (PMP) use between two states, Connecticut (CT) and Rhode Island (RI), with a different PMP accessibility; to explore use of PMP reports in clinical practice; and to examine associations between PMP use and clinician's responses to suspected diversion or "doctor shopping" (i.e., multiple prescriptions from multiple providers). ⋯ Prescribers' use of an electronic PMP may influence medical practice, especially opioid abuse detection, and is associated with clinical responses to suspected doctor shopping or diversion.
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To identify empirically derived cutoffs for mild, moderate, and severe pain in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). Design. Cross-sectional survey. ⋯ The present study furthers our ability to use empirically based cutoffs to inform the use of clinical guidelines for pain treatment as well as our understanding of the factors that might impact the cutoffs that are most appropriate for specific pain populations. The results of the present study also add to the existing literature by drawing similarities to studies of other populations, but also by highlighting that clear, between-condition differences may exist that warrant using different cutoffs for patients with different medical conditions. Specifically, the present study highlights that cutoffs may be lower for persons with MS than other populations of persons with pain.
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Clinical Trial
Injectate volumes needed to reach specific landmarks in s1 transforaminal epidural injections.
We identify the contrast volumes needed to reach specific landmarks during S1 transforaminal epidural injections (S1-TFEIs). ⋯ This study demonstrates injectate volumes needed to reach specific anatomic landmarks in S1-TFEIs. A volume of 3.0 mL of contrast reaches the superior aspect of the L5-S1 intervertebral disc 92% of the time.
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The objective of this study was to describe and evaluate the Internet resources available to patients searching for information about chronic urogenital/pelvic pain. ⋯ As in other areas of chronic pain, there is a wealth of information available online, but much is of poor quality, and taken together, is likely to confuse more than enlighten patients attempting to understand male urogenital/pelvic pain symptoms or supplement information from health care professionals.
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Clinical Trial
Prospective study of 3-year follow-up of low-dose intrathecal opioids in the management of chronic nonmalignant pain.
Long-term follow-up with the use of low-dose opioids in intrathecal (IT) drug delivery system (DDS) for the treatment of intractable, severe chronic nonmalignant pain. ⋯ Low-dose IT opioid can provide sustained significant improvement in pain and function for long-term follow-up in chronic noncancer pain.