Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
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Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy and annuloplasty (PELDA) is a minimally invasive spinal technique for lumbar disc herniation. Following discectomy, the relief of leg pain is common; however, the relief of back pain is less predictable. The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in back pain and to examine the predisposing factors for postoperative back pain following PELDA. ⋯ PELDA can relieve back pain as well as leg pain through direct decompression and thermal ablation of the annular defect. Disc degeneration can be expected to influence clinical outcomes following PELDA.
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To examine the association between pain and functional capacity levels. ⋯ There is an inverse association of tender points count with the chair stand and distance walked in the 6-minute walk tests, and a positive association of algometer score with the chair stand, distance walked in the 6-minute walk and back scratch tests, yet, weight status seems to play a role in these associations.
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To estimate prevalence rates of discogenic, facet, and sacroiliac joint pain, and describe clinical features of chronic low back pain patients whose symptoms were initiated by motor vehicle collisions. ⋯ Our study is the first to demonstrate that diagnostic spinal injections can identify particular spinal structures, namely the intervertebral disc, facet joint, and sacroiliac joint, as the specific source of chronic low back pain due to inciting motor vehicle collisions. The most common source of motor vehicle collision-induced chronic low back pain appears to be the disc followed by the sacroiliac and facet joints.
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The purpose of this case report is twofold: first, to present evidence of long-lasting relief in a patient suffering from phantom limb pain after pharmacologically blocking his plexus brachialis and, second, to replicate results from a previous study focusing on cortical reorganization and phantom limb pain. ⋯ A single temporary blockade of the brachial plexus may relieve phantom limb pain and unpleasant phantom feelings (cramping) for an extended period.
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Conflicting representations of pain: a qualitative analysis of health care professionals' discourse.
Studies regarding health care professionals' representations of pain indicate that doctors and nurses tend to concentrate on the organic origin of pain, and to view pain as subordinate to diagnosis and treatment of the disease; they also tend to underestimate the psychological and psychosocial components of pain, which means that they generally view the patient's subjective experience as secondary. This leads to an underestimation of pain. ⋯ To promote significant change regarding pain management within hospital organizations, it is essential to construct shared representations of the problem and its implications, particularly as regards relations with the patient. This change should take place at the educational as well as the socio-organizational level, and it should take into account ideas and proposals from the subjects involved.