The journal of pain : official journal of the American Pain Society
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Review Meta Analysis
Combination Drug Therapy for the Management of Low Back Pain and Sciatica: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Combining medicines may give greater pain relief and/or improved tolerability. We conducted a systematic review to investigate the effects of combination drug therapy in patients with low back pain and/or sciatica on pain, disability, and adverse events. Databases and trial registers were searched from inception to July 27, 2017, for randomized trials of (sub)acute or chronic back pain or sciatica participants that were administered combination drug therapy compared with monotherapy or placebo. ⋯ There is no clear evidence to support any combination drug therapy for the management of low back pain and sciatica due to the limited number of studies and overall low quality of evidence. Perspective: Combining medicines may give greater pain relief and/or improved tolerability compared with single-ingredient medicines. However, the lack of studies and overall low quality of evidence limit the recommendation of combination drug therapy for the management of low back pain and sciatica.
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We assessed the effects of opioid dose and risk reduction initiatives on opioid overdose rates among patients on chronic opioid therapy (COT). Using an interrupted time series design, we compared trends in overdose rates. We compared patients on COT in settings that implemented a COT dose reduction initiative and then a COT risk stratification/monitoring initiative to similar patients on COT from control settings. ⋯ PERSPECTIVE: Risk stratification/monitoring interventions among patients on COT did not decrease opioid overdose rates. The effects of COT dose reduction on opioid overdose rates were inconsistent. Greater decreases in COT dose, a larger control group, or both may have been needed to identify conclusive reductions in opioid overdose rates.
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Prescription opioid misuse is a serious public health concern, yet antecedent factors are poorly described. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (N = 14,784), we examined the longitudinal relationship between a history of adolescent chronic pain and the odds of misusing prescription opioids in adulthood. The primary predictor variable was chronic pain status during adolescence. ⋯ Longitudinal associations between adolescent chronic pain and subsequent adult prescription opioid misuse highlight the need for early targeted screening and prevention efforts that may reduce later opioid misuse. Perspective: Using a large, nationally representative sample, we found that chronic pain during adolescence was an independent risk factor for opioid misuse in adulthood, over and above other known risk factors. Furthermore, among those individuals with adolescent chronic pain, substance use, exposure to trauma, and race were associated with opioid misuse.
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The incidence of chronic postoperative abdominal pain (CPAP) after abdominal surgery is substantial and decreases overall quality of life. One in 3 patients report pain-related interference with mood, sleep, and enjoyment of life and 12% visit the emergency department for pain-related symptoms. Previous studies lack data on preoperative health and pain status or are limited by small patient samples. ⋯ The number of operations and the anatomic location of the operation showed to be important risk factors for increasing the number of gastrointestinal complaints. Perspective: This prospective observational study shows the incidence and risk factors for CPAP after major abdominal surgery. Preoperative pain-related factors were associated with the occurrence of CPAP.
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Chronic pain is often accompanied by patient-reported distorted body perception and an altered kinesthesia (referring to the senses of limb position and limb movement), but the association between these deficits is unknown. The objectives of this study were to assess body perception and the senses of limb position and limb movement in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and to test whether these variables are related to each other and to pain intensity. Thirteen patients with upper limb CRPS (mean pain intensity, 4.2 ± 2.4 out of 10) and 13 controls were recruited. ⋯ PERSPECTIVE: Senses of limb position and movement rely on sensorimotor integration. Both are altered in complex regional pain syndrome. However, they are not related to the subjective perception of the painful limb, and thus they should be assessed separately in rehabilitation.