The journal of pain : official journal of the American Pain Society
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Acupuncture modulation of chronic neuropathic pain and its association with brain functional properties.
Chronic neuropathic pain has been one of the prominent causes of disability, and acupuncture has shown promise in treatment. The present study aimed to characterize acupuncture modulation of chronic neuropathic pain and explore the related functional brain changes. Sixty chronic sciatica patients were divided into acupuncture- or sham acupuncture groups and received 10 sessions of treatment during 4 weeks. ⋯ Neurological indicators and clinical measurements could be used as potential predictors of acupuncture response. This study combines neuroimaging and artificial intelligence techniques to highlight the potential of acupuncture for the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2100044585, http://www.chictr.org.cn.
-
In patients with low back pain (LBP), a visually identified retrospective pain trajectory often mismatches with a trajectory derived from prospective repeated measures. To gain insight into the clinical relevance of the 2 trajectory types, we investigated which showed a higher association with clinical outcomes. Participants were 724 adults seeking care for LBP in Danish chiropractic primary care. ⋯ Patients' retrospective assessments seem to offer an interpretation of their pain course that is likely more clinically relevant in understanding the perceived impact of their condition than trajectories based on repeated measures. PERSPECTIVE: Prospective pain data inadequately reflect patients' clinical status. Retrospective assessments provide a more clinically valuable understanding of the impact of their condition.
-
Nationally representative rates of incident prescription opioid use in the United States adult population and selected subpopulations are unknown. Using the National Health Interview Survey (2019-2020) longitudinal cohort, a cohort with 1-year follow-up created using random cluster probability sampling of noninstitutionalized civilian U. S. adults, we estimated rates and predictors of incident opioid use. ⋯ PERSPECTIVE: This longitudinal cohort study presents nationally representative rates of incident prescription opioid use in U. S. adults and selected subpopulations. Our data suggest that some participants are using prescription opioids as a first-line or early-resort analgesic, contrary to best-practice guidelines.
-
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been shown to improve chronic pain and associated conditions like depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. However, there is limited research on how veterans with chronic pain apply mindfulness skills to manage pain in daily life. This cross-sectional study examined the association between applied mindfulness practice, pain, and several pain-related conditions among 1,737 veterans with chronic pain prior to enrollment in a trial of 2 MBIs. ⋯ Additional research is needed to examine different aspects of mindfulness in the context of MBIs. PERSPECTIVE: This article describes the relationship between applied mindfulness practice and pain-related outcomes, prior to a MBI, using a novel measure of mindfulness practice. These findings underscore the importance of measuring applied mindfulness practice prior to and during clinical interventions to treat chronic pain.
-
Even in healthy populations, conditioned pain modulation (CPM) magnitude varies. This may be accounted for by (non-)modifiable factors, including physical activity (PA). Yet, little research has thoroughly examined PA and its relation with CPM magnitude in a representative sample. ⋯ Given its potential, walking and moderate-intensity PA might be achievable treatment strategies for pain patients known to have impaired CPM. PERSPECTIVE: The results of this article show that a physically active lifestyle, including larger amounts of walking and moderate activity, predicts greater pain-modulatory capacity. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study has not been preregistered.