Pain physician
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Comparative Study Controlled Clinical Trial
Evaluation of therapeutic thoracic medial branch block effectiveness in chronic thoracic pain: a prospective outcome study with minimum 1-year follow up.
The prevalence of persistent upper back and mid back pain due to involvement of thoracic facet joints has been described in controlled studies as varying from 43% to 48% based on IASP criteria. Therapeutic intraventions utilized in managing chronic neck pain and low back pain of facet joint origin include intraarticular injections, medial branch nerve blocks, and neurolysis of medial branch nerves by means of radiofrequency. These interventions have not been evaluated in managing chronic thoracic pain of facet joint origin. ⋯ Therapeutic thoracic medial branch blocks were an effective modality of treatment in managing chronic thoracic pain secondary to facet joint involvement confirmed by controlled, comparative local anesthetic blocks.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Does random urine drug testing reduce illicit drug use in chronic pain patients receiving opioids?
Prescription drug abuse and illicit drug use are common in chronic pain patients. Adherence monitoring with screening tests, and urine drug testing, periodic monitoring with prescription monitoring programs, has become a common practice in recent years. Random drug testing for appropriate use of opioids and use of illicit drugs is often used in pain management practices. Thus, it is expected that random urine drug testing will deter use of illicit drugs, and also improve compliance. ⋯ The prevalence of illicit drug abuse in patients with chronic pain receiving opioids continues to be a common occurence. This study showed significant reductions in overall illicit drug use with adherence monitoring combined with random urine drug testing.
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Comparative Study Controlled Clinical Trial
Treatment of painful advanced internal lumbar disc derangement with intradiscal injection of hypertonic dextrose.
Degenerative discs are thought to produce nerve root pain either mechanically or chemically. Particularly in the case of advanced degenerative disc disease, this clinical entity has often proven to be symptomatically resistant to peridural steroids, Intra-discal Electrothermoplasty (IDET) and direct surgical intervention. Exposure of irritated nerves to hypertonic dextrose is thought to have chemoneuromodulatory potential. Sustained pain reduction has been demonstrated in a pilot study involving injection of a combination of dextrose, glucosamine, chondroitin and dimethylsulfoxide into degenerative discs of patients with chronic low back pain of discogenic origin. ⋯ The results suggest that intradiscal injection of hypertonic dextrose may have a place in the management of pain arising from advanced lumbar degenerative disc disease.
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Case Reports Comparative Study
Treatment challenges and complications with ziconotide monotherapy in established pump patients.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved Ziconotide intrathecal infusion for the management of severe chronic pain in patients for whom intrathecal therapy is warranted, and who are intolerant of, or refractory to, other methods of treatment, including intrathecal morphine. Ziconotide is approved as a monotherapy, but there are challenges associated with the decision to wean intrathecal opioids for Ziconotide alone. Maintaining adequate analgesia and managing opioid withdrawal symptoms may be difficult. Additionally, a variety of adverse physiological, cognitive and psychiatric events may be associated with this new drug. Patients with pretreatment psychiatric disorders may be at increased risk for treatment complications. ⋯ This report describes challenges associated with the decision to convert established pump patients from intrathecal opioid therapy to Ziconotide monotherapy. Inadequate analgesia, adverse medication effects, and opioid withdrawal symptoms can precipitate a stressful situation that may be perceived as dangerous or threatening by patients who are predisposed to anxiety. Screening patients for psychiatric disorders, anxiety-proneness and/or vulnerability to stress should be considered to reduce the risk of treatment complications. A multimodal approach is strongly advocated, including rapid responses of treating physicians and nurses along with strong psychological support.