Pain physician
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Although there is no "ideal analgesic," scientists and clinicians alike continue to search for compounds with qualities which may approach the "ideal analgesic." Characteristics of an "ideal" analgesic may include: the agent is a full agonist providing optimal/maximal analgesia for a wide range/variety of pain states (e.g., broad spectrum analgesic activity), it does not exhibit tolerance, it produces no unwanted effects and minimal adverse effects, it has no addictive potential, it does not facilitate pain/hyperalgesia, it has a long duration, it has high oral bioavailability, it is not vulnerable to important drug interactions, it is not significantly bound to plasma proteins, it has no active metabolites, it has linear kinetics, and it is eliminated partly by hydrolysis to an inactive metabolite (without involvement of oxidative and conjugative enzymes). Investigators have concentrated on ways to alter existing analgesics or to combine existing analgesic compounds with compounds which may improve efficacy over time or minimize adverse effects. ⋯ Although there may be many reasons to add 2 agents together in efforts to achieve analgesia, for purposes of this article - reasons for combining an opioid with a second agent to produce a combination opioid analgesic may be classified into 6 major categories: 1.) combinations to prolong analgesic duration; 2.) combinations to enhance or optimize analgesic efficacy (e.g., analgesic synergy); 3.) combinations to diminish or minimize adverse effects; 4.) combinations to diminish opioid effects which are not beneficial (or contrariwise to or enhance beneficial opioid effects); 5.) combinations to reduce opioid tolerance/opioid-induced hyperalgesia; and 6.) combinations to combat dependency issues/addiction potential/craving sensations. Combination opioid analgesics are one avenue which may give rise to "pain pills" with improved analgesic profiles over existing analgesic medications.
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Occipital nerve stimulation is an emerging treatment modality for refractory headache disorders like migraine and cluster headache. Either percutaneous or surgical leads are implanted subcutaneously in the occipital region in an effort to stimulate the distal branches of the occipital nerves (C2-3). A number of complications of this technique have been reported, such as painful direct muscle stimulation and lead migration. ⋯ One patient underwent lead removal with reimplantation 1 month later; the other was managed with excision of a granuloma at the erosion site and prophylactic antibiotics. Both patients returned to excellent headache control. Lead erosion is a possible complication of occipital stimulation; strategies to reduce the risk of lead erosion are discussed, although further studies are needed to clarify the best surgical techniques.
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More than 50% of multiple sclerosis patients experience chronic pain syndrome. We set out to determine the specific type of chronic pain that was seen in our multiple sclerosis patients. ⋯ This study suggests that multiple sclerosis patients are at a higher risk of developing complex regional pain syndrome than the general population.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Lumbar facet joint nerve blocks in managing chronic facet joint pain: one-year follow-up of a randomized, double-blind controlled trial: Clinical Trial NCT00355914.
Lumbar facet joints have been implicated as the source of chronic pain in 15% to 45% of patients with chronic low back pain. Various therapeutic techniques including intraarticular injections, medial branch blocks, and radiofrequency neurotomy of lumbar facet joint nerves have been described in the alleviation of chronic low back pain of facet joint origin. ⋯ Therapeutic lumbar facet joint nerve blocks, with or without steroid, may provide a management option for chronic function-limiting low back pain of facet joint origin.
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For thousands of years, opioids have been used to treat pain, and they continue to be one of the most commonly prescribed medications for pain. It is estimated that 90% of patients presenting to pain centers and receiving treatment in such facilities are on opioids. Opioids can be considered broad-spectrum analgesics that act at multiple points along the pain pathway. ⋯ Evidence for the ability to drive on chronic opioid therapy was moderate without major side effects or complications. It is concluded that, for long-term opioid therapy of 6 months or longer in managing chronic non-cancer pain, with improvement in function and reduction in pain, there is weak evidence for morphine and transdermal fentanyl. However, there is limited or lack of evidence for all other controlled substances, including the most commonly used drugs, oxycodone and hydrocodone.