Pain physician
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Multicenter Study
Subjective Cognitive Symptoms During a Migraine Attack: A Prospective Study of a Clinic-Based Sample.
A migraine attack aggregates a range of different symptoms, besides pain, that contribute to attack-related disability. Cognitive dysfunction is an unacknowledged part of the migraine attack. ⋯ This study detailed the frequency and characteristics of migraine attack-related subjective cognitive symptoms and found its frequency to be similar to reports of other migraine defining symptoms (ex. nausea, photophobia) in recent clinical series. Patients' reports were consistent and dominated by complaints of attention difficulties, diminished cognitive efficiency, and processing speed impairment.
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Prescription drug misuse and abuse has reached epidemic levels in the U.S., and stands as a leading cause of death. As the primary gatekeepers to the medications contributing to this epidemic, it is critical to understand the views of licensed health care professionals. ⋯ Concern about prescription drug abuse is generally high across the major health care professions; however, a significant minority of providers, particularly among dentists, expressed little or no concern about the epidemic. Increasing health care providers' general level of concern about prescription drug abuse may be an effective public health tool for encouraging voluntary reductions in prescribing and/or dispensing controlled substances.
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Since October 1, 2015, the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) was integrated into U. S. medical practices. This monumental transition seemingly occurred rather unceremoniously, despite significant opposition and reservations having been expressed by the provider community. ⋯ Nonetheless, this transition comes at an immeasurable financial and psychological drain on providers. However, a rude awakening may be making its way with expiration of initial concessions from government and private payers. This manuscript provides a template for interventional pain management professionals with multiple steps for seamless navigation, including descriptions of the most commonly used codes, navigation through ICD-10-CM manual, steps for correct coding, and finally, detailed coding descriptions for various interventional techniques.
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Observational Study
Clinical Outcome Following Radiofrequency Denervation for Refractory Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction Using the Simplicity III Probe: A 12-Month Retrospective Evaluation.
Sacroiliac joint syndrome (SIJ) is diagnosed in 10% to 25% of cases of lower back pain. The response to traditional radiofrequency (RF) denervation of the SIJ has being inconsistent. The Simplicity III RF probe (Neruotherm. Inc.) offers a novel treatment option. ⋯ By creating a consistent radiofrequency lesion between the sacral foramen and the SIJ will reliably capture the innervation to the SIJ with significant long-term clinical improvement. This technique should be considered earlier in the treatment algorithm of individuals suffering from SIJ symptoms.
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Low back pain (LBP), one of the most prominent problems worldwide, lacks effective disease-modifying medical therapy. Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a major cause of LBP, and proinflammatory cytokines are the key factors involved in the development of IVDD-induced back pain. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) is implicated in the molecular control of aging and immune responses in various diseases; however, its effect on IVDD is not clearly understood. ⋯ Our results indicated that SIRT1 exerted anti-inflammatory effects againstIL-1β-mediated degeneration of NP cells through the TLR2/SIRT1/NF-κB pathway, suggesting that it could be used as a potential candidate for treating IVDD-mediated back pain.