Pain physician
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Evaluation of an Experimental Pain Model by Noncompartmental Analysis of Results from a Randomized Placebo Controlled Trial.
Understanding analgesic pharmacodynamics (PD) in the elderly is key to optimising pain management. Electrically stimulated pain models (ESPM) permit assessment of pain responses in humans. C and A-delta sensory fibres convey pain and respond to low frequency electrical stimulus (5 and 250 Hz, respectively). Human research suggests pain tolerance threshold (PTT) is similar or decreases with age. ⋯ Electrical pain model, elderly, geriatric, tramadol, placebo, opioid, area under the effect curve, noncompartmental analysis.
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The opioid epidemic has been called the "most consequential preventable public health problem in the United States." Though there is wide recognition of the role of prescription opioids in the epidemic, evidence has shown that heroin and synthetic opioids contribute to the majority of opioid overdose deaths. It is essential to reframe the preventive strategies in place against the opioid crisis with attention to factors surrounding the illicit use of fentanyl and heroin. Data on opioid overdose deaths shows 42,000 deaths in 2016. ⋯ Tier 1 includes an aggressive education campaign geared toward the public, physicians, and patients. Tier 2 includes facilitation of easier access to non-opioid techniques and the establishment of a National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Act (NASPER). Finally, Tier 3 focuses on making buprenorphine more available for chronic pain management as well as for medication-assisted treatment.
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Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common and chronic complication associated with cancer treatment. Prior investigations have demonstrated the presence of subclinical peripheral neuropathy in patients with colorectal cancer even before the patients had received chemotherapy. ⋯ Peripheral neuropathy, head and neck cancer, quantitative sensory testing.
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Although sacroiliac joint dysfunction (SIJD) is generally regarded as a source of lumbar pain, its anatomical position and the absence of a diagnostic 'gold standard' lead to difficulties at examination and differential diagnosis. However, since sacroiliac (SI) joint blocks only provide information about pathologies of joint origin and since SIJD developing secondary to pathologies in structures around the joint can be missed. Provocation and palpation tests also need to be used in diagnosis. ⋯ Dysfunction, lumbar, sacroiliac joint, provocation test, sacroiliac joint pain, pain pattern.
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Patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain have a higher chance of presenting impairment in cardiovascular autonomic modulation, which may have implications for cardiovascular events. The autonomic nervous system plays an important role in pain modulation. However, it is unclear whether patients with inefficient descending nociceptive inhibition have poorer cardiovascular autonomic modulation. ⋯ Musculoskeletal pain, autonomic nervous system, heart rate, chronic pain, diffuse noxious inhibitory control, blood pressure, sympathetic nervous system, parasympathetic nervous system.