Pain physician
-
Endoscopy has replaced open surgery, especially in spinal surgery. Among them, image-guided epiduroscopy allows pain generators to be identified, including epidural adhesion, fibrotic tissues, root compression, and spinal stenosis. However, the heavy lead apron worn by pain physicians to avoid exposure to radiation can induce occupational hazards, such as orthopedic complications and radiation-induced cancer. Hence, we developed a robotic system to address these problems. ⋯ Epiduroscopy, robotic system, spine, pig, animal model.
-
Intravenous lidocaine has multiple applications in the management of acute and chronic pain. Mexiletine, an oral lidocaine analogue, has been used in a number of chronic pain conditions although its use is not well characterized. ⋯ Chronic pain, mexiletine, IV lidocaine, pain, neuropathic pain, neuropathy, fibromyalgia, QTc, tolerability.
-
Primary trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a common clinical refractory neuralgia. Severe pain is experienced during episodes, severely impacting the patient's quality of life. Long-term suffering from the disease can lead to anxiety, depression, and even suicide. The pathological processes involved in TN are complex, the mechanisms of pathogenesis are unknown, and effective treatment is lacking. ⋯ Complication, continuous radiofrequency thermocoagulation, pulsed radiofrequency, recurrence rate, trigeminal neuralgia, Visual Analog Scale.
-
Electroacupuncture (EA) has been proved to be effective in treating certain neuropathic pain conditions. The mechanisms of pain relief by EA are not fully understood. There have been sporadic reports of damage in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and regions of the central nervous system (CNS) at the ultrastructural level following peripheral nerve injury. However, information about possible systemic changes in the PNS and CNS after nerve injury is scarce. ⋯ Sciatic neuralgia, cobra venom, demyelination, electroacupuncture, pregabalin, rat model.