Pain physician
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The global health care system has been shaken by the unprecedented pandemic. Chronic pain management has suffered through the pandemic due to lack of access and challenges in care delivery only to be faced by a new set of chronic pain conditions resulting from prolonged and persistent COVID-19 symptoms referred to as "long COVID syndrome." ⋯ Chronic pain, long COVID, pandemic, COVID-19, brain fog, fatigue, pain program, functional restoration, back pain, joint pain.
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Observational Study
Computed Tomography-Guided Percutaneous Stylomastoid Foramen Puncture and Radiofrequency Thermocoagulation for Treatment of Hemifacial Spasm via Mandibular Angle Approach.
Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is characterized by progressive, paroxysmal, and involuntary convulsions on one side of the face. We have conducted in-depth exploration on the puncture approach through the mandibular angle, which is an important supplement to the first 2 approaches (i.e., premastoid approach and the postmastoid approach), especially for patients who cannot find a suitable way before and after the mastoid process. ⋯ Hemifacial spasm, radiofrequency thermocoagulation, stylomastoid foramen, CT-guided.
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Cancer-related pain has historically been undertreated. Prescription opioids have been shown to be an integral part of the treatment of cancer pain. Despite the significant amount of scientific evidence that smoking is associated with variation in pain expression and opioid misuse in both cancer and non-cancer populations, little is known about the association between smoking status and opioid utilization in cancer populations. ⋯ Cancer pain, opioids, smoking, breast cancer, opioid-prescribing guidelines, health policy, oncology, end of life.
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Chronic pain is a common reason adults seek care; patients often feel that their pain is inadequately managed. Spine-related pain is the most common chronic pain concern, and lumbar radiculopathy is often the cause. Racial and ethnic disparities in the pharmacologic management of pain are well described, but less is known about these disparities regarding interventional procedures. ⋯ Chronic pain, pain management, back pain, lumbar radiculopathy, epidural steroid injection, spinal cord stimulation, low back surgery, physical therapy, racial disparities, gender disparities.
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Both computed tomography-guided extracranial nongasserian ganglion radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFT) and percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) have significant clinical efficacy in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, but a comparison of the efficacy of the 2 methods for pain in primary multibranch trigeminal neuralgia (TN) has not been studied clinically. ⋯ Radiofrequency thermocoagulation, percutaneous balloon compression, trigeminal neuralgia, extracranial nongasserian ganglion, multibranch pain.