Pain physician
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Observational Study
Pain Reduction and Changes in Serum Cortisol, Adrenocorticotropic Hormone, and Glucose Levels after Epidural Injections With Different Doses of Corticosteroid.
An epidural steroid injection (ESI) effectively relieves acute lumbar discogenic radicular pain. Corticosteroids, a key ESI component, reduce pain by curbing inflammation and blocking pain signal transmission via C-fibers. While prior research confirms the efficacy of 40 mg and 80 mg methylprednisolone, the effectiveness of lower doses remains uncertain. ⋯ The effectiveness of ESI in relieving pain was found to be similar for both 20 mg and 40 mg doses, but with fewer changes in FPG and serum cortisol levels for the former (which were not statistically significant). As a result, it may be clinically viable to use a 20 mg dose for achieving short-term pain relief. Moreover, the baseline NRS-11 scores were found to be a reliable predictor of pain relief efficacy, with milder baseline pain intensity being associated with better pain relief outcomes.
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Millions of interventional pain procedures are performed each year to address chronic pain. The increase in these procedures also raises the concern of health risks associated with ionizing radiation for interventional pain management physicians who perform fluoroscopy-guided operations. Some health concerns include cancers, cataracts, and even pregnancy abnormalities. Little is known regarding the long-term and cumulative effects of small radiation doses. ⋯ Implementing safety precautions, such as wearing protective gear, providing educational programs, and keeping a safe distance, demonstrated a significant decrease in radiation exposure. The experience of interventional pain management physicians also factored into their radiation exposure during procedures. Radiation is a known carcinogen, and more research is needed to better understand its risk to interventional pain management physicians.
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Observational Study
Predictive Value of Blood Glucose Coefficient of Variation for Prognoses in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus-Associated Herpes Zoster.
Herpes zoster (HZ) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are common diseases in middle-aged and older adults aged 50 years or more, and the prevalence of DM-associated HZ is gradually increasing. Several studies have confirmed that DM is a significant risk factor for postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). However, few studies have investigated the correlation between blood glucose-related indices and prognoses in patients with DM-associated HZ. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of blood glucose-related indices on the prognoses of these patients. ⋯ GLUcv has a high predictive value for the prognoses of patients with DM-associated HZ. The higher the GLUcv value, the likelier the patient is to have a poor prognosis.
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Observational Study
The Effects of Abdominal Obesity and Sagittal Imbalance on Sacroiliac Joint Pain After Lumbar Fusion.
Postoperative sacroiliac joint pain (SIJP) is a common manifestation of failed back surgery syndrome after a posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF). However, there is currently no consensus on the risk factors for SIJP after PLIF. ⋯ The significant predictors of SIJP were abdominal obesity and sagittal imbalance. Patients with abdominal obesity showed higher levels of inflammatory markers and pain intensity. More attention should be paid to body shape and the angle of correction of lumbar lordosis before lumbar surgery.
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Observational Study
Analgesic Efficacy of Epidural Patient-Controlled Analgesia on Cancer Pain: A Retrospective Observational Study.
In patients with severe cancer pain, systemic analgesics are often refractory or have limited application due to the side effects of opioids. In these cases, epidural analgesia may be effective. However, data on the effects of epidural patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) on cancer pain are limited. ⋯ Epidural PCA using subcutaneous tunneling is a useful cancer pain control method. Furthermore, it can be safely used for a longer duration owing to its low infection risk.