Pain physician
-
Interferon regulatory factor 8 (IRF8), which is induced by peripheral nerve injury (PNI), plays a key role in activating spinal microglia to release inflammatory cytokines in a p38-dependent way, thereafter results in formation of central sensitization. Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) on dorsal root ganglion (DRG) alleviates neuropathic pain and inhibits the microglial activation in chronic constriction injury (CCI) rats. However, the consequences of PRF on spinal IRF8 of CCI rats remains unknown. ⋯ Neuropathic pain, pulsed radiofrequency, dorsal root ganglion, microglia, p38MAPK, Interferon regulatory factor 8, chronic constriction injury of sciatic nerve.
-
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.
-
Comparative Study
Comparison of 3 Anesthetic Methods for Percutaneous Transforaminal Endoscopic Discectomy: A Prospective Study.
Percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy (PTED) under local anesthesia (LA) is growing popular in recent years because of its safety, effectiveness and increased patient demands for minimally invasive procedures. To avoid neural injuries, local anesthesia that can keep the patient conscious is recommended. However, many patients complain about the severe pain during surgery. Epidural anesthesia (EA) is an alternative choice. We put forward an anesthetic method that combined preemptive analgesia (PA) and local anesthesia. ⋯ Percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy (PTED), local anesthesia, epidural anesthesia, preemptive analgesia, morphine, ropivacaine, pain management, visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry Back Pain Disability Index (ODI).
-
Residual disc fragments are observed on immediate postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 2.8-15% of patients after percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD). Considering the known postoperative longitudinal outcomes in patients with residual disc tissue, a 'watchful waiting' strategy may be preferable to immediate re-operation in patients with asymptomatic residual disc material. ⋯ Discectomy, endoscopes, longitudinal studies, patient-reported outcome, percutaneous, reoperation, spine, residual disc.
-
Glucocorticoids adversely affect bone mineral density (BMD) and increase the risk of fracture. Yet, the cause-and-effect relationship between epidural steroid injection (ESI) and BMD has not been thoroughly investigated, and available results are inconsistent. This is probably a consequence of differences in the dose of steroids and follow-up duration. ⋯ Epidural steroid injection, bone mineral density, osteoporosis, postmenopausal women, glucocorticoids, bone turnover markers, osteoporotic fracture.