Pain physician
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Chronic intractable shoulder pain (CISP) is defined as shoulder pain which is present for longer than 6 months and does not respond to standard treatments like medication, physical therapy, rehabilitation, selective nerve blocks and local infiltrations, or orthopedic procedures. The etiology of CISP may be very diverse, varying from many orthopedic conditions to non-orthopedic conditions. The fact that the suprascapular nerve is one of the most important nerves supplying the shoulder region makes this nerve an interesting target in treating patients suffering shoulder pain. ⋯ Permanent neurostimulation of the suprascapular nerve and its end branches may be a new interesting target in treating patients suffering shoulder pain due to various etiologies. In our patient the follow-up period is 9 months with an excellent result in pain relief, we observed no complications thus far, especially no dislocation or breakage of the lead. In this report, literature on this subject is reviewed, and our technique is well documented with additional anatomical illustrations.
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Comparative Study
Musculoskeletal Ultrasonography in CRPS: Assessment of Muscles Before and After Motor Function Recovery with Dry Needling as the Sole Treatment.
Motor impairment is an important criterion in the Clinical Diagnostic Criteria (CDC) of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome type-1 (CRPS-1) as defined by International Association for Study of Pain (IASP). ⋯ Myofascial pathology of co-contraction appears to cause CDC of CRPS and probable ischemic loss of myoarchitecture. Relief of co-contraction with USGDN allowed resolution of tenosynovitis causing the CDC and return of normal myoarchitecture.
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The SCN9A gene product is a critical component in human pain perception. Recent studies found that single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in this gene contributed to the risk and severity of common pain phenotypes. ⋯ The current study provides evidence that postoperative pain was affected by SCN9A variability in gynecological patients. Notably, our results provide the first indication that SCN9A SNP rs4286289 can be used as a predictor for hypersensitivity to postoperative pain.
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Observational Study
The Extent of Tissue Damage in the Epidural Space by Ho / YAG Laser During Epiduroscopic Laser Neural Decompression.
Lasers have recently become very useful for epiduroscopy. As the use of lasers increases, the potential for unwanted complications with direct application of laser energy to nerve tissue has also increased. Even using the lowest laser power to test for nerve stimulation, there are still risks of laser ablation. However, there are no studies investigating tissue damage from laser procedures in the epidural space. ⋯ Even with low power and short duration, a laser can destroy tissue if the laser beam makes direct contact with the tissue.
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Case Reports
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome-Type 1 Presenting as deQuervain's Stenosing Tenosynovitis.
To report the presentation of complex regional pain syndrome-1 (CRPS-1) as deQuervain's stenosing tenosynovitis (DQST). ⋯ We believe the primary pathology of CRPS-1 to be co-contraction of agonist (flexor)/antagonist(extensor) muscles of digits resulting in tendinoses akin to DQST. CDC of CRPS are actually inflammatory manifestations of tendinoses amenable to reversal by USGDN which also addresses the disability, a hallmark of CRPS.