Pain physician
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Case Reports
Transverse abdominal plane neurostimulation for chronic abdominal pain: a novel technique.
Management of chronic abdominal pain can be challenging. Sometimes patients fail to get adequate response from multiple medications and nerve blocks. We present a patient case report of chronic abdominal pain with a history of multiple surgeries managed successfully by neuromodulation of the transverse abdominis plane (TAP). ⋯ We placed a dorsal column stimulator 16 contact lead for lower back and leg pain and 8 contact leads placed in the TAP under ultrasound guidance. She has had multiple follow-ups since her TAP lead placement procedure with continued and near complete resolution of her abdominal pain. The TAP lead stimulation was helping her abdominal pain and the dorsal column lead stimulation was helping her back and leg pain.
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The sacroiliac joint (SIJ) is a major source of pain in patients with chronic low back pain. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the lateral branches of the dorsal sacral rami that supply the joint is a treatment option gaining considerable attention. However, the position of the lateral branches (commonly targeted with RFA) is variable and the segmental innervation to the SIJ is not well understood. ⋯ Widespread variability of lateral branch exit points from the dorsal sacral foramen and possible contributions from L5 dorsal rami and superior gluteal nerve were disclosed by the current study. Hence, SIJ RFA treatment approaches need to incorporate techniques which address the diverse SIJ innervation.
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The association between epidural fibrosis and recurrent symptoms after lumbar spine surgery remains a matter of debate in scientific literature and the underlying pathophysiological mechanism has not been clearly elucidated. ⋯ Rather than direct stimulation of nociceptors in the epidural scar tissue, other factors should relate epidural fibrosis and recurrent symptoms after lumbar spine surgery. Osteopontin seems to play a role in the formation of epidural fibrosis.