Pain physician
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of early stellate ganglion blockade for facial pain from acute herpes zoster and incidence of postherpetic neuralgia.
The incidence of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) has been reported to be 25% among those over the age of 50 years treated with antiviral medication. The role of sympathetic block in its prevention remains questionable. ⋯ Early stellate ganglion blockade, in combination with an antiviral agent, is a very effective treatment modality; it dramatically decreases the intensity of acute pain and shortens its duration and reduces the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia.
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Clinical Trial
Study of percutaneous lumbar decompression and treatment algorithm for patients suffering from neurogenic claudication.
Symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) patients often suffer from multiple etiologies, and patient symptoms must be differentiated and identified as either neurogenic claudication, radicular pain, or both. The most common symptom associated with LSS is neurogenic claudication, which has been reported to occur in 91% to 100% of the LSS patient population. Neurogenic claudication symptoms are described as pain radiating to the lower extremities that begins and worsens as the patient ambulates. Neurogenic claudication symptoms worsen over time and can eventually result in significant life-altering functional limitations. Symptomatic LSS patients may also suffer from radicular pain, which is a persistent pain transmitted through neural pathways, and is associated with inflammation of the exiting nerve root. ⋯ In this study, the mild procedure was shown to be safe. In addition, patients experienced significant improvement in mobility and reduction of pain one year after the procedure. One-year outcomes were not significantly different from interim results, indicating that the significant improvement following treatment, occurring as early as 12 weeks, was maintained through one year. This high degree of consistency over time indicates the durability of percutaneous lumbar decompression in the treatment of neurogenic claudication in symptomatic LSS.
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Pain in the rectal, genital, and perineal area is a common condition treated by pain physicians. These chronic pain syndromes are therapeutically challenging because both interventional and drug therapies often are ineffective. ⋯ Topical amitriptyline-ketamine provided a high rate of pain relief with a low adverse-effect burden in patients with pelvic pain. This topical medication could offer an effective, noninvasive, nonopioid therapy for pain in the rectum, perineum, and genitals.
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This survey was undertaken to explore the variation in the functional constitution of pain clinics in Europe. In addition, we also explored the amount of training which doctors practicing pain medicine typically receive. Approximate hospital charges for common pain interventions and the source of funding were also surveyed. ⋯ Two thirds of the respondents reported the cost of 4-joint radiofrequency lumbar denervation to be less than €1,500 ($1,935). Good practice should ensure an adequate duration of training, and development of a pain faculty to ensure standards of assessments across the continent. A more detailed, large scale survey is perhaps required to map the availability of chronic pain services and understand the health economics in pain medicine across Europe.