Current pain and headache reports
-
Curr Pain Headache Rep · Oct 2002
Review Comparative StudyPain treatment with acupuncture for patients with fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic, painful musculoskeletal syndrome of unknown etiopathogenesis. In addition to medicamentous and physical and psychologic therapies, several other adjunct therapies have been used as alternatives in the attempt to obtain analgesia and decrease the symptoms that are characteristic of this problem. This article presents a literary review on the use of acupuncture as an adjunct or chief treatment for patients with fibromyalgia, comparing it with an ongoing clinical experience that has been carried out at Hospital das Clínicas in the city of São Paulo. The results were found by applying traditional acupuncture, which demonstrated positive rates in the Visual Analogue Scale, myalgic index, number of tender points, and improvement in quality of life based on the SF-36 questionnaire.
-
Myofascial pain disorder can originate from various muscles in the body. Numerous therapeutic approaches have been used to treat myofascial pain syndrome with varying success. ⋯ The conditions that have been investigated include chronic low back pain, chronic cervical-associated headache, myofascial pain, myofascial pain syndrome and pain from chronic muscle spasm, and refractory myofascial pain. One of these studies was an open-label, exploratory pilot study into the cervicothoracic and lumbosacral regions using a novel injection technique.
-
Curr Pain Headache Rep · Oct 2002
ReviewA review of the use of topical analgesics for myofascial pain.
Numerous treatment strategies for myofascial pain syndrome are available, including physical therapy, behavioral pain management techniques, acupuncture, various types of injections, and the use of various pharmacotherapeutic approaches. The use of topical analgesics for myofascial pain syndrome is the focus of this review. The use of topical analgesics in other painful states is also reviewed.
-
Although tension-type headache is the most frequent primary headache, little is known about its pathophysiology. It is a matter of debate if the pain in tension-type headache originates from myofascial tissues or from central mechanisms in the brain. ⋯ From experimental research and clinical studies, it appears that myofascial nociception is important in episodic tension-type headache; however, central mechanisms (ie, central sensitization) are preponderant in the pathophysiology of the chronic form. Understanding the mechanisms of this central sensitization could allow for more efficient prophylactic treatments to emerge.
-
Curr Pain Headache Rep · Oct 2002
ReviewThe role of temporomandibular disorders and cervical dysfunction in tension-type headache.
It has been estimated that 30% to 80% of the population has at least one tension-type headache each year. Tension-type headaches can be located in any region of the head, which can confuse a differential diagnosis with temporomandibular joint disorders and cervical dysfunction. The roles of temporomandibular joint disorders and cervical dysfunction in tension-type headache are evaluated. Definitions, pathophysiology, and treatment considerations for each are discussed.