Current pain and headache reports
-
Brain imaging studies have provided objective evidence of abnormal central regulation of pain in fibromyalgia (FM). Resting brain blood flow studies have reported mixed findings for several brain regions, whereas decreased thalamic blood flow has been noted by several investigators. ⋯ Data from other chronic conditions suggest that idiopathic pain may be maintained by similar central abnormalities as in FM, whereas chronic pain conditions with a known nociceptive source may not be. Future neuroimaging research in FM is clearly warranted and should continue to improve our understanding of factors involved in pain maintenance and symptom exacerbation.
-
Curr Pain Headache Rep · Jun 2007
ReviewUpdate on pharmacotherapy guidelines for treatment of neuropathic pain.
Neuropathic pain encompasses a myriad of painful disease states that are often hard to treat, especially with one single medication. In the comprehensive treatment of neuropathic pain, the concept of complex polypharmacy is a rational approach, accompanied by physical and mental health therapies. Medications primarily used for neuropathic pain generally fall into the categories of anticonvulsants, antidepressants, opioids, and topical agents. ⋯ There is no "gold standard" in regard to one medication for neuropathic pain. Some new medications have emerged during the past few years that help to augment the armamentarium of medications used in neuropathic pain. This paper reviews the definition of neuropathic pain and introduces the reader to the evidence-based literature on these new medications available for the treatment of neuropathic pain.
-
Curr Pain Headache Rep · Jun 2007
ReviewGreater occipital nerve block for migraine and other headaches: is it useful?
Peripheral nerve blocks have long been used in headache treatment. The most widely used procedure for this purpose has been greater occipital nerve (GON) block. The rationale for using GON block in headache treatment comes from evidence for convergence of sensory input to trigeminal nucleus caudalis neurons from both cervical and trigeminal fibers. ⋯ However, few were controlled and blinded. Despite a favorable clinical experience, little evidence exists for the efficacy of GON block in migraine treatment. Controlled studies are needed to better assess the role of GON block in the treatment of migraine and other headaches.
-
The application of functional imaging to study visceral sensation has generated considerable interest regarding insight into the function of the brain-gut axis. Brain activation in normal control subjects during visceral sensation includes the perigenual cingulate cortex, which is involved in affective processing and has direct connections to autonomic centers. In contrast, somatic pain rarely activates the perigenual cingulate. ⋯ Although this is partly because brain imaging is still a relatively new technique, it also reflects weaknesses inherent to the understanding of chronic visceral pain as a biopsychosocial phenomenon. The biopsychosocial concept is very broad and rarely provides for precise predictions or mechanisms that can be directly tested using brain imaging. Future use of brain imaging to examine chronic visceral pain and other pain disorders will be more likely to succeed by describing clear theoretical and clinical endpoints.
-
Functional MRI (fMRI) of the spinal cord is a noninvasive technique for obtaining information regarding spinal cord neuronal function. This article provides a brief overview of recent developments in spinal cord fMRI and outlines potential applications, as well as the limitations that must be overcome, for using spinal fMRI in the clinic. This technique is currently used for research purposes, but significant potential exists for spinal fMRI to become an important clinical tool.