Current pain and headache reports
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Curr Pain Headache Rep · Jul 2019
ReviewAn Update on Cognitive Therapy for the Management of Chronic Pain: a Comprehensive Review.
Psychological approaches to the management of chronic pain have proven to be very effective in allowing patients to better manage their symptoms and with overall functioning. ⋯ Cognitive functional therapy (CFT) is centered on a three-step process, beginning with cognitive training, then progressing to functional movement training and exposure with control, and ending with physical activity and lifestyle changes. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as a technique focuses on identifying and changing maladaptive behaviors, thought patterns, and situations that contribute to psychiatric dysfunction, which may lead to further progression of pain. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive update of recent advances in the use of both CFT and CBT for the management of chronic pain conditions.
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Pseudotumor cerebri syndrome (PTCS) may affect both children and adults; however, the risk factors and clinical presentation vary greatly between these populations. This review aims to highlight the entity of PTCS in children and the unique considerations in this population; review the epidemiology and demographics; discuss the clinical presentation, revised diagnostic criteria, and approach to evaluation; review management strategies; and discuss the prognosis and long-term outcomes in children with PTCS. ⋯ Clinical presentation can be variable in children and may be less obvious than in their adult counterparts. Papilledema can also be challenging to diagnose in this population. The upper limits for opening pressure on lumbar puncture differ in children, with a cut-off of 25 cm H20 (or 28 cm H2O in a sedated or obese child). Morbidity related to visual loss, pain and reduced quality of life lends urgency towards accurately identifying, evaluating and managing children with PTCS. There are no randomised controlled studies to allow for evidence-based recommendations for the management of PTCS in children. Further studies are needed to clarify and consolidate management approaches in this population.
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The treatment options for the management of shoulder pain are broad but evolving process. Modalities for controlling shoulder pain have commonly focused on pharmacotherapy, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and invasive procedures (surgical procedures, surgical, intra-articular steroid injections, many times, being sub-optimal). The use of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for managing shoulder pain is on the rise. Our review investigated the evidence for the use of RFA in the management of shoulder pain. ⋯ In our investigation, a review of the literature was conducted using Medline, PubMed, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from 1966 to 2018. Our study included RCTs, open non-randomized control studies, prospective studies, retrospective studies, case series, and case reports. We limited our search to patients with chronic shoulder pathologies. Our initial search identified 96 articles for initial review. This was narrowed down to 31 articles, which met our inclusion criteria, with only 18 articles remaining after our exclusion criteria was applied. This systematic review suggests that shoulder RFA may provide a safe and significant benefit in the management of chronic shoulder pain. There were a few high-quality RCTs included in our study, which supports the findings of several case reports and case series.
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Curr Pain Headache Rep · Jul 2019
Review Clinical TrialA Multimodal Approach to Pain Management for Patients with Chronic Back Pain: Outcome Measures at 1 Year.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a multimodal approach to treating chronic low back pain. ⋯ Chronic non-cancer-related back pain is often a frustrating and poorly managed problem for patients. It poses a significant public health issue worsened by the widespread use of narcotics. In 2016, the CDC released guidelines with noticeably more strict recommendations on prescription of narcotics for pain. Veterans at an interventional pain clinic presenting with chronic back pain refractory to medical and to surgical care were enrolled in an 8-week interdisciplinary pain management program. Pain scores were significantly reduced 1 year after completion of the program. Patients in this study benefitted from lower and sustained pain scores, a reduction in emergency room, and urgent care clinic visits, as well as generally high satisfaction with the interdisciplinary program.
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Curr Pain Headache Rep · Jul 2019
ReviewEmerging Novel Pharmacological Non-opioid Therapies in Headache Management: a Comprehensive Review.
Chronic headache is a significant worldwide problem despite advances in treatment options. Chronic headaches can have significant a detrimental impact on the activities of daily living. ⋯ Patients who do not obtain relief from chronic head and neck pain from conservative treatments are commonly being managed with interventional treatments. These interventional treatment options include botulinum toxin A, injections, local occipital nerve anesthetic and corticosteroid infiltration, occipital nerve subcutaneous stimulation and occipital nerve pulsed radiofrequency (PRF), sphenopalatine ganglion block, and radiofrequency techniques. Recently, evidence has emerged to support non-opioid-based drug and interventional approaches. Overall, more research is necessary to clarify the safety and efficacy of interventional treatments and to better understand the pathogenesis of chronic headache pain.