Current pain and headache reports
-
Curr Pain Headache Rep · Oct 2001
ReviewNonpharmacologic approaches to the management of myofascial temporomandibular disorders.
The temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are a heterogeneous group of painful musculoskeletal conditions that include masticatory muscle pain. TMD is a common condition but its etiology is, as yet, poorly understood. Although TMD can be quite disabling, most patients presenting with symptoms improve regardless of treatment type. ⋯ Psychological treatments need not be viewed as a treatment of last resort, but rather should be delivered concurrent with biomedical treatments. We present data from recent clinical trials showing that treatment-matching approaches tailoring psychological and educational treatments to psychosocial profiles, delivered concurrent with usual dental care, results in greater and more sustained improvement than usual dental care alone. As such, treatment for TMD should be viewed in much the same way as treatment for most other chronic pain conditions, that is, from a multidisciplinary perspective.
-
The vast majority of people experience tension-type headache during their lifetimes. Boys experience tension-type headache slightly more than girls during preadolescent years. ⋯ These changes are related to estrogen fluctuations. Estrogen fluctuations cause changes in neurochemicals important for pain signal transmission, including serotonin, gamma-aminobutyric acid, and enkephalins.
-
This article reviews current literature on the role of manual medicine in the diagnosis and treatment of cervicogenic headache. Manual diagnostic procedures and treatment procedures are described for the cervical spine. ⋯ Muscle energy technique is suggested as a safe and effective treatment when somatic dysfunction of the cervical spine is found in association with the diagnostic criteria for cervicogenic headache. Lastly, a suggested clinical approach to this problem from a manual medicine perspective is given.
-
Curr Pain Headache Rep · Aug 2001
ReviewQuality-of-life, legal-financial, and disability issues in fibromyalgia.
Patients with fibromyalgia have an altered quality of life that is hard to quantitate using existing indices. The principal legal issues associated with the syndrome are: Does fibromyalgia exist? Can it be caused by or flared by stress or trauma? Does disability apply to fibromyalgia and if so, how? These issues are critically reviewed.
-
Curr Pain Headache Rep · Aug 2001
ReviewClassification, epidemiology, and natural history of fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia (FM), also known as fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and fibrositis, is a common form of nonarticular rheumatism that is associated with chronic generalized musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and a long list of other complaints. Some have criticized the classification of FM as a distinct medical entity, but existing data suggest that individuals meeting the case definition for FM are clinically somewhat distinct from those with chronic widespread pain who do not meet the full FM definition. Clinic studies have found FM to be common in countries worldwide; these include studies in specialty and general clinics. ⋯ Although some authors claim that an epidemic of FM has been fueled by an over-generous Western compensation system, there are no data that demonstrate an increasing incidence or prevalence of FM; moreover, existing data refute any association between FM prevalence and compensation. Claims that the FM label itself causes illness behavior and increased dependence on the medical system also are not supported by existing research. This article reviews the classification, epidemiology, and natural history of FM.