Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain
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The reliability and validity of the Visual Analog Mood Scales in non-English-speaking pain patients.
This study assessed the validity and reliability of the Visual Analog Mood Scales (VAMS) when administered to a non-English-speaking, headache population. ⋯ Given the evidence of strong reliability and validity, the VAMS may be useful as a clinical diagnostic tool when administered to non-English-speaking pain populations.
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Comparative Study
Dosing pattern comparison between duloxetine and pregabalin among patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain.
To compare medication dosing patterns of duloxetine and pregabalin among patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP). ⋯ The commercially insured patients with DPNP who initiated duloxetine or pregabalin therapy had different dosing patterns. The average daily dose for duloxetine was relatively stable over time, while pregabalin-treated patients had significant dose increase over the 12-month post-index period.
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Many amputees suffer from postamputation pain, which can be extremely debilitating, decrease quality of life, increase the risk of depression, and negatively affect interpersonal relationships and the ability to work. Present methods of treatment, including medications, are often unsatisfactory in reducing postamputation pain. Electrical stimulation of the nerve innervating the painful area could reduce the pain, but peripheral nerve stimulation is rarely used to treat postamputation pain because present methods require invasive surgical access and precise placement of the leads in close proximity (≤ 2 mm) with the nerve. ⋯ Electrical stimulation generated ≥ 75% paresthesia coverage, reduced RLP by > 60%, and improved quality of life outcomes as measured by the pain interference scale of the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (100% reduction in pain interference), Pain Disability Index (74% reduction in disability), and the Patient Global Impression of Change (very much improved) during a 2-week home trial. There were no adverse events. The ability to generate significant paresthesia coverage and pain relief with a single lead inserted percutaneously and remotely from the target nerve holds promise for providing relief of postamputation pain.
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Historical Article
Transdermal opioid patches for pain treatment in ancient Greece.
Pain treatment in ancient Greece, and through the middle ages in Europe, was to a great extent based on the expertise of the Greek physician Galen (c. 129-200 A. D.). Galen makes particular reference to "Olympic Victor's Dark Ointment" (OVDO), which is listed with a number of collyria. ⋯ Olympic Victor's Dark Ointment showed a transdermal transfer of morphine over time comparable to 25% of the most efficient modern transdermal opioid patches, while hardly any morphine was able to penetrate the skin when applied mixed in PBS. We conclude that OVDO is very efficient in its composition and may carry some forgotten abilities in terms of drug delivery, which could be transferred to modern medicine. Indeed, this may lead to a better choice of morphine use and controlled management in individual patient cases, taking both pain relief and anti-inflammatory aspects into account.