Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain
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In this study we aimed to identify specific factors predicting successful outcomes after percutaneous radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFT) for idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia (ITN) and risk factors that were associated with inferior outcomes. ⋯ Presence of provoked episodic pain and mixed pain were significantly associated with successful outcome of RFT for ITN. Moreover, patients with ITN who underwent RFT for the first time were more likely to benefit from successful outcome. These findings should be considered when managing ITN with RFT to improve the likelihood of a successful outcome.
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Review
Efficacy of Botulinum Toxin in Tension-Type Headaches: A Systematic Review of the Literature.
Botulinum toxin is approved to treat chronic migraine and has been shown to confer significant benefit in refractory cases. Due to its effect on pain by sensory modulation, there may also be efficacy in its use in chronic tension-type headache (CTTH). ⋯ This systematic review demonstrates variable study designs contributing to the low quality of evidence available regarding botulinum toxin in TTH, but some data suggest efficacy. There does not appear to be irrefutable evidence of a lack of efficacy of botulinum toxin in TTH. Using the paradigm for botulinum toxin in chronic migraine may prove fruitful in treating CTTH. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the utility of botulinum toxin in this common debilitating condition.
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Chronic low back pain (CLBP) has become a worldwide health concern, and emotional distress is an important issue for CLBP management. However, it remains poorly understood how emotional distress happens and develops. This study aimed to systematically explore the correlates of emotional distress in patients with CLBP. ⋯ This study aimed to explored the correlates of emotional distress of patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) by hierarchical linear regression analysis. The study found that patients' demographic factors, psycho-behavioral factors, and social support were associated with their emotional distress, uniquely explaining 16.5%, 18.4%, and 6.2% of the variance, respectively. Pain intensity, passive coping, active coping, self-efficacy, and social support were detected as significant correlates.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Ultrasound-Guided Cervical Nerve Root Block for the Treatment of Acute Cervical Herpes Zoster: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Study.
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided cervical nerve root block (CRB) on acute pain and its preventive effects on post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) in patients with cervical herpes zoster (HZ). ⋯ Ultrasound-guided CRB represented an early intervention and preventive strategy to reduce the BOI due to acute HZ in the cervical dermatome region, and might be feasible to reduce the incidence of PHN.
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A better understanding of gender differences can assist clinicians in further developing therapeutic programs in tension type headache (TTH). ⋯ This study described gender differences in the presence of TrPs in TTH. Women with TTH showed lower PPTs than men. The association between TrPs, anxiety levels, and pressure pain hyperalgesia seems to be more pronounced in women than in men with TTH.