Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain
-
Hench introduced the fibromyalgia syndrome almost 50 years ago. In the meantime, the prevalence has increased, the clinical criteria have changed and the way we explain (chronic) pain has altered. ⋯ In total, 286 medical doctors from 43 countries spread over 6 continents filled out the survey. In most of the countries, the diagnosis fibromyalgia was used. Only 10% adhere to the ACR criteria, widespread pain (44%), unrefreshed sleep (24%), fatigue (20%) and cognitive problems (8%) were most used diagnostic criteria. Of the respondents, 94 (32%) mentioned that the cause is unknown or idiopathic, but also a wide variety of other causes was mentioned. More than 70 different treatment options were provided, of which 24% of the responses were classified as according to the clinical guidelines. From this study, we conclude that many medical doctors do not follow the ACR criteria; the majority has an inappropriate knowledge of causes for fibromyalgia and that a minority of treatment advice adhere to the guidelines.
-
Persistent pain following breast surgery is common and may be challenging to treat. In patients refractory to conservative treatments, ultrasound-guided fascial plane blocks of thoracic nerves can be a useful option. ⋯ This technical review aims to present an up-to-date summary of the most common ultrasound-guided fascial plane blocks for chronic pain in post-breast surgery patients, provide a detailed technical description of each intervention, and propose preferred injections based on the anatomical location of the pain.
-
Observational Study
Variables associated with nonresponders to high-frequency (10 kHz) spinal cord stimulation.
The use of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) therapy to treat chronic pain continues to rise. Optimal patient selection remains one of the most important factors for SCS success. However, despite increased utilization and the existence of general indications, predicting which patients will benefit from neuromodulation remains one of the main challenges for this therapy. Therefore, this study aims to identify the variables that may correlate with nonresponders to high-frequency (10 kHz) SCS to distinguish the subset of patients less likely to benefit from this intervention. ⋯ Our study is the first in the neuromodulation literature to raise awareness to the association of high levels of kinesiophobia preoperatively in nonresponders to 10 kHz SCS therapy. We also found statistically significant differences with greater pain intensity, higher self-perceived disability, and clinically relevant pain catastrophizing at baseline in the nonresponders relative to responders. It may be appropriate to screen for these factors preoperatively to identify patients who are less likely to respond to SCS. If these modifiable risk factors are present, it might be prudent to consider a pre-rehabilitation program with pain neuroscience education to address these factors prior to SCS therapy, to enhance successful outcomes in neuromodulation.
-
Review Case Reports Meta Analysis Controlled Clinical Trial
Peripheral magnetic stimulation for chronic peripheral neuropathic pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
To provide a systematic review of the literature on the effects of peripheral magnetic stimulation (PMS) in the treatment of chronic peripheral neuropathic pain. ⋯ There is limited and low-quality evidence to make definitive recommendations on PMS usage, however, the available data is encouraging, especially for short-term applications of this novel modality. Large high-quality randomized controlled trials are required to establish definitive efficacy and safety effects of PMS.