Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain
-
Treatment of functional anorectal pain disorders remains a challenge. The purpose of this study is to describe a single center experience with sacral neuromodulation for the treatment of chronic functional anorectal pain. ⋯ This study showed that sacral neuromodulation can be a successful treatment for functional anorectal pain not responding to other treatments. Improvement obtained during test stimulation is a good predictor (diagnostic) for sustained success of permanent sacral neuromodulation.
-
Comparative Study
The vertebral artery is unlikely to be the sole source of vascular complications occurring during stellate ganglion block.
Stellate ganglion block (SGB) is commonly performed for upper extremity complex regional pain syndrome and other conditions. Known complications of stellate block include Horner's syndrome, hoarseness, hematoma formation, airway compromise, immediate seizure (presumably from vertebral artery injection), and death. A previous arterial anatomy study demonstrated other vessels, eg, the ascending and deep cervical arteries, reinforcing the blood supply of the spinal cord and brain stem. The potential role of these vessels in the pathogenesis of seizures or hematoma during SGB has not been studied. ⋯ Arterial vessels other than the vertebral artery that also supply the anterior spinal cord and brain stem pass directly anterior to the transverse processes at the most common sites of the SGB. It is anatomically possible, therefore, that accidental injection or induced spasm of these vessels and not the vertebral arteries is responsible for some cases of seizure, hematoma, or other vascular complications during SGB.
-
This study investigates the response of the underlying sleep disorder associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia (FM) to treatment. We retrospectively reviewed 118 cases clinically consistent with CFS or FM, treated in a neurology practice. Abnormal findings on sleep studies and associated human leukocyte antigen markers, and a clinical pattern suggestive of narcolepsy, are present in a high proportion of patients. ⋯ We postulate that the response to oxybate in CFS and FM suggests a disturbance of sleep similar to narcolepsy. These findings support this novel approach to intervention and further research. The inability to distinguish CFS and FM by testing and response to treatment suggests that they may represent variations of the same disorder or may be closely related disorders.
-
Effective pain management requires appropriate patient assessment, ongoing reassessment, and an understanding of the options available for the treatment of patients with chronic pain. Opioids have long been an important option in the management of moderate to severe chronic pain, but optimal use requires understanding the variety of choices currently available. ⋯ Long-term clinical trials of these formulations are needed to allow clinicians to make informed decisions about which patient groups might benefit most from these formulations.
-
Review
Evidence-based interventional pain medicine according to clinical diagnoses. 2. Cluster headache.
Cluster headache is a strictly unilateral headache that is associated with ipsilateral cranial autonomic symptoms and usually has a circadian and circannual pattern. Prevalence is estimated at 0.5 to 1.0/1,000. The diagnosis of cluster headache is made based on the patient's case history. ⋯ In conclusion, the primary treatment is medication. Radiofrequency treatment of the ganglion pterygopalatinum should be considered in patients who are resistant to conservative pain therapy. In patients with cluster headache refractory to all other treatments, occipital nerve stimulation may be considered, preferably within the context of a clinical study.