Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain
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The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a low-dose intravenous S-ketamine treatment on refractory pain in patients with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). ⋯ In a group of patients with CRPS with refractory pain, low-dose intravenous S-ketamine treatment resulted in effective pain relief during infusion. Although a significant proportion of initial responders became nonresponders at follow-up, half of the patients were still a responder at ~ 4 weeks postinfusion. Further research is needed to investigate mechanisms responsible for pain relief by S-ketamine infusions and to ascertain possible predictors of response to the treatment.
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Central post-stroke pain (CPSP) has a detrimental effect on the quality of life of post-stroke patients. However, no definitive and effective method has been established yet for the treatment of CPSP. ⋯ Our study provides preliminary data suggesting that PNB could be an effective and feasible method to treat CPSP.
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Recent recommendations for the treatment of chronic pain patients during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic suggest using telemedicine instead of in-person consultations. Knowing whether patients with chronic pain are receptive to the use of telemedicine during a pandemic might improve tailored care. ⋯ Using telemedicine for chronic pain treatment during the COVID-19 crisis was accepted to a sufficient degree by a considerable proportion of patients. However, the higher the mean levels of pain and anxiousness, the lower the acceptance, indicating that these severely burdened patients may suffer most from treatment restrictions. For this subgroup, telemedicine might not suffice and in-person visits should be considered.
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Case Reports
A alternative approach for lumbar transforaminal epidural steroid injection-Far lateral approach.
Transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) is one of the nonoperative interventions for lower back pain. In this study, we presented an alternative approach for TFESI, far lateral lateral recess TFESI (FLLR TFESI), which is targeted on lateral recess and anterior epidural space in patients with degenerative lumbar spondylosis-related radiculopathy. ⋯ FLLR TFESI is a modified fluoroscopic technique targeted on lateral recess and anterior epidural space. However, subsequent trials are needed to confirm its efficacy in pain reduction and the rate of complications.