Articles: chronic-pain.
-
Quantitative research suggests that perceiving injustice can impact negatively upon physical and psychological health in chronic pain. However, little is known about the experience and perceptions of injustice in this context. This study examines the phenomenology of justice and injustice in chronic pain. ⋯ The dominant theme of the upper socioeconomic group was 'seeking equality'. For the middle socioeconomic group the dominant theme was 'battle for quality of life' and for the lower socioeconomic group the dominant theme was 'the unfair advantage of others'. It is concluded that this group of chronic pain sufferers prioritize justice-related issues in terms of what is dominant to their social concerns and personal needs.
-
Opioids have long been the mainstay of pain control for patients with cancer; however, their use in patients with chronic, moderate to severe pain has increased greatly in the past decade. The risk of drug-drug interactions (DDIs) is a concern with all medications, but is of particular concern in patients using opioids. Most opioids are metabolized via the cytochrome P450 enzyme system, the same system that metabolizes more than half of all prescription medications. ⋯ DDIs can result in significant morbidity and mortality, primarily through overdosing or undertreatment, and are associated with increased healthcare utilization and costs. Clinicians often underestimate the risk of DDIs in patients using opioids. Comprehensive studies of real-world opioid utilization patterns are needed to determine the quantitative impact of opioid DDIs.
-
Estimates of the prevalence of chronic pain worldwide and in Canada are inconsistent. Our primary objectives were to determine the prevalence of chronic pain by sex and age and to determine the prevalence of pain-related interference for Canadian men and women between 1994 and 2008. ⋯ Similar to international estimates, this Canadian population-based study confirms that chronic pain persists and impacts daily activities. Further study with more detailed definitions of pain and pain-related interference is warranted.
-
The N-type voltage-gated calcium channel (Cav 2.2) has gained immense prominence in the treatment of chronic pain. While decreased channel function is ultimately anti-nociceptive, directly targeting the channel can lead to multiple adverse side effects. Targeting modulators of channel activity may facilitate improved analgesic properties associated with channel block and a broader therapeutic window. ⋯ While we observed that TAT-CBD3 reversed mechanical hypersensitivity associated with a model of chronic inflammatory pain due to lysophosphotidylcholine-induced sciatic nerve focal demyelination (LPC), injury to the tibial nerve (TNI) failed to respond to drug treatment. Moreover, a single amino acid mutation within the CBD3 sequence demonstrated amplified Cav 2.2 binding and dramatically increased efficacy in an animal model of migraine. Taken together, TAT-CBD3 potentially represents a novel class of therapeutics targeting channel regulation as opposed to the channel itself.