Articles: chronic.
-
Pain has well-established effects on attention. At present, parallel literatures exist that have examined the effects of experimentally induced pain and consider cognitive performance in patients with chronic pain states. However, no study to date as attempted to examine the combined or differing effects of these 2 manifestations of pain in a single study. ⋯ More research is needed to examine these mechanisms and how these negative effects can be ameliorated to treat cognitive symptoms in pain. PERSPECTIVE: This article presents a study to examine the effects of an acute, induced pain model on cognitive performance in both patients with fibromyalgia and healthy control populations. We established that the effects of acute and chronic pain on attention are different, suggesting that different models need to be developed to understand these phenomena.
-
This study aimed to identify relationships between sensory function and pain in 3 common pain conditions (arthritis, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome [CRPS] and fibromyalgia syndrome [FMS]) and pain-free participants. Sensory abnormalities are known to be concomitant with some types of chronic pain but comparison across pain conditions using existing research is difficult due to methodological differences. Pragmatic Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST) methods were used. ⋯ People with FMS and CRPS demonstrate extensive sensory dysfunction. Arthritis patients had sensory profiles closer to pain-free participants. LTT may provide a clinically relevant and accessible assessment for CRPS.
-
Because of the pain and opioid epidemic in the United States, there is a need to update clinician's knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding persistent pain across health care disciplines. The aim of this study was to determine if health care professionals can positively change their knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding chronic pain, following a pain neuroscience education (PNE) lecture and 1 year follow-up. ⋯ PNE resulted in a positive clinical impact for health care providers treating patients with persistent pain. The mechanism of this effect may be about healthier attitudes and beliefs regarding persistent pain rather than increased knowledge about pain.
-
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is among the most common genetic diseases in the United States, affecting approximately 100,000 people. In the United States, SCD is characterized by a shortened life expectancy of only about 50 years in severe subtypes, significant quality-of-life impairments, and increased healthcare utilization and spending. SCD is characterized by chronic hemolytic anemia, vaso-occlusion, and progressive vascular injury affecting multiple organ systems. ⋯ These multifactorial abnormalities have both acute and chronic clinical consequences across multiple organ systems, including acute pain episodes, chronic pain syndromes, acute chest syndrome, anemia, stroke and silent cerebral infarcts, cognitive dysfunction, pulmonary hypertension, and a wide range of other clinical consequences. Hydroxyurea was the only approved treatment for SCD for nearly 2 decades; in 2017, L-glutamine oral powder was approved for the prevention of the acute complications of SCD. During the last several years there has been a dramatic increase in research into treatments that address distinct elements of SCD pathophysiology and even new curative approaches that provide new hope to patients and physicians for a clinically consequential disease that has long been neglected.