Articles: opioid.
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Individuals with chronic pain are uniquely challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic, as increased stress may exacerbate chronic pain, and there are new barriers to receiving chronic pain treatment. In light of this, using a large online sample in the United States, we examined 1) the early impact of COVID-19 on pain severity, pain interference, and chronic pain management; and 2) variables associated with perceived changes in pain severity and pain interference. ⋯ We may expect to see a long-term exacerbation of chronic pain and related interference in functioning and chronic pain management among individuals most impacted by the pandemic. These individuals may benefit from remotely delivered intervention to effectively mitigate COVID-19-related exacerbations in chronic pain and interruptions in face-to-face treatment.
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To compare health care expenditures between older US adults (≥50 years) with pain who were prescribed opioid medications and those who were not. ⋯ This study raises awareness of the economic impact associated with opioid use among US older adults with pain. Future research should investigate these variables in greater depth, over longer time periods, and in additional populations.
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Cancer-related pain is progressive and therefore requires a stepwise approach to management, such as the World Health Organization's Pain Ladder. This approach calls for increasingly strong pain medications in addition to interventional options for patients with medication-refractory pain or intolerable medication side effects. Here, we discuss a case involving cancer-related pain which ultimately required intrathecal drug delivery system placement for optimal pain management.
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J. Med. Internet Res. · Feb 2021
Randomized Controlled TrialAn 8-Week Self-Administered At-Home Behavioral Skills-Based Virtual Reality Program for Chronic Low Back Pain: Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial Conducted During COVID-19.
Chronic low back pain is the most prevalent chronic pain condition worldwide and access to behavioral pain treatment is limited. Virtual reality (VR) is an immersive technology that may provide effective behavioral therapeutics for chronic pain. ⋯ EaseVRx had high user satisfaction and superior and clinically meaningful symptom reduction for average pain intensity and pain-related interference with activity, mood, and stress compared to sham VR. Additional research is needed to determine durability of treatment effects and to characterize mechanisms of treatment effects. Home-based VR may expand access to effective and on-demand nonpharmacologic treatment for chronic low back pain.
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The objective of this study was to investigate the relation of severe COVID-19 to prior drug prescribing. ⋯ ENCEPP number EUPAS35558.