Articles: pain-management.
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The following discussion demonstrates a clinical need for a physical education service in a multidisciplinary pain center. Weight loss, and physical and aerobic conditioning are essential aspects of managing pain. By improving patient care and increasing one's pain center attraction, physical education and aerobic research centers can also increase departmental revenues.
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This in-depth study examines the relationships between patient, stimulator and outcome variables in a large number of chronic pain patients utilising TENS on a long-term basis. 179 patients completed a TENS questionnaire designed to record age, sex, cause and site of pain and TENS treatment regime. Of these 179 patients, 107 attended our research unit for assessment of the electrical characteristics of TENS during self-administered treatment. Although a remarkable lack of correlation between patient, stimulator and outcome variables was found to exist, the analysis revealed much information of importance: 47% of patients found TENS reduced their pain by more than half; TENS analgesia was rapid both in onset (less than 0.5 h in 75% patients) and in offset (less than 0.5 h in 51% patients); one-third of patients utilised TENS for over 61 h/week; pulse frequencies between 1 and 70 Hz were utilised by 75% of patients; 44% of patients benefitted from burst mode stimulation. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
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Pain is one of the most original and oldest experiences of humans and is an example of the psychosomatic interconnection and unity of processes in the human organism. For man it is above all a subjective experience and condition. Pain can be divided into acute and chronic pain. ⋯ Chronic pain can be mitigated by psychotherapeutic programmes by means of which we alter the patient's incorrect idea on the origin of pain and help him to gain control over his pain and promote his activity and self-consciousness. It is advisable to engage in therapy also the family and support the formation of self-help groups. In the USA and FRG favourable and stable results are reported with influencing of pain and its therapy by psychological procedures.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 1991
Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical TrialAuricular transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) reduces phantom limb pain.
The present paper evaluates the efficacy of low frequency, high intensity auricular transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for the relief of phantom limb pain. Auricular TENS was compared with a no-stimulation placebo condition using a controlled crossover design in a group of amputees with (1) phantom limb pain (Group PLP), (2) nonpainful phantom limb sensations (Group PLS), and (3) no phantom limb at all (Group No PL). ⋯ Ratings of mood, sleepiness, and anxiety remained virtually unchanged across test occasions and sessions, indicating that the decrease in pain was not mediated by emotional factors. Further placebo-controlled trials of auricular TENS in patients with phantom limb pain are recommended in order to evaluate the importance of electrical stimulation parameters such as pulse width and rate, and to establish the duration of pain relief.
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The purpose of this study was to describe family factors which influence cancer pain. Previous research has focused on the patients' and professional caregivers' perspective of pain. ⋯ Findings of the study demonstrate family perceptions of pain, caregiver burden associated with pain, caregiver moods and differences in caregiver experiences of pain between three sites of care including a hospice, a community hospital and a cancer centre. Understanding the perspective of the family caregivers and their role in pain management can assist health care providers in management of the patient's pain.