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To describe the effect of chronic pain on the activities of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy, to describe coping strategies, and to examine associations between effect of pain on activities, coping strategies, and level of pain.
Learn More >Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a form of non-invasive brain stimulation, is a novel avenue for the management of chronic musculoskeletal pain. Despite evidence for the effectiveness of rTMS in chronic pain conditions, the clinical uptake of rTMS remains limited and little is known regarding patient perceptions of this therapeutic technique.
Learn More >Although nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs are superior to opioids in dental pain management, opioids are still prescribed for dental pain in the United States. Little is known about the serious adverse outcomes of short-acting opioids within the context of dental prescribing. The objective of this study was to evaluate adverse outcomes and persistent opioid use (POU) after opioid prescriptions by dentists, based on whether opioids were overprescribed or within recommendations. A cross-sectional analysis of adults with a dental visit and corresponding opioid prescription (index) from 2011 to 2018 within a nationwide commercial claims database was conducted. Opioid overprescribing was defined as >120 morphine milligram equivalents per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Generalized estimating equation models were used to assess adverse outcomes (emergency department visits, hospitalizations, newly diagnosed substance use disorder, naloxone administration, or death within 30 days from index) and POU (≥1 prescription 4-90 days postindex). Predicted probabilities are reported. Of 633,387 visits, 2.6% experienced an adverse outcome and 16.6% had POU. Adverse outcome risk was not different whether opioids were overprescribed or within recommendations (predicted probability 9.0%, confidence interval [CI]: 8.0%-10.2% vs 9.1%, CI: 8.1-10.3), but POU was higher when opioids were overprescribed (predicted probability 27.4%, CI: 26.1%-28.8% vs 25.2%, CI: 24.0%-26.5%). Visits associated with mild pain and those with substance use disorders had the highest risk of both outcomes. Findings from this study demonstrate that dental prescribing of opioids was associated with adverse outcomes and POU, even when prescriptions were concordant with guidelines. Additional efforts are required to improve analgesic prescribing in dentistry, especially in groups at high risk of opioid-related adverse outcomes.
Learn More >To evaluate the effectiveness of intraneural facilitation (INF) for the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN).
Learn More >This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of neural mobilization (NM) in the management of sensory dysfunction and nerve degeneration related to experimental painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN).
Learn More >Serious traumatic injury is a leading cause of death and disability globally, with most survivors known to develop chronic pain.
Learn More >We report a pooled safety analysis of intravenous difelikefalin in participants with moderate to severe chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus (CKD-aP) treated by hemodialysis in 4 phase 3 clinical studies.
Learn More >Complementary and integrative health (CIH) approaches have gained empirical support and are increasingly being utilized among veterans to treat a myriad of conditions. A cluster of medically unexplained chronic symptoms including fatigue, headaches, joint pain, indigestion, insomnia, dizziness, respiratory disorders, and memory problems, often referred to as Gulf War Illness (GWI) prominently affect US Gulf War era (GWE) veterans, yet little is known about CIH use within this population. Using data collected as part of a larger study (n = 1153), we examined the influence of demographic characteristics, military experiences, and symptom severity on CIH utilization, and utilization differences between GWE veterans with and without GWI. Over half of the sample (58.5%) used at least one CIH modality in the past six months. Women veterans, white veterans, and veterans with higher levels of education were more likely to use CIH. GWE veterans with a GWI diagnosis and higher GWI symptom severity were more likely to use at least one CIH treatment in the past six months. Over three quarters (82.7%) of veterans who endorsed using CIH to treat GWI symptoms reported that it was helpful for their symptoms. Almost three quarters (71.5%) of veterans indicated that they would use at least one CIH approach if it was available at VA. Results provide a deeper understanding of the likelihood and characteristics of veterans utilizing CIH to treat health and GWI symptoms and may inform expansion of CIH modalities for GWE veterans, particularly those with GWI.
Learn More >Chronic pain remains a serious healthcare challenge, particularly for older adults who suffer substantial disability and are susceptible to serious risks from pain medications and invasive procedures. Psychotherapy is a promising option for older adults with chronic pain, since it does not contribute to medical or surgical risks. However, standard psychotherapies for chronic pain, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy, and mindfulness-based interventions, produce only modest and time-limited benefits for older adults. In this article, we describe a novel, evidence-based psychological assessment and treatment approach for older adults with chronic pain, including a detailed case example. The approach begins with reviewing patients' pain, psychosocial, and medical histories to elicit evidence of a subtype of chronic pain called centralized (primary, nociplastic, or psychophysiologic) pain, which is highly influenced and may even be caused by life stress, emotions, and alterations in brain function. Patients then undertake a novel psychotherapy approach called emotional awareness and expression therapy (EAET) that aims to reduce or eliminate centralized pain by resolving trauma and emotional conflicts and learning healthy communication of adaptive emotions. Our published preliminary clinical trial (n = 53) indicated that EAET produced statistically significant and large effect size advantages over CBT in pain reduction and marginally greater improvements in pain interference than CBT for older adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Geriatric mental healthcare providers may learn this assessment and treatment approach to benefit many of their patients with chronic pain.
Learn More >At present, there are two techniques which are widely applied clinically; the midline and the paramedian. Both methods are difficult for clinicians when treating the elderly. The aim of this work is to explore the feasibility of an ultrasound-assisted modified paramedian technique for spinal anesthesia in the elderly. This would provide clinicians with a new and easy-to-operate technique.
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