Abstract
We developed a portable multimodal system with seven different mechanisms of pain relief incorporated into a lumbar belt called the Comfort-N-Harmony Belt (C&H belt).Here, we describe the technical details of the system and also summarize the effects of this multimodal pain relieving technology as an adjuvant to analgesics versus analgesics alone, on the level of pain, improvement of psychological status, disability, and the quality of life in the patients with neuropathic low back pain (LBP).We tracked the volunteers who were following up at a tertiary health care center for the complaints of neuropathic LBP of minimum three months duration and were on analgesics alone with no relief in the severity of the pain. Study group A (n = 45) consisted of volunteers with LBP on C&H belt therapy, along with the usually prescribed analgesic intake, and group B (n = 45) with LBP volunteers on analgesics, plus a similar looking but plain leather belt (placebo). For pain, the VAS (Visual Analogue Scale); for anxiety and depression, the (HADS) Hospital Anxiety-Depression Scale; for disability, the RMDQ (Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire); and for quality of life, (NHP) Nottingham-Health-Profile were used before and after the study period. There were no significant differences in demographic variables between the groups (p < 0.05). After the study period of one month, VAS, RMDQ, NHP-pain, NHP-physical activity, and HADS scores in both groups were significantly improved compared to the pre-treatment scores (p < 0.05). Group A also showed significant improvements in the scores of NHP-energy level and NHP-social isolation (p < 0.05). The post-treatment scores did not significantly show any difference between the two groups (p > 0.05). However, in comparison of pre- and post-treatment scores, the pre-treatment score values of RMDQ, NHP-pain, NHP-physical activity, and NHP-social isolation were much higher in group A compared to the group B, but still these scores were, in a statistically significant manner, improved in group A compared to the group B after the study period was over (p < 0.05).Multiple pain relieving mechanisms in a portable device-based system, when used along with analgesics, are effective in relieving pain, improving function and quality of life, and help in relieving the associated anxiety and depression in patients with chronic neuropathic LBP than the analgesics alone in the Kashmiri (Southeast Asian) population.
Highlights
Chronic low back pain (LBP) consists of both the nociceptive and the neuropathic components
The neuropathic component appears to be under-recognized as well as undertreated. Is this neuropathic component challenging to manage, and many patients with chronic LBP have been known to suffer from the type of pain, which is more or less refractory to existing treatments [1]
It was seen that Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Nottingham Health Profile (NHP)-sleep, NHP-emotional reaction, and HADS scores were not significantly different between groups (p > 0.05) in the pre-treatment assessments
Summary
Chronic low back pain (LBP) consists of both the nociceptive and the neuropathic components. The neuropathic component appears to be under-recognized as well as undertreated. Is this neuropathic component challenging to manage, and many patients with chronic LBP have been known to suffer from the type of pain, which is more or less refractory to existing treatments [1]. Less than 50% of these patients experience clinically meaningful analgesia with oral analgesic intake. Even the oral analgesics are associated with risks of numerous adverse effects. While NSAIDs are widely used for the management of LBP, these are unlikely to ameliorate the neuropathic component of this pain. The data on the role of antidepressants and gabapentin or pregabalin for neuropathic pain are limited [1]
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.