Alternative Pain Management Strategies Research Articles

Opioid use and walking among patients with chronic low back pain.

This study examined the effect of a walking intervention on step counts among patients with chronic back pain who report opioid use. Data were collected as part of a randomized trial to reduce back-pain-related disability. Participants (n = 118 usual care, 111 intervention) were Veterans receiving care within one healthcare system. Step counts were collected at baseline, 6 mo, and 12 mo via an uploading pedometer. Self-reported opioid use was collected by survey. More than 40% (n = 99) of participants reported opioid use at baseline. After adjustment, the predicted mean step count for baseline opioid users assigned to the intervention increased by more than 1,200 steps compared with a reduction of nearly 400 steps for those assigned to usual care (between-group difference = 1,625 steps, p = 0.004). Among nonopioid users, there was no change for those in the intervention (-16 steps) and an increase of about 660 steps for those assigned to usual care (between-group difference = 683 steps, p = 0.17). These data show that patients taking opioids may engage in walking to help manage their back pain. This finding emphasizes the importance of encouraging the use of alternative pain management strategies for these patients.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of caudal blockade versus alternative analgesic strategies for pediatric inguinal hernia repair

BackgroundThe optimal analgesic strategy for pediatric inguinal hernia repair (IHR) remains undefined. We evaluated the available evidence comparing caudal blockade to alternative analgesic strategies in achieving post-operative analgesia. MethodsA systematic review of prospective studies comparing analgesic practices for open unilateral pediatric IHR was performed by searching Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane library from 1950–2011. Articles were critically appraised and included if adequate description of experimental (caudal) and control (nerve blockade or wound infiltration) groups were performed. Pain scores were standardized and evaluated 1hour after procedure as was the need for rescue analgesia using REVMAN. ResultsThree hundred and seventy articles were identified via our search strategy, thirteen of which were included for analysis. Articles identified were all single-institution, generally small (mean N=29 subjects/arm) and of poor quality (median Jadad score: 2). There was no significant difference in pain scores (−0.09, 95% CI: −0.32, 0.13, p=0.41) or the need for rescue analgesia (0.80, 95% CI: 0.56, 1.13, p=0.46). ConclusionThere is no demonstrable difference in post-operative pain scores or rescue analgesia when comparing caudal blockade with alternative pain management strategies after pediatric IHR. This equipoise suggests that caudal blockade may be obviated for lower risk and less time-consuming maneuvers in patients barring supplementary indications for pain control.

Postoperative pain management with tramadol after craniotomy: evaluation and cost analysis

Patients undergoing craniotomies have traditionally received opiates with acetaminophen for the management of their postoperative pain. The use of narcotic pain medications can be costly, decrease rates of early postoperative ambulation, lengthen hospital stays, and alter a patient's neurological examination. The use of alternative pain medications such as tramadol may benefit patients by resolving many of these issues. The authors conducted a randomized, blinded prospective study to evaluate the efficacy of alternative pain management strategies for patients following craniotomies. Fifty patients were randomly assigned either to a control group who received narcotics and acetaminophen alone or an experimental group who received tramadol in addition to narcotic pain medications (25 patients assigned to each group). The control group was noted to have statistically significant higher visual analog scale pain scores, an increased length of hospital stay, and increased narcotic use compared with the tramadol group. The narcotics and acetaminophen group also had increased hospitalization costs when compared with the tramadol group. The use of scheduled atypical analgesics such as tramadol in addition to narcotics with acetaminophen for the management of postoperative pain after craniotomy may provide better pain control, decrease the side effects associated with narcotic pain medications, encourage earlier postoperative ambulation, and reduce total hospitalization costs.

Postoperative Pain Management after Craniotomy: Evaluation and Cost Analysis

Patients undergoing craniotomies have traditionally received opiates for the management of their postoperative pain. The use of narcotic pain medications can be costly, can decrease early walking, can lengthen hospital stay, and can alter a patient's neurological examination results. The use of alternative pain medications such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors may benefit patients by resolving many of these issues. Compared with traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, these anti-inflammatory medications may be used safely in neurosurgical patients because of their selective inhibition of the COX-2 enzyme, which avoids the platelet dysfunction caused by other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. A randomized, single-blinded prospective study was used to evaluate the efficacy of alternative pain management strategies for patients who have undergone craniotomy. Twenty-seven patients were randomly assigned to a control group (n = 13) receiving narcotics alone or an experimental group (n = 14) receiving a COX-2 inhibitor in addition to narcotic pain medications. The narcotics group was noted to have statistically significantly higher visual analog scale scores, increased length of stay, and increased narcotic use compared with the COX-2 group. The narcotics group also had increased hospitalization costs when compared with the COX-2 group. The use of scheduled atypical analgesics, such as COX-2 inhibitors, in addition to narcotics for the management of postoperative pain after craniotomy may provide better pain control, may decrease side effects associated with narcotic pain medications, may encourage earlier walking, and may reduce total hospitalization costs.