Long-lasting Pain Relief Research Articles

The scientific basis of acupuncture for veterinary pain management: A review based on relevant literature from the last two decades.

The practice of acupuncture is becoming increasingly popular in veterinary medicine, especially as a method of providing pain relief. Originally based on principles derived from centuries of observation, conventional scientific mechanisms of action for acupuncture as a pain-relieving modality have recently been elucidated. Acupuncture points allow access to multiple regions of the body via the peripheral nervous system and its connection with the central nervous system. Local, segmental (spinal), and suprasegmental (brain) effects of acupuncture involve enhanced release of pain-relieving endogenous substances (e.g., opioids) and mitigated release of pain-inducing substances (e.g., inflammatory cytokines). In addition, there is evidence that acupuncture can induce positive neurochemical and cytoarchitectural change in the central nervous system via the phenomenon of neuroplasticity. Electroacupuncture is considered the most effective type of acupuncture delivery, allowing for more potent and long-lasting pain relief than is achieved via other methods (e.g., dry needling). The purpose of this review article is to summarize the relevant scientific literature from the last two decades relating to the physiological mechanisms of action of acupuncture as a pain-relieving modality.

Treatment and Management of Twelfth Rib Syndrome: A Best Practices Comprehensive Review

BACKGROUND: Twelfth rib syndrome, or slipping of the 12th rib, is an often overlooked cause for chronic chest, back, flank, and abdominal pain from irritation of the 12th intercostal nerve. Diagnosis is clinical and follows the exclusion of other causes of pain. This syndrome is usually accompanied by long-suffering, consequent psychiatric comorbidities, and increased health care costs, which are secondary to the delayed diagnosis. OBJECTIVES: This manuscript is a review of twelfth rib syndrome and its management options. The review provides etiology, pathophysiology, and epidemiology of twelfth rib syndrome. Additionally, diagnosis and current options for treatment and management are presented. STUDY DESIGN: This is a narrative review of twelfth rib syndrome. SETTING: A database review. METHODS: A PubMed search was conducted to ascertain seminal literature regarding twelfth rib syndrome. RESULTS: Conservative treatment is usually the first line, including local heat or ice packs, rest, and oral over-the-counter analgesics. Transcutaneous stimulation and 12th intercostal nerve cryotherapy have also been described with some success. Nerve blocks can additionally be tried and are usually effective in the immediate term; there is a paucity of evidence to suggest long-term efficacy. Surgical removal of all or part of the 12th rib and possibly the 11th rib, as well as the next line of therapy, may provide long-lasting relief of pain. LIMITATIONS: Further large scale clinical studies are needed to assess the most effective management of twelfth rib syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Twelfth rib syndrome is usually diagnosed late and causes significant morbidity and suffering. The actual epidemiology is unclear given the difficulty of diagnosis. Nerve blocks and surgical rib resection appear to be effective in treating this syndrome, however, further evidence is required to properly evaluate them. Familiarity with this syndrome is crucial in reaching a prompter diagnosis. KEY WORDS: Slipped rib, chronic pain, abdominal pain, chest pain, back pain, neuropathy, injection therapy, nerve block

Long-lasting pain relief with interfascial plane blocks: key role of opening interfascial adhesions.

Long-lasting pain relief with interfascial plane blocks: key role of opening interfascial adhesions.

Brainstem trigeminal fiber microstructural abnormalities are associated with treatment response across subtypes of trigeminal neuralgia.

Neurosurgical treatments for trigeminal neuralgia (TN) can provide long-lasting pain relief; however, some patients fail to respond and undergo multiple, repeat procedures. Surgical outcomes can vary depending on the type of TN, but the reasons for this are not well understood. Neuroimaging studies of TN point to abnormalities in the brainstem trigeminal fibers; however, whether this is a common characteristic of treatment nonresponse across different subtypes of TN is unknown. Here, we used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to determine whether the brainstem trigeminal fiber microstructure is a common biomarker of surgical response in TN and whether the extent of these abnormalities is associated with the likelihood of response across subtypes of TN. We studied 98 patients with TN (61 classical TN, 26 TN secondary to multiple sclerosis, and 11 TN associated with a solitary pontine lesion) who underwent neurosurgical treatment and 50 healthy controls. We assessed treatment response using pain intensity measures and examined microstructural features by extracting pretreatment DTI metrics from the proximal pontine segment of the trigeminal nerves. We found that microstructural abnormalities in the affected pontine trigeminal fibers (notably, lower fractional anisotropy and higher radial diffusivity) highlight treatment nonresponders (n = 47) compared with responders (n = 51) and controls, and that the degree of abnormalities is associated with the likelihood of surgical response across subtypes of TN. These novel findings demonstrate the value of DTI as an objective, noninvasive tool for the prediction of treatment response and elucidate the features that distinguish treatment responders from nonresponders in the TN population.

Percutaneous cementoplasty of periprosthetic loosening: can interventional radiologists offer an alternative to revision surgery?

To evaluate feasibility and validate both safety and efficiency of radiological percutaneous periprosthetic bone cementoplasty (RPPBC) performed under local anesthesia as an alternative minimally invasive treatment of aseptic implant loosening. In this case series, seven patients (mean age 81years, range 73 to 89years, 2 men and 5 women) were enrolled between February 2011 and January 2020 with confirmed aseptic loosening of orthopedic implants. One patient presented with tibial component loosening of an unicompartmental knee arthroplasty, one with glenoid component loosening from a reverse shoulder arthroplasty, one femoral gamma nail, and four presented with pedicle screw loosening after staged posterior lumbar interbody fusion. All patients underwent clinical, biochemical, and imaging assessments to confirm the diagnosis of aseptic loosening. All benefited from RPPBC under dual CT and fluoroscopic guidance. All procedures were performed under local anesthesia by an experienced radiologist. Preprocedural, immediate and 6-month post-cementoplasty pain levels on a visual analogue scale (VAS), and functional outcomes were evaluated. Immediate and 6-month postprocedural CTs were performed to evaluate the treated region. All RPPBC were well tolerated by patients throughout the procedure. None of the patients suffered from local or systemic infection post-RPPBC, or periprosthetic fractures. No recurrent implant loosening was observed. Six patients were pain free at 6months. All patients expressed functional improvements during validated outcome score evaluations. RPPBC appears to be an efficient and reliable treatment strategy for aseptic loosening of orthopedic implants in elderly patients deemed unfit for revision surgery. • Radiological percutaneous periprosthetic bone cementoplasty offers immediate and long-lasting pain relief in elderly frail patients, or those deemed unfit for revision surgery despite presenting with symptomatic aseptic loosening of orthopedic implants. • Radiological percutaneous periprosthetic bone cementoplasty brings quick and long-lasting improvements in clinical functional outcomes and offer effective pain reduction, thereby improving the overall quality of life. • Radiological percutaneous periprosthetic bone cementoplasty is a safe, quick, reliable, and well-tolerated minimally invasive procedure which can be easily performed under simple locoregional anesthesia and requires short-term hospital stay.

10 kHz High-Frequency Spinal Cord Stimulation for Chronic Thoracic Pain: A Multicenter Case Series and a Guide for Optimal Anatomic Lead Placement

Surgical options for thoracic pain are limited and carry significant risk and morbidity. Spinal cord stimulation has the potential to be used for treatment of thoracic pain, as it has been useful for treating multiple types of chronic pain. Conventional tonic stimulation is limited in the treatment of thoracic pain, as it can produce paresthesia that is difficult to localize. Conversely, high-frequency spinal cord stimulation (HF-SCS) does not activate dorsal column A Beta fibers and does not produce paresthesia, and thus may be more beneficial in treating thoracic back pain not manageable with tonic stimulation. To evaluate (1) the efficacy of 10 kHz HF-SCS for patients with chronic thoracic pain; and (2) appropriate paresthesia-free lead placement and programming targets for 10 kHz HF-SCS for patients with chronic thoracic pain. Retrospective case series. Multisite academic medical center or pain clinic. A retrospective chart review was performed on 19 patients with thoracic back pain who underwent HF-SCS implantation. These patients had lead placement and stimulation between the T1-T6 vertebral levels. Outcome measures collected include location of device implant, stimulation settings, and pain scores at baseline, end of trial, and 1, 6, and 12 months postimplant. Follow-up phone calls collected information on if the patient reported functional improvement, improved sleep, or decreased pain medication usage. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test compared differences in mean pain scores across time points. Significantly decreased Visual Analog Scale scores were observed with 17/19 (89.5%) patients demonstrating response to therapy (> 50% reduction in pain scores). These results were sustained relative to baseline at 1, 6, and 12 months postimplant, depending on length of follow-up. Many patients also reported functional improvement (17/19), improved sleep (14/19), and reduction in use of pain medications after implantation (9/19). A total of 15/19 patients reported best relief when contacts over T1 or T2 vertebrae were used for stimulation. This study is limited by its retrospective design. Additionally, including documentation from multiple sites may be prone to selection and abstraction bias. Data were also not available for all patients at all time points. HF-SCS may be a viable option for significant, long-lasting pain relief for thoracic back pain. There may also be evidence for anatomically based lead placement and programming for thoracic back pain. Randomized, controlled trials with extended follow-up are needed to further evaluate this therapy. Thoracic pain, back pain, spinal cord stimulation, high frequency, 10 kHz.

Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation of the Posterior and Anterior Interosseous Nerves for Chronic Wrist Pain: A Novel Technique.

The treatment of chronic wrist pain, due to posttraumatic, degenerative, or inflammatory arthritis, is challenging to adequately manage. The ideal surgical procedure should preserve wrist mobility and provide long-lasting pain relief. In this regard, denervation aims to decrease wrist pain by interrupting sensory innervation, without impairing motor function, and avoids the need for postoperative immobilization to decrease the risk of stiffness. For these reasons, denervation is particularly attractive as a possible treatment for chronic wrist pain. Our aim was to describe our novel technique for partial percutaneous wrist denervation, performed by radiofrequency ablation of the posterior and anterior interosseous nerves, and to report on the prospective outcomes over a 1-year follow-up for 3 patients (4 wrists) treated as of March 2019. The technique is performed on an outpatient basis and does not require postprocedure wrist immobilization or restriction in activities of daily living or work. Findings at the 1-year follow-up indicate that partial denervation improved grip strength, provided pain relief, maintained wrist motion, and improved subjective report of disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand. One patient did not report a benefit of the procedures, with other patients being very satisfied. Our percutaneous procedure is an evolution of the traditional partial denervation technique, providing advantages of being less invasive, not requiring restriction of movement or activities in the postoperative phase, can be performed on an out-patient basis, and does not preclude the subsequent use of invasive surgical procedures, as needed.

A Review on Stem Cell Therapy for Neuropathic Pain.

Neuropathic pain is a complex, chronic pain state that is heterogeneous in nature and caused by the consequence of a lesion or disease affecting the somatosensory system. Current medications give a long-lasting pain relief only in a limited percentage of patients also associated with numerous side effects. Stem cell transplantation is one of the attractive therapeutic platforms for the treatment of a variety of diseases, such as neuropathic pain. Here, the authors review the therapeutic effects of stem cell transplantation of different origin and species in different models of neuropathic pain disorders. Stem cell transplantation could alleviate the neuropathic pain; indeed, stem cells are the source of cells, which differentiate into a variety of cell types and lead trophic factors to migrate to the lesion site opposing the effects of damage. In conclusion, this review suggests that stem cell therapy can be a novel approach for the treatment of neuropathic pain.

A randomised controlled trial investigating efficacy of a novel toothpaste containing calcium silicate and sodium phosphate in dentine hypersensitivity pain reduction compared to a fluoride control toothpaste

ObjectivesTo compare a calcium silicate and sodium phosphate toothpaste (CSSP) with a fluoride negative control toothpaste for dentine hypersensitivity (DH) pain reduction after 14, 28 and 29 days. MethodsThis was a double blind, parallel study in 247 healthy adults with DH (Schiff score >2, tactile 10−20 g) in 2 teeth in different quadrants of the mouth. After acclimatisation, participants were randomised to CSSP or control toothpaste. After measuring baseline sensitivity products were applied twice-daily by toothbrushing, and once daily massaging into the sensitive teeth. Sensitivity was assessed following airblast (Schiff and VAS) and tactile (Yeaple probe) stimuli at baseline, 14 and 28 days, and at 29 days, 12 h after last product application. Participants completed a quality of life questionnaire at each study visit up to day 28. ResultsAfter 14, 28 and 29 days the CSSP group had significantly lower Schiff, lower VAS and higher Yeaple probe scores compared to control (VAS at 14 days, p < 0.04; all other comparisons, p < 0.001). Quality of life scores improved in both groups, but no significant differences between groups were observed. ConclusionsThe CSSP toothpaste was more effective than the fluoride control toothpaste at reducing DH pain with benefit persisting 12 h following application. Clinical SignificanceThis novel calcium silicate and sodium phosphate toothpaste (CSSP) toothpaste is an effective twice-daily treatment when brushed on the teeth for dentine hypersensitivity sufferers compared to brushing with a conventional fluoride paste. Twice-daily brushing provides a sustained effect for long-lasting pain relief from dentine hypersensitivity.

Central Neuropathic Mechanisms in Pain Signaling Pathways: Current Evidence and Recommendations.

PurposeThis is a comprehensive review of the current literature on central neuropathic pain mechanisms that is secondary to spinal cord injury. It reviews recent and seminal findings on the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment and compares treatment options and recommendations.Recent FindingsNeuropathic pain (NP) is a common complication of spinal cord injury (SCI). Chronicity of NP is attributed to increased abundance of inflammatory mediators and ion channel dysfunction leading to afferent nerve sensitization; nerve damage and nerve–glia cross talk have also been implicated. Conventional treatment is medical and has had limited success. Recent studies have made headway in identifying novel biomarkers, including microRNA and psychosocial attributes that can predict progress from SCI to chronic NP (CNP). Recent advances have provided evidence of efficacy for two promising drugs. Baclofen was able to provide good, long-lasting pain relief. Ziconotide, a voltage-gated calcium channel blocker, was studied in a small trial and was able to provide good analgesia in most participants. However, several participants had to be withdrawn because of worrisome creatine phosphokinase (CPK) elevations, and further studies are required to define its safety profile. Non-medical interventions include brain sensitization and biofeedback techniques. These methods have recently had encouraging results, albeit preliminary. Case reports of non-conventional techniques, such as hypnosis, were also reported.SummaryCNP is a common complication of SCI and is a prevalent disorder with significant morbidity and disability. Conventional medical treatment is limited in efficacy. Recent studies identified baclofen and ziconotide as possible new therapies, alongside non-medical interventions. Further research into the pathophysiology is required to identify further therapy candidates. A multidisciplinary approach, including psychosocial support, medical and non-medical interventions, is likely needed to achieve therapeutic effects in this difficult to treat syndrome.

Efficacy and safety of intra-articular injection of JTA-004, a novel supplemented protein solution, in osteoarthritic knee pain

Purpose: JTA-004 is a novel off-the-shelf protein solution in development for the treatment of osteoarthritic (OA) knee pain. Supplemented with hyaluronic acid and clonidine, it is designed to provide a fast-acting and long-lasting pain relief. To evaluate safety and efficacy and to select the most effective formulation, single intra-articular administration of 3 JTA-004 formulations were tested and compared to Hylan G-F 20 during a 6-month period in a phase II/III clinical study with 164 patients suffering from symptomatic knee osteoarthritis.

Catheter-Directed Thrombectomy for Highly Symptomatic Patients with Iliofemoral Deep Venous Thrombosis not Responsive to Conservative Treatment.

The use of pharmacomechanical thrombectomy in patients with symptomatic iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis (DVT) not responsive to conservative treatment is under-investigated until now. This prompted us to review and analyze our results (technical/clinical outcome, complications) and compare them to the current literature. Between 2013 and 2019, 19 patients (14 women and 5 men; mean age: 41.2years, SD: 18.2) with iliofemoral DVT and excessive pain not responsive to conservative treatment were treated with pharmacomechanical thrombectomy. Patients were followed up for 12months. Demographics, technical success and clinical outcome data (pain score/Villalta score) were collected. Thrombectomy ± thrombolysis was successful in all cases (n = 19). No major complications were observed. Eight out of nineteen cases developed hematoma at the sheath insertion site not requiring further treatment. Seven out of nineteen cases required additional continuous lysis for complete iliofemoral clot solution. All patients received balloon angioplasty to treat post-thrombotic strictures. In 16/19 cases, stents were placed to preserve iliofemoral caliber and maintain unrestricted iliac venous outflow. Three patients (16%) required re-intervention due to re-thrombosis or in-stent stenosis after 4, 14days and 4months, respectively. Symptoms could be improved temporarily or indefinitely in 19 out of 19 patients. 1year following thrombectomy mean pain score was reduced by 87%, mean Villalta score was 2.6 (SD: 4), and iliofemoral veins were patent in 15/17 patients. In symptomatic patients with iliofemoral DVT, refractory to conservative treatment, catheter-directed thrombectomy enables rapid and long-lasting pain relief. High patency rates can be achieved in patients receiving PTA and venous stenting post-thrombectomy.

Targeted cyclooxygenase-2 inhibiting nanomedicine results in pain-relief and differential expression of the RNA transcriptome in the dorsal root ganglia of injured male rats.

Chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve in rats causes peripheral neuropathy leading to pain-like behaviors commonly seen in humans. Neuropathy is a leading cause of neuropathic pain, which involves a complex cellular and molecular response in the peripheral nervous system with interactions between neurons, glia, and infiltrating immune cells. In this study, we utilize a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug -loaded nanoemulsion to deliver the cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, Celecoxib, directly to circulating monocytes following nerve injury, which provides long-lasting pain relief. However, it is not fully understood how cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition in a macrophage traveling to the site of injury impacts gene expression in the dorsal root ganglia. To elucidate aspects of the molecular mechanisms underlying pain-like behavior in chronic constriction injury, as well as subsequent pain relief with treatment, we employ RNAseq transcriptome profiling of the dorsal root ganglia associated with the injured sciatic nerve in rats. Using high throughput RNA sequencing in this way provides insight into the molecular mechanisms involved in this neuroinflammatory response. We compare the transcriptome from the dorsal root ganglias of the following study groups: chronic constriction injury animals administered with cyclooxygenase-2 inhibiting celecoxib-loaded nanoemulsion, chronic constriction injury animals administered with vehicle treatment, a drug-free nanoemulsion, and a group of naïve, unoperated and untreated rats. The results show an extensive differential expression of 115 genes. Using the protein annotation through evolutionary relationship classification system, we have revealed pain-related signaling pathways and underlying biological mechanisms involved in the neuroinflammatory response. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction validation confirms expression changes for several genes. This study shows that by directly inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2 activity in infiltrating macrophages at the injured sciatic nerve, there is an associated change in the transcriptome in the cell bodies of the dorsal root ganglia.

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in the Treatment of Facial Pain.

Non-invasive neuromodulation techniques such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) enable researchers and health care professionals to gain unique insight into brain functions and to treat a number of neurological and psychiatric conditions. Repeated applications of anodal tDCS over the primary motor cortex (M1) have been shown to produce long-lasting relief of neuropathic pain. tDCS is a technique that can induce and modulate brain plasticity and thus be suitable for treating diverse chronic pain conditions, disorders associated with substantial reorganization of central nervous system activity. The number of published basic research and clinical papers in this field is increasing exponentially, but the number of studies that include patients with facial pain is still limited, and there are no "gold standards" with regard to how to treat the various kinds of pain disorders. Pharmacoresistant facial pain is a substantial burden for the patient as manifested by its interference with daily functioning and reduced health status associated with pain severity. Without doubt, further trials are needed to optimize stimulation parameters and find effective protocols for this disorder. In addition, evaluation of the clinical effects of tDCS shows that low-intensity electrical stimulation techniques are exceptionally suitable for gaining further insight into the functional role of a given brain region, e.g. how brain processes emerge and can be altered in anatomically distributed, but functionally connected, brain networks.

Calcium phosphate injection of symptomatic bone marrow lesions of the knee: what is the current clinical evidence?

BackgroundChronic bone marrow lesions (BML) in the weight-bearing portions of the knee are often associated with symptomatic degenerative arthritis resulting in pain and dysfunction. Injection of bone substitute material like calcium phosphate has been described. Whilst some studies have reported encouraging results others have shown limited benefit of this technique.AimThe aim was to collate the available evidence on the injection of calcium phosphate and systematically evaluate the results to answer the questions encountered in clinical decision making: (1) does it provide effective long-lasting pain relief to avoid further surgical intervention? (2) which factors (patient/surgical) significantly influence the outcome? and (3) does it adversely affect the outcomes of subsequent arthroplasty?MethodsA literature search was performed to identify the studies describing the clinical outcomes of calcium phosphate injection for treatment of BML. We evaluated the reported clinical outcomes with respect to pain, function and complications. Isolated case reports and studies with no objective assessment of clinical outcomes were excluded.ResultsWe noted 46 articles in the current literature of which 8 described clinical outcomes of calcium phosphate injection. Mean (plus/minus SD) score on the visual analog scale (VAS) has been reported to improve from 7.90 (± 0.38) to 2.76 (± 0.90), whereas the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score improved from 30.5 (SD not reported (NR)) to 53.0 (SD NR). Pre and post procedure Short form survey (SF-12) scores were 29.8 (SD NR) and 36.7 (SD NR), respectively. In one study, scores on the Tegner Lysholm knee scoring scale improved in 12 out of 22 patients, whereas the remainder had no change in symptoms. Extravasation of calcium phosphate into the joint was the most common complication, whereas no adverse effect has been reported on subsequent arthroplasty.ConclusionLimited data from the published studies would suggest that calcium phosphate injection of BML may potentially improve pain and function. However, no evidence is currently available to clearly identify patient/surgical factors that may influence the long-term outcomes of this procedure. Hence pragmatic, prospective studies with stratified patient cohorts and robust reporting of outcome measures are essential to improve the understanding of the indications and clinical effectiveness of this novel procedure.

Comparison of Ultrasound-Guided Thoracic Paravertebral Block Using Ropivacaine and Balanced General Anesthesia in Breast Surgeries.

Background and Aims:Despite the latest advances in breast surgery, the procedure is frequently associated with postoperative pain, nausea, and vomiting, which leads not only to increased patient's suffering but also to a prolongation of hospital stays and related costs. Thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) has been successfully used to provide analgesia for multiple thoracic and abdominal procedures in both children and adults.Methods:Forty patients were allocated for this observational, comparative study and divided into two groups of 20 each, namely thoracic paravertebral group (Group P) study group and general anesthesia (GA) group (Group G), control group, and observations made for duration of procedure, visual analog score, rescue analgesia, surgeon and patient's satisfaction, postoperative complications, and duration of postanesthesia care unit (PACU) stay in both the groups.Results:We found that there was a statistically significant difference in duration of procedure, more time was taken in performing TPVB. Pain was better controlled in Group P and requirement of rescue analgesia was higher in Group G patients, postoperative complications such as shivering, nausea, vomiting, and duration of PACU stay were more in patients receiving GA.Conclusion:Hence, we conclude that ultrasound-guided TPVB appears to be safe, reliable, and effective technique for breast surgeries with several advantages over GA in terms of long-lasting pain relief, fewer complications, and shorter hospital stay.

Post-herpetic Neuralgia: A Systematic Review of Current Interventional Pain Management Strategies.

Background:Post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) is usually a constant or intermittent burning, stabbing, or sharp shooting pain with hyperalgesia or allodynia, persisting beyond the healing of herpetic skin lesions. This review was carried out in concordance to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We used PICOS (Population, Intervention, Control, and Outcome Study) design for inclusion of potential studies into this review. Online literature available in PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase was searched for studies from January 1995 till March 2020, which evaluated interventional treatments in PHN by an independent reviewer, using the relevant medical subject heading (MeSH) terms. We analyzed the following outcome parameters with regard to each intervention—pain status at predefined fixed intervals after the intervention, quality of sleep using any of the reported questionnaires, analgesic consumption, functional evaluation, and quality of life assessment after the intervention.Conclusion:Interventional pain management options provide effective and long-lasting pain relief to patients not responding to medical management. The choice of intervention will depend on the region involved, cost, and invasiveness. Simple procedures such as intercostal nerve blocks/neurolysis, stellate ganglion blocks, paravertebral neurolysis, epidural steroid injections, and dorsal root ganglion–radiofrequency ablation are effective interventions, and if they fail, spinal cord stimulators could be effective in the hands of experienced pain physicians.

An Electrical Stimulator to Suppress the Nervous Pain in Diabetic Neuropathic Patients

Peripheral neuropathy is an acute disorder in diabetic patients who are suffering a very agonized pain in their peripheral nerves. Symptomatic relief can be achieved by some analgesic pain killers. One of the best approaches is using an electrical stimulation method where the sensory nerve fibers get excited by the application of pulsed currents at the site of pain. This could block the pain signals from reaching the brain, followed either by the pain gate theory or opioid mechanism. This study primarily focuses the feedback principle where the stimulus is given with respective to the patient’s skin intensity to avoid skin burning in therapy. The opioid mechanism has been proved scientifically that it provides long-lasting pain relief even after the stimulation. This paper documents the design and operation of feedback system which provide a constant output by varying the width of pulses. Thereby, the patient’s pain as well as the sufferings of skin reactions upon stimulus is reduced. As this electrical nerve stimulation strategy is a simple, safe, non-pharmacological, cost-effective it proves to be a better alternative for pain relief

Significant, long-lasting pain relief in primary dysmenorrhea with low-dose naproxen sodium compared with acetaminophen: a double-blind, randomized, single-dose, crossover study

Objectives: Many women experience menstrual cramps, which adversely affects quality-of-life. Both naproxen and acetaminophen are indicated to relieve menstrual pain. This study assessed the analgesic efficacy of a single, maximum non-prescription dose of naproxen sodium compared with that of acetaminophen in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea.Methods: Healthy females with primary dysmenorrhea were included in our double-blind, randomized, crossover study (trial registration no. NCT03448536). When pain was moderate (≥5 on 0–10 numerical rating scale), subjects took a single dose of naproxen sodium (440 mg) and crossed over to acetaminophen (1000 mg) in the next cycle, or vice versa. Total pain relief over 12 h (TOTPAR0-12) was the primary outcome, while secondary outcomes included summed pain intensity differences (SPID) and TOTPAR scores throughout 12 h, and subject overall evaluation of treatment.Results: The per protocol population (n = 189) used naproxen sodium (n = 170) and acetaminophen (n = 160). TOTPAR0-12 was significantly greater with naproxen sodium than acetaminophen (least-squares (LS) mean difference = 4.31; p < .001), and pain intensity was significantly lower (SPID0-12 LS mean difference = 9.80; p < .001). Some measures of pain intensity favoring naproxen sodium became significant at earlier time points (e.g. SPID4-6 LS mean difference = 1.49; p = .02). After 6 h post-dose, naproxen sodium was significantly more effective than acetaminophen, maintained for 12 h (SPID6-12 LS mean difference = 8.27; TOTPAR6-12 LS mean difference = 3.75; both p < .001). Significantly more subjects rated naproxen sodium as good-to-excellent (70.6%) vs acetaminophen (63.1%) (p = .002).Conclusions: A single, maximum non-prescription dose of naproxen sodium was more effective than acetaminophen over 12 h.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03448536.

Early postsurgical diffusivity metrics for prognostication of long-term pain relief after Gamma Knife radiosurgery for trigeminal neuralgia.

Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) is an important treatment modality for trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Current longitudinal assessment after GKRS relies primarily on clinical diagnostic measures, which are highly limited in the prediction of long-term clinical benefit. An objective, noninvasive, predictive tool would be of great utility to advance the clinical management of patients. Using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), the authors' aim was to determine whether early (6 months post-GKRS) target diffusivity metrics can be used to prognosticate long-term pain relief in patients with TN. Thirty-seven patients with TN treated with GKRS underwent 3T MRI scans at 6 months posttreatment. Diffusivity metrics of fractional anisotropy, axial diffusivity, radial diffusivity, and mean diffusivity were extracted bilaterally from the radiosurgical target of the affected trigeminal nerve and its contralateral, unaffected nerve. Early (6 months post-GKRS) diffusivity metrics were compared with long-term clinical outcome. Patients were identified as long-term responders if they achieved at least 75% reduction in preoperative pain for 12 months or longer following GKRS. Trigeminal nerve diffusivity at 6 months post-GKRS was predictive of long-term clinical effectiveness, where long-term responders (n = 19) showed significantly lower fractional anisotropy at the radiosurgical target of their affected nerve compared to their contralateral, unaffected nerve and to nonresponders. Radial diffusivity and mean diffusivity, correlates of myelin alterations and inflammation, were also significantly higher in the affected nerve of long-term responders compared to their unaffected nerve. Nonresponders (n = 18) did not exhibit any characteristic diffusivity changes after GKRS. The authors demonstrate that early postsurgical target diffusivity metrics have a translational, clinical value and permit prediction of long-term pain relief in patients with TN treated with GKRS. Importantly, an association was found between the footprint of radiation and clinical effectiveness, where a sufficient level of microstructural change at the radiosurgical target is necessary for long-lasting pain relief. DTI can provide prognostic information that supplements clinical measures, and thus may better guide the postoperative assessment and clinical decision-making for patients with TN.