Mild Levels Of Pain Research Articles

Finding Ways to Lift Barriers to Care for Chronic Pain Patients: Outcomes of Using Internet-Based Self-Management Activities to Reduce Pain and Improve Quality of Life.

Background. Chronic pain is prevalent, disabling, costly, and undertreated. There is clearly a need to improve patient understanding of ways to manage their pain. Internet-based programs are continually being developed to facilitate mental health improvement, providing tailored content for patients to manage their pain, anxiety, and depression. Objective. To evaluate the impact of Internet-based patient self-management education and activities on patients' pain, anxiety, and quality of life in patients who could not access multidisciplinary pain management. Design. Observational study. Subjects. Two hundred (200) patients (61% females, 39% males, between 18 and 75 years old) from one community pain clinic in Toronto, Canada (Toronto Poly Clinic), participated. Patients had moderate to severe pain, depression, and anxiety. These patients committed to study from a group of 515 patients with chronic noncancer pain of different origins who were stable on their levels of pain, anxiety, and depression for 12 consecutive months before start of study and could not afford noninsured treatment modalities like physiotherapy, psychology, nutrition, or exercise therapy consultation. Methods. Patients were encouraged to visit two Internet sites (a blog and Twitter postings) for educational postings written by the author about exercise, nutrition, mindfulness meditation, disease management methods, evidence-based supplements, daily relaxation exercises, and overall self-management methods 15 minutes per day for six months. Patients were also encouraged to share their ideas and comments on a blog. Activity logs were kept by patients and reviewed by physician at follow-up visits. Compliance was encouraged via weekly email reminders and phone calls during the observation period. Results. Modest improvements were noted in pain, anxiety, depression, and quality of life. Of the patients with moderate or severe pain before treatment, 45% reported mild levels of pain after treatment, with a reduction of severe pain from 40% before treatment to 25% after treatment (p value 0.0184). Conclusion. Self-management support interventions, such as Internet-based educational tools, can be considered to help patients manage their chronic pain, depression, and anxiety and may be helpful to improve the treatment outcome in patients who could not otherwise afford noninsured services.

The Relationship between the Spiritual Health, Anxiety and Pain in Hospitalized Cancer Patients

Purpose: This study is to find relationship between cancer patient’s spiritual health and the level of their anxiety and pain. Methods: From April 27 through May 11, 2012, a survey was conducted with 167 cancer patients hospitalized at a university hospital in Busan. Spiritual health was measured by the Spiritual Health Inventory developed by Highfield (1992). The instrument for anxiety measu rement was the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory by Spielberger (1975) and that for pain was the Visual Analogue Scale (2009). The association between patients’ characteristics and spiritual health, anxiety or pain degree were analyzed using the ANOVA test. The interrelationship between spiritual health, anxiety and pain was analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficients. Results: The patients exhibited a moderate degree of spiritual health and anxiety and a mild level of pain. Patients’ spiritual health significantly differed by their religion, educ ation, monthly income of the family, illness conditions, physical conditions, metastasis, daily living and support. Their anxiety level was significantly different according to age, religion, education, illness conditions, physical conditions, metastasis, daily living, family/friends’ support and use of analgesics. Significant differences were also found in the level of pain according to illness conditions, physical conditions, metastasis, daily living, family/friends’ support and use of analgesics. We found a moderately negative correlation between spiritual health and anxiety. Anxiety and pain showed a positive correlation, and spiritual health and pain exhibited a negative correlation. Conclusion: To help cancer patients to manage their spiritual health, anxiety and pain, a program should be develop ed considering the primary factors discussed in this study.

Application of psychological intervention in electric colonoscopy procedure

Objective To explore the effect of psychological intervention on psychological status and level of pain caused by electric colonoscopy procedure.Methods 106 patients who received electric colonoscopy procedure were randomly divided into the intervention group (n =53) or control group (n =53).Both of the two groups received normal care of health education,process introduction,attentions of operation.And the intervention group received specific psychological intervention.All the subjects were evaluated by SCL-90 before and after intervention.Results After psychological intervention,the total score of intervention group was significantly higher than that of control group (129.96 ± 38.76vs145.24 ± 6.72,t =3.61,P ＜ 0.05),while the positive number (24.90 ± 18.41 vs 28.02 ± 18.79),the scores of somatization,force,interpersonal sensitivity,anxiety and depression for SCL-90 in intervention group were significantly lower than those in control group (t =1.51,27.35,16.10,15.56,25.85,21.90,P＜0.05).The mild level of pain in intervention group was significantly higher than that in control group (58.5 ％ vs 37.8 ％,Z =2.2,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Psychological intervention for patients received electric colonoscopy procedure can effectively improve patients' physical and mental state and anxiety,and improve their pain tolerance. Key words: Electric colonoscopy procedure; Anxiety ; Pain; Psychological intervention

Somatosensory profiling of intra‐oral capsaicin and menthol in healthy subjects

This study was designed to investigate the effect of surrogate orofacial pain models on the quantitative sensory testing (QST) profile in healthy participants. Capsaicin, menthol, or saline (control) were applied topically onto the gingiva of 15 healthy subjects for 15min. During application, the subjects rated pain intensity on a score of 0-10, on an electronic visual analog scale (VAS). A standardized intra-oral QST protocol was performed before and immediately after application. Data obtained before and after application were compared using rank-sum tests, and QST profiles were made after Z-transformation. Application of capsaicin caused moderate levels of pain (VAS(peak) =6.0±0.7), and application of menthol produced mild levels of pain (VAS(peak) =1.8±0.6). Capsaicin induced hypersensitivity to warmth, heat pain and cold pain and hyposensitivity to mechanical stimuli. Menthol induced hypersensitivity to cold and warmth. Saline caused hypersensitivity to heat pain and hyposensitivity to mechanical stimuli. However, somatosensory profiles from Z-scores demonstrated sensory gains regarding warmth detection and heat pain only after application of capsaicin. In conclusion, a standardized battery of QST showed somatosensory changes after application of capsaicin, menthol and saline to the gingiva. However, the Z-score-based profiles may only reflect the most prominent somatosensory changes and thus represent a conservative approach for evaluation of data.

Perioperative use of etoricoxib reduces pain and opioid side-effects after total abdominal hysterectomy: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase III study

Objective:To evaluate the effects of two different doses of etoricoxib delivered perioperatively compared with placebo and standard pain management on pain at rest, pain with mobilization, and use of additional morphine/opioids postoperatively.Research design and methods:In this double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial, we evaluated postoperative pain following total abdominal hysterectomy over 5 days in patients receiving placebo or etoricoxib administered 90 min prior to surgery and continuing postoperatively. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either placebo (n = 144), etoricoxib 90 mg/day (n = 142), or etoricoxib 120 mg/day (n = 144). Average Pain Intensity at Rest over days 1–3 (0- to 10-point numerical rating scale [NRS]) was the primary efficacy endpoint. Secondary endpoints included Average Pain Intensity upon Sitting, Standing, and Walking over days 1–3 (0- to 10-point NRS) as well as Average Total Daily Dose of Morphine over days 1–3.Clinical trial registration:This trial is registered on www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00788710).Results:The least squares (LS) means (95% CI) for the primary endpoint were 3.26 (2.96, 3.55); 2.46 (2.16, 2.76); and 2.40 (2.11, 2.69) for placebo, etoricoxib 90 mg, and etoricoxib 120 mg, respectively, significantly different for both etoricoxib doses versus placebo (p < 0.001). Patients on etoricoxib 90 mg and 120 mg required ∼30% less morphine per day than those on placebo (p < 0.001), which led to more rapid bowel recovery in the active treatment groups by ∼10 hours vs. placebo. A greater proportion of patients on etoricoxib (10–30% greater than placebo) achieved mild levels of pain with movement, defined as pain ≤3/10.Limitations:A key limitation for this study was that movement-evoked pain measurements were not designated as primary endpoints.Conclusion:In patients undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy, etoricoxib 90 mg and 120 mg dosed preoperatively and then continued postoperatively significantly reduces both resting and movement-related pain, as well as reduced opioid (morphine) consumption that led to more rapid bowel recovery.

Comparing Pain Modulation and Autonomic Responses in Fibromyalgia and Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patients

Past studies confirm that patients with fibromyalgia (FM) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) show similar pain processing dysfunctions, such as reduced pain inhibition and aberrant autonomic nervous system (ANS) responses. However, patients with FM and IBS have rarely been investigated in the same study. The aim of the present study, therefore, was to compare descending pain inhibition, pain sensitivity, and ANS reactivity to pain in FM, IBS, and healthy controls (HC). Female patients with FM (n=10), IBS (n=13), and HCs (n=10) were exposed to multiple cold water (12°C) immersions to study pain sensitivity and descending pain inhibition. Heart rate variability was also assessed during immersions. Pain intensity scores were highest in FM, intermediate in IBS, and smallest in HCs. In contrast, pain inhibition was absent in FM, intermediate in IBS, and strongest in HCs. Importantly, controlling for differences in pain inhibition abolished group differences in pain sensitivity. Heart rate variability analyses confirmed that, in response to mild levels of pain, patients with FM showed greater sympathetic activity whereas HCs showed greater parasympathetic activity. Patients with IBS showed intermediate ANS responses. Our results confirm the presence of graded levels of somatic hyperalgesia across patients with IBS and FM. A similar pattern of result was observed for pain inhibitory dysfunctions. These pain processing changes were accompanied by abnormal autonomic responses, which maintained patients (principally patients with FM) in a state of sympathetic hyperactivity. Results suggest that patients with IBS and FM may present common, but graded, pain processing and autonomic dysfunctions.

Pain relief for the removal of femoral sheath after percutaneous coronary intervention

There is considerable variation in use of pain relief for managing pain or discomfort of femoral sheath removal. Efficacy of pain relief to promote comfort during this procedure or to reduce the incidence of vascular and procedural complications has not been established. Assess efficacy of pain relief used to manage pain of femoral sheath removal in adults after interventional cardiology.Determine if pain relief influences rate of complications associated with this procedure. Databases searched in August 2007: Cochrane Pain, Palliative and Supportive Care Group Trials Register, Cochrane Heart Group Trials Register, Cochrane CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PubMed, Australia's Australasian Medical Index, National Research Centre, Web of Knowledge and Digital Dissertations. Randomised studies comparing opioid, local anaesthetic, anxiolytic, no treatment or placebo administered for alleviation of pain or discomfort of the femoral sheath removal procedure, were sought. Two review authors assessed trial quality and extracted data. Weighted mean differences (WMD) were calculated where meta-analysis of pain score data was feasible. Adverse effects information was collected. Four trials involving 971 participants were included. All results were reported using a zero to ten pain scale. Three trials (four treatment arms) involving 498 participants compared subcutaneous lignocaine with control; with no significant difference between pain scores; WMD 0.12 (95% CI -0.46 to 0.69). Two trials (three treatment arms) involving 399 participants compared intravenous pain regimens with control. A significant reduction in pain score with an intravenous pain regimen (opioid and anxiolytic) was observed when compared with placebo; WMD -0.90 (95% CI -1.54 to -0.27). One study involving 60 participants compared levobupivacaine with placebo. Longer-acting local anaesthetic significantly lowered pain score by -1.10 (95% CI -1.26 to -0.94). Data is insufficient to identify any influence of pain regimens on incidence of vascular and procedural complications. No trials reported appropriate blinding for treatment arms. The largest trial, comprising 661 participants was unblinded with a quality score of two out of five. Intravenous pain regimens and levobupivacaine may have greater efficacy when compared to control for the management of pain related to femoral sheath removal. However, a definitive study is still required because the clinical difference is small. There is no evidence to support the use of subcutaneous lignocaine for the relief of femoral sheath removal related pain. There is insufficient evidence to determine if pain relief influences the rate of complications.

Quantitative sensory measures distinguish office workers with varying levels of neck pain and disability

This study was undertaken to investigate any relationship between sensory features and neck pain in female office workers using quantitative sensory measures to better understand neck pain in this group. Office workers who used a visual display monitor for more than four hours per day with varying levels of neck pain and disability were eligible for inclusion. There were 85 participants categorized according to their scores on the neck disability index (NDI): 33 with no pain (NDI < 8); 38 with mild levels of pain and disability (NDI 9–29); 14 with moderate levels of pain (NDI ⩾ 30). A fourth group of women without neck pain ( n = 22) who did not work formed the control group. Measures included: thermal pain thresholds over the posterior cervical spine; pressure pain thresholds over the posterior neck, trapezius, levator scapulae and tibialis anterior muscles, and the median nerve trunk; sensitivity to vibrotactile stimulus over areas of the hand innervated by the median, ulnar and radial nerves; sympathetic vasoconstrictor response. All tests were conducted bilaterally. ANCOVA models were used to determine group differences between the means for each sensory measure. Office workers with greater self-reported neck pain demonstrated hyperalgesia to thermal stimuli over the neck, hyperalgesia to pressure stimulation over several sites tested; hypoaesthesia to vibration stimulation but no changes in the sympathetic vasoconstrictor response. There is evidence of multiple peripheral nerve dysfunction with widespread sensitivity most likely due to altered central nociceptive processing initiated and sustained by nociceptive input from the periphery.

A safe and effective method for converting patients from transdermal to intravenous fentanyl for the treatment of acute cancer‐related pain

The delayed effects (12-16 hours) of transdermal fentanyl make dose titration difficult during acute exacerbations of cancer pain. Patients at the authors' institution routinely are switched from transdermal to intravenous (IV) fentanyl using a 1:1 (transdermal:IV) conversion during severe episodes of pain. The authors evaluated nine consecutive hospitalized patients with cancer who had severe pain for up to 6 days following the conversion from transdermal to IV fentanyl. Pain intensity was rated using an 11-point (0-10) verbal numeric rating scale (NRS). All 9 patients initially reported their pain intensity with movement as >or= 8 during treatment with transdermal fentanyl. Eight patients initially reported their pain at rest as >or= 8. In each patient, all transdermal patches were removed, and a continuous infusion (CI) delivering IV fentanyl at the same hourly rate was initiated simultaneously. Demand boluses of IV fentanyl equivalent in dosage to 50-100% of the CI rate remained available by patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). Pain intensity (0-10), sedation (0-3), and hourly fentanyl requirements (micrograms per hour) were assessed and recorded immediately prior to patch removal and at least once daily after the initiation of IV fentanyl. The CI and demand boluses were titrated whenever necessary on the basis of pain intensity and supplemental PCA use. All 9 patients reported mild levels (<or= 4) of pain at rest within 5 days. The median time to achieve mild levels of pain at rest was 1.5 days. Six patients achieved mild levels of pain with movement within 3 days. Three patients never achieved mild levels of pain with movement while receiving IV fentanyl. No serious side effects were reported. The conversion from transdermal to IV fentanyl can be accomplished safely and effectively using a 1:1 (transdermal:IV) conversion during acute exacerbations of cancer pain.

An investigation of the placebo effect and age-related factors in the report of needle pain from venipuncture in children

To examine the potential role for a placebo cream in reducing reported needle pain severity in children, and the impact of age-related factors on pain self-report, a convenience sample of 117 children scheduled for venipuncture were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: (a) placebo cream with the suggestion that it might help reduce needle pain, (b) placebo cream with no indication as to the cream's purpose, and (c) no cream (control group). In allocation to treatment, children were stratified by age group, (3–7, 8–11, 12–17 years). They rated their needle pain severity (both predicted and reported) using the Faces Pain Scale, and rated their anxiety about the procedure using the Children's Anxiety and Pain Scale. Children in the cream groups were also asked whether they thought the cream had helped. Using video-tapes, an independent observer, blind to the placebo manipulation, rated each child's reaction to the needle. For the two groups receiving cream, 83% of those children told it might help stated that they believed it did, as compared with only 33% of children who received the cream but were told nothing of its purpose. These beliefs, however, were not reflected in self-report ratings of pain which showed no statistically significant treatment effect. Similarly, children who gave higher preprocedural anxiety ratings were no more likely to report less pain as a result of receiving the cream. There was, however, a treatment effect on the observer's ratings: children receiving cream plus suggestion were assigned significantly lower ratings of pain-related behaviour than those children who received the cream alone. While venipuncture was associated with only mild levels of pain, younger children, irrespective of treatment group, did report more pain than older children. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that 60% of the variance in self-reported pain severity scores could be accounted for by how much the child thought the needle would hurt, how anxious the child was about receiving the needle, gender (higher pain ratings associated with girls), and estimated body surface area (higher pain ratings associated with smaller bodies). We conclude that the efficacy of placebo treatments for needle pain in children may depend on the suggestion of a possible benefit rather than upon treatment application per se.