scholarly journals The Role of Testosterone Supplemental Therapy in Opioid-Induced Hypogonadism: A Retrospective Pilot Analysis

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1208-1213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omer A. Raheem ◽  
Sunil H. Patel ◽  
David Sisul ◽  
Tim J. Furnish ◽  
Tung-Chin Hsieh
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Numerical Rating Scale ◽  
Opioid Therapy ◽  
Total Testosterone ◽  
Chronic Noncancer Pain ◽  
Numerical Rating ◽  
Noncancer Pain ◽  
Supplemental Therapy

Chronic opioid therapy for pain management is known to induce several endocrine changes. The authors examined the effect of testosterone supplemental therapy (TST) in patients with chronic, noncancer pain undergoing opioid therapy. It was hypothesized that treatment of opioid-induced hypogonadism (OIH) can reduce opioid requirements in patients suffering from chronic pain and approve their quality of life. Over 18 months period, patients with OIH were identified in a tertiary referral pain center, Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) pain scores and daily morphine equivalent dose (MED) were the primary outcomes measured. Data were collected and comparative analysis performed between men undergoing TST versus nontreatment group. Twenty-seven OIH patients (total testosterone <300 ng/dL) were identified during the study period. TST group consists of 11 patients, while non-TST group consists of 16 patients as control cohort. Mean patient age (55 and 54.4, p = .4) and basic metabolic index (28.5 and 31.9, p = .07) in TST and non-TST groups, respectively. Mean follow-up total testosterone (ng/dL) was significantly higher after TST compared with the non-TST group (497.5 vs. 242.4 ng/dL, p = .03). Median follow-up NRS was 0 and 2 in the TST and non-TST groups ( p = .02). Mean MED (mg) decreased by 21 mg in TST group and increased by 2.5 mg in non-TST group ( p < .05). This study reports that treatment of OIH with TST can reduce opioid requirements in men with chronic pain as quantified by MED. It also confirms previous reports on the potential effects of OIH and that TST is effective in correcting opioid-induced endocrine abnormalities.

A Two-Year Prospective Multicenter Study of Opioid Therapy for Chronic Noncancer Pain: Prescription Trends and Predictors

Pain Medicine ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (11) ◽  
pp. 2166-2178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dalila R Veiga ◽  
Liliane Mendonça ◽  
Rute Sampaio ◽  
José M Castro-Lopes ◽  
Luís F Azevedo
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Opioid Therapy ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Opioid Prescription ◽  
Chronic Noncancer Pain ◽  
Noncancer Pain ◽  
Opioid Users

Abstract Objectives Opioid use in chronic pain has increased worldwide in recent years. The aims of this study were to describe the trends and patterns of opioid therapy over two years of follow-up in a cohort of chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) patients and to assess predictors of long-term opioid use and clinical outcomes. Methods A prospective cohort study with two years of follow-up was undertaken in four multidisciplinary chronic pain clinics. Demographic data, pain characteristics, and opioid prescriptions were recorded at baseline, three, six, 12, and 24 months. Results Six hundred seventy-four CNCP patients were recruited. The prevalence of opioid prescriptions at baseline was 59.6% (N = 402), and 13% (N = 86) were strong opioid prescriptions. At 24 months, opioid prescription prevalence was as high as 74.3% (N = 501), and strong opioid prescription was 31% (N = 207). Most opioid users (71%, N = 479) maintained their prescription during the two years of follow-up. Our opioid discontinuation was very low (1%, N = 5). Opioid users reported higher severity and interference pain scores, both at baseline and after two years of follow-up. Opioid use was independently associated with continuous pain, pain location in the lower limbs, and higher pain interference scores. Conclusions This study describes a pattern of increasing opioid prescription in chronic pain patients. Despite the limited improvement of clinical outcomes, most patients keep their long-term opioid prescriptions. Our results underscore the need for changes in clinical practice and further research into the effectiveness and safety of chronic opioid therapy for CNPC.

scholarly journals A Prospective Study of Chronic Pain after Thoracic Surgery

2017 ◽  
Vol 126 (5) ◽  
pp. 938-951 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emine Ozgur Bayman ◽  
Kalpaj R. Parekh ◽  
John Keech ◽  
Atakan Selte ◽  
Timothy J. Brennan
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Thoracic Surgery ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Numerical Rating Scale ◽  
Thoracoscopic Surgery ◽  
Numerical Rating ◽  
A Prospective Study ◽  
Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery

Abstract Background The goal of this study was to detect the predictors of chronic pain at 6 months after thoracic surgery from a comprehensive evaluation of demographic, psychosocial, and surgical factors. Methods Thoracic surgery patients were enrolled 1 week before surgery and followed up 6 months postsurgery in this prospective, observational study. Comprehensive psychosocial measurements were assessed before surgery. The presence and severity of pain were assessed at 3 and 6 months after surgery. One hundred seven patients were assessed during the first 3 days after surgery, and 99 (30 thoracotomy and 69 video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, thoracoscopy) patients completed the 6-month follow-up. Patients with versus without chronic pain related to thoracic surgery at 6 months were compared. Results Both incidence (P = 0.37) and severity (P = 0.97) of surgery-related chronic pain at 6 months were similar after thoracotomy (33%; 95% CI, 17 to 53%; 3.3 ± 2.1) and thoracoscopy (25%; 95% CI, 15 to 36%; 3.3 ± 1.7). Both frequentist and Bayesian multivariate models revealed that the severity of acute pain (numerical rating scale, 0 to 10) is the measure associated with chronic pain related to thoracic surgery. Psychosocial factors and quantitative sensory testing were not predictive. Conclusions There was no difference in the incidence and severity of chronic pain at 6 months in patients undergoing thoracotomy versus thoracoscopy. Unlike other postsurgical pain conditions, none of the preoperative psychosocial measurements were associated with chronic pain after thoracic surgery.

scholarly journals Percutaneous Osteoplasty under Fluoroscopy and Cone-Beam CT guidance for Painful Sternal Metastases

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xun-wei Liu ◽  
Zhi-guo Wang ◽  
Jin Peng ◽  
Gang Sun
Keyword(s):  
Rating Scale ◽  
Numerical Rating Scale ◽  
Cone Beam Ct ◽  
Tumor Location ◽  
Cone Beam ◽  
Ct Guidance ◽  
Numerical Rating ◽  
Cement Distribution ◽  
Painful Bone Metastases

Abstract Background: Although percutaneous osteoplasty (POP) has been widely accepted and is now being performed for the treatment of painful bone metastases outside the spine, there are only scarced reports regarding osteoplasty in painful sternal metastases.Case presentation: The paper reported four patients with painful sternal metastasis who underwent POP under fluoroscopic and cone-beam CT guidance. The patients were three men and one woman (mean age, 66.25 years). Primary tumor location in lung is 3 cases, in thyroid is 1 case. In these cases, Pain was measured using a numerical rating scale (NRS), with scores ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable). The scores on the NRS in the four patients before POP were 9, 8, 8, and 9. After POP, the NRS scores decreased to 2, 3, 2, and 2, respectively, in follow-up at 6 months. Conclusions: POP is a safe and effective treatment for pain caused by metastatic bone tumors in the sternum. However, care and at tention should be paid to the insertion of a needle and cement distribution for better treatment effect

scholarly journals Resting-state brain functional connectivity in patients with chronic pain who responded to subanesthetic-dose ketamine

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasushi Motoyama ◽  
Yoshitetsu Oshiro ◽  
Yumiko Takao ◽  
Hitoaki Sato ◽  
Norihiko Obata ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Functional Connectivity ◽  
Resting State ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Numerical Rating Scale ◽  
Predictive Marker ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Improvement Rate ◽  
Numerical Rating ◽  
Brain Functional Connectivity

Abstract Ketamine has been used to treat chronic pain; however, it is still unknown as to what types of chronic pain is ketamine effective against. To identify the effect of administration of subanesthetic-dose ketamine in patients with chronic pain and to clarify the mechanism of the effect, we retrospectively investigated brain functional connectivity using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Patients were divided into responders (Group R: ≥50% improvement on Numerical Rating Scale) and non-responders (Group NR). We compared the differences in terms of brain functional connectivity by seed-to-voxel correlation analysis. Two-sample t-test revealed significant lower connectivity between the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and precuneus in Group R. We also found a significant negative correlation between the improvement rate and functional connectivity strength between the mPFC and precuneus. These findings suggest that subanesthetic-dose ketamine is effective in patients with chronic pain whose brain functional connectivity between the mPFC and precuneus is low. We believe that the current study explored for the first time the correlation between brain functional connectivity and the effect of subanesthetic-dose ketamine for chronic pain and indicated the possibility of use of the predictive marker in pharmacological treatment of chronic pain.

scholarly journals Effect of Complex Korean Medicine Treatment on Sacral Insufficiency Fracture: A Case Report

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 187-192
Author(s):  
Ga Hyeon Jung ◽  
Hyun Lee ◽  
Hwa Yeon Ryu ◽  
Jae Hui Kang
Keyword(s):  
Rating Scale ◽  
Numerical Rating Scale ◽  
Insufficiency Fracture ◽  
Sacral Insufficiency Fracture ◽  
Korean Medicine ◽  
Numerical Rating ◽  
Numerical Rating Scale Score ◽  
History Of ◽  
Sacral Insufficiency Fractures

Sacral insufficiency fractures (SIF) are a common, but often underdiagnosed source of lower back pain without apparent trauma. This report presents the clinical outcome of a 75-year-old female with SIF, and an underlying medical history of osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis. She was treated non-operatively, in-hospital, with Korean medicine. Patient progress was assessed using the numerical rating scale and selfreported symptoms. Post-treatment, the numerical rating scale score for pain in her hip decreased from 7 to 2. At admission, the patient was unable to sit, and could only walk 3 m with assistance. At discharge, she could sit for longer than 1 hour and walk further than 200 m unassisted. On the follow-up visit, the patient was asymptomatic, and x-ray scans showed ossification of the sacral and pubic fractures. These results suggest that, Korean medicine can effectively reduce pain and aid rehabilitation in patients with SIF, without the need for surgery.

What is the clinical relevance of the Numerical rating scale for pain?

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felicia Cox
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Pain Intensity ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Numerical Rating Scale ◽  
Clinical Importance ◽  
Patient Global Impression ◽  
Numerical Rating ◽  
Group A ◽  
Clinically Significant ◽  
Global Impression Of Change

The landmark paper discussed in this chapter is ‘Clinical importance of changes in chronic pain intensity measured on an 11-point numerical pain rating scale’, published by Farrar et al. in 2001. The numerical rating scale is now the standard instrument used in chronic pain studies to measure pain intensity. Farrar et al. determined the changes in pain intensity that were clinically significant for studies of chronic pain while measuring the patient’s global impression of change. The paper used pooled data from ten recent studies of pregabalin in 2,724 subjects. The authors reported a consistent relationship between pain intensity and patient global impression of change, regardless of study, disease type, age, sex, study result, or treatment group. A reduction of approximately two points on the numerical rating scale, or of 30% in the global impression of change of pain intensity, represented a clinically important difference.

Clinical and radiological outcomes of the Ivory arthroplasty for trapeziometacarpal joint osteoarthritis with a minimum of 5 years of follow-up: a prospective single-centre cohort study

2013 ◽  
Vol 38 (8) ◽  
pp. 866-874 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. F. Goubau ◽  
C. K. Goorens ◽  
P. Van Hoonacker ◽  
B. Berghs ◽  
D. Kerckhove ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Outcome ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Numerical Rating Scale ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Trapeziometacarpal Joint ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Numerical Rating ◽  
Trapeziometacarpal Joint Osteoarthritis ◽  
The Mean

We present the results of a 5 year prospective follow-up study on the functional outcome after total replacement of the trapeziometacarpal joint with the Ivory prosthesis (Memometal, Stryker Corporate, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA) in 22 patients. The female to male ratio was 21:1 and the mean age was 66 (range 54–78) years. The mean follow-up period was 67 (range 60–77) months after operation. Patient satisfaction was high. The mobility of the operated thumb was restored to a range of motion comparable to the contralateral thumb. Key pinch and grip strength improved by 13% and 31%, respectively. Overall function, according to Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) score, improved by 59%. Pain decreased by 85% according to the numerical rating scale. Radiological evaluation revealed no loosening of the implant after 5 years except in one patient who required revision due to polythene wear with secondary joint instability. Another patient had asymptomatic polythene wear that required no revision but remains in follow-up. The 5 year overall survival of the prosthesis was 95%. These medium-term results suggest that the Ivory arthroplasty is a reliable option for treating advanced trapeziometacarpal arthritis, because it appears to give a very good functional outcome and has the potential for long-term survival rates.

Opioid Misuse and Addiction Among Patients With Chronic Pain

2019 ◽  
pp. 339-354
Author(s):  
Marc O. Martel ◽  
Robert N. Jamison
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Opioid Therapy ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Prescription Opioid ◽  
Opioid Misuse ◽  
Chronic Noncancer Pain ◽  
Medication Misuse ◽  
Opioid Medications ◽  
Noncancer Pain

Chapter 20 provides an introduction to understanding the prevalence and risk factors as well as screening tools for assessing opioid misuse and addiction in patients with chronic pain. In the era of the opioid epidemic in North America and beyond, the use of prescription opioid medications to help improve function in chronic noncancer pain is frequently debated. Out of fear of iatrogenic addiction, litigation, and/or potential medication misuse, some clinicians are refusing to prescribe opioids for chronic pain. Evidence indicates that rates of opioid misuse and addiction are fairly high among chronic pain patients prescribed long-term opioid therapy, but there is consensus that opioids can be safe and effective for carefully selected and monitored patients.

scholarly journals Philosophical Issues and Psychological Variables that Influence the Determination of Opioid Effectiveness: A Narrative Review

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (20;7) ◽  
pp. E1095-E1105
Author(s):  
Daniel Michael Doleys
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Psychological Factors ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Numerical Rating Scale ◽  
Opioid Therapy ◽  
Patient Specific ◽  
Physician Patient Relationship ◽  
Selective Review ◽  
Proper Patient Selection ◽  
The Impact

Background: The prescribing of opioids in the chronic pain setting is often based on the pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacogenetics of the drug obtained during development and clinical trials. However, the effectiveness of opioids varies widely and often appears to bear no relationship to the aforementioned variables. The impact of philosophical issues and psychological factors on determining how clinically effective opioid therapy is has often been over looked. Objectives: This manuscript provides a selective review and narrative summary of the philosophical issues and psychological factors which can influence opioid effectiveness. Study Design: A selective review and narrative analysis of the literature. Methods: Experimental and clinical-based studies examining the impact of psychological factors on the effectiveness of opioids were extracted from the literature. Studies in which psychological factors were used as an independent variable were given preference. Results: The philosophical issues reviewed include: (a) one’s understanding of the nature of chronic pain, (b) the meaning of the score on the pain numerical rating scale (NRS), and (c) the selection of outcome measures. The psychological factors found to influence the effectiveness of opioids include: (a) role conditioning and learning, especially as they relate to conditioned analgesia, non-associative tolerance, and the nocebo effect, (b) dosing pattern, (c) patient specific factors, e.g., mood, overall psychological and neurocognitive status, (d) social variables, e.g., personal environment and the media, and (e) the dysfunctional endogenous opioid system and its relationship to various psychological disorders. Limitations: This is a selective review of the literature. Some of the hypotheses presented have not been experimentally validated. The review includes animal, human, experimental, and clinical studies. Conclusions: In general, the effectiveness of opioids may be influenced as much by the overall context in which they are used, including the physician-patient relationship as well as their pharmacological properties. Data obtained from short-term and well-controlled trials may not generalize to the clinical setting, which is often more complex and dynamic. Appreciating the impact of psychological factors may assist the clinician in proper patient selection, monitoring, and improved outcomes. Key words: Psychological factors, philosophical issues, chronic pain, opioid therapy, effectiveness, conditioning, placebo, cognitive dysfunction

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