Pain Syndromes Other Than Headache

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edgar L. Ross

Pain is experienced within a complex biologic, emotional, psychological, and social context that may defy physical examination, diagnostic procedures, and laboratory tests. This chapter aims to empower internists to improve their medical practices in pain management. It provides a scientific background that covers nociception and how sensory processing occurs at multiple levels in the body. Clinical assessment is detailed, as well as diagnostic categories that include mixed or uncertain chronic pain syndromes (back pain, fibromyalgia, postamputation pain, pain from cancer and bone) and neuropathic pain syndromes (polyneuropathy, mononeuropathy multiplex, ganglionopathy, genetic disorders, focal and regional syndromes). Treatment of chronic pain can be surgical or interventional. Pharmacologic treatment for acute and chronic nociceptive pain includes special considerations for geriatric and terminal patients. For treatment of neuropathic pain, medications are the major component. One tables lists iatrogenic nerve injuries that can cause posttraumatic neuralgia and complex regional pain syndrome. Other tables detail stepwise pharmacologic management of neuropathic pain and cite recommendations on opioid use from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One figure illustrates how pain transducers monitor and influence tissue conditions. Other figures show sensory processing in the spinal cord dorsal horn, physical findings in the feet of patients with bilateral foot pain from small-fiber polyneuropathy, illustrate how examination can identify specific nerve injuries causing chronic pain, and provide classification of chronic pain syndromes. This chapter contains 82 references.

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edgar L. Ross

Pain is experienced within a complex biologic, emotional, psychological, and social context that may defy physical examination, diagnostic procedures, and laboratory tests. This chapter aims to empower internists to improve their medical practices in pain management. It provides a scientific background that covers nociception and how sensory processing occurs at multiple levels in the body. Clinical assessment is detailed, as well as diagnostic categories that include mixed or uncertain chronic pain syndromes (back pain, fibromyalgia, postamputation pain, pain from cancer and bone) and neuropathic pain syndromes (polyneuropathy, mononeuropathy multiplex, ganglionopathy, genetic disorders, focal and regional syndromes). Treatment of chronic pain can be surgical or interventional. Pharmacologic treatment for acute and chronic nociceptive pain includes special considerations for geriatric and terminal patients. For treatment of neuropathic pain, medications are the major component. One tables lists iatrogenic nerve injuries that can cause posttraumatic neuralgia and complex regional pain syndrome. Other tables detail stepwise pharmacologic management of neuropathic pain and cite recommendations on opioid use from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One figure illustrates how pain transducers monitor and influence tissue conditions. Other figures show sensory processing in the spinal cord dorsal horn, physical findings in the feet of patients with bilateral foot pain from small-fiber polyneuropathy, illustrate how examination can identify specific nerve injuries causing chronic pain, and provide classification of chronic pain syndromes. This chapter contains 82 references.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edgar L. Ross

Pain is experienced within a complex biologic, emotional, psychological, and social context that may defy physical examination, diagnostic procedures, and laboratory tests. This chapter aims to empower internists to improve their medical practices in pain management. It provides a scientific background that covers nociception and how sensory processing occurs at multiple levels in the body. Clinical assessment is detailed, as well as diagnostic categories that include mixed or uncertain chronic pain syndromes (back pain, fibromyalgia, postamputation pain, pain from cancer and bone) and neuropathic pain syndromes (polyneuropathy, mononeuropathy multiplex, ganglionopathy, genetic disorders, focal and regional syndromes). Treatment of chronic pain can be surgical or interventional. Pharmacologic treatment for acute and chronic nociceptive pain includes special considerations for geriatric and terminal patients. For treatment of neuropathic pain, medications are the major component. One tables lists iatrogenic nerve injuries that can cause posttraumatic neuralgia and complex regional pain syndrome. Other tables detail stepwise pharmacologic management of neuropathic pain and cite recommendations on opioid use from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One figure illustrates how pain transducers monitor and influence tissue conditions. Other figures show sensory processing in the spinal cord dorsal horn, physical findings in the feet of patients with bilateral foot pain from small-fiber polyneuropathy, illustrate how examination can identify specific nerve injuries causing chronic pain, and provide classification of chronic pain syndromes. This chapter contains 82 references.


Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 120 (18) ◽  
pp. 3647-3656 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samir K. Ballas ◽  
Kalpna Gupta ◽  
Patricia Adams-Graves

AbstractSickle cell pain includes 3 types: acute recurrent painful crises, chronic pain syndromes, and neuropathic pain. The acute painful crisis is the hallmark of the disease and the most common cause of hospitalization and treatment in the emergency department. It evolves through 4 phases: prodromal, initial, established, and resolving. Each acute painful episode is associated with inflammation that worsens with recurrent episodes, often culminating in serious complications and organ damage, such as acute chest syndrome, multiorgan failure, and sudden death. Three pathophysiologic events operate in unison during the prodromal phase of the crisis: vaso-occlusion, inflammation, and nociception. Aborting the acute painful episode at the prodromal phase could potentially prevent or minimize tissue damage. Our hypothesis is that managing these events with hydration, anti-inflammatory drugs, aggressive analgesia, and possibly vasodilators could abort the crisis and prevent or minimize further damage. Chronic pain syndromes are associated with or accompany avascular necrosis and leg ulcers. Neuropathic pain is not well studied in patients with sickle cell disease but has been modeled in the transgenic sickle mouse. Management of sickle cell pain should be based on its own pathophysiologic mechanisms rather than borrowing guidelines from other nonsickle pain syndromes.


2012 ◽  
Vol 92 (1) ◽  
pp. 193-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanns Ulrich Zeilhofer ◽  
Hendrik Wildner ◽  
Gonzalo E. Yévenes

The two amino acids GABA and glycine mediate fast inhibitory neurotransmission in different CNS areas and serve pivotal roles in the spinal sensory processing. Under healthy conditions, they limit the excitability of spinal terminals of primary sensory nerve fibers and of intrinsic dorsal horn neurons through pre- and postsynaptic mechanisms, and thereby facilitate the spatial and temporal discrimination of sensory stimuli. Removal of fast inhibition not only reduces the fidelity of normal sensory processing but also provokes symptoms very much reminiscent of pathological and chronic pain syndromes. This review summarizes our knowledge of the molecular bases of spinal inhibitory neurotransmission and its organization in dorsal horn sensory circuits. Particular emphasis is placed on the role and mechanisms of spinal inhibitory malfunction in inflammatory and neuropathic chronic pain syndromes.


Author(s):  
Ann Marie Chiasson

Energy medicine (EM) consists of a range of modalities and techniques that work with the underlying energy field of the body. Techniques range from hands-on healing to using vibration, movement or sound. There is moderate evidence that energy medicine significantly decreases many types of chronic pain and is most utilized in patients with chronic pain syndromes. Energy medicine prevalence of use and evidence, specifically in GI disorders, has been less investigated. There are a few small studies demonstrating evidence for decreasing symptoms in inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer. Despite the lack of specific data for GI disorders, due to its role in increasing relaxation and decreasing pain, it can be a useful adjunct therapy. Most energy medicine modalities have specific techniques for GI disorders. Finding a skilled practitioner, as well as learning how to use self-healing techniques, can be valuable additions to a patient’s plan of care.


Author(s):  
Gavin Clunie ◽  
Nick Wilkinson ◽  
Elena Nikiphorou ◽  
Deepak R. Jadon

The Oxford Handbook of Rheumatology 4th edition, has been extensively updated to thoroughly review aspects of musculoskeletal pain. Pain pathophysiology is reviewed. Chronic pain and fibromyalgia in adults and in children and adolescents is dealt with in detail. The reader is advised to cross reference from this chapter to Chapters 1–3 in the Handbook, where regional musculoskeletal pain conditions are listed and reviewed. In localized pain syndromes, the chapter has an overview of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), which is not infrequently encountered in rheumatology and musculoskeletal clinics. Included in detail for this edition, is the assessment and management of pain in children, which is a highly specialized clinical area of medicine and will be of use to the adult rheumatologist and general practitioner as well as paediatric specialists. Readers should cross reference to Chapter 23 on medications, for ‘pain medications’ in the Handbook


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (S1) ◽  
pp. 26-26
Author(s):  
Shona Ray-Griffith ◽  
Bethany Morrison ◽  
Pedro Delgado ◽  
Everett Magann ◽  
Michael Mancino ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: (1) Characterize the prevalence and initial pharmacological management of chronic pain syndromes during pregnancy in a women’s mental health program. (2) Describe the severity and qualitative characteristics of chronic pain during pregnancy and the acute postpartum period. (3) Compare obstetrical and neonatal outcomes between pregnant women with and without chronic pain syndromes. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: A chart review was conducted to identify all pregnant women who presented for an initial evaluation to the Women’s Mental Health Program (WMHP) at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences from July 2013 to June 2016. We excluded respondents <18 years of age or who did not consent to having their information used for research purposes. Demographic information, past and current medical histories, and medication history were obtained from written and electronic medical records. Chronic pain complaints and medication history are presented as counts and percentages. In an ongoing prospective, longitudinal study of pregnant women with chronic pain, women are enrolled before 20 weeks gestation and followed throughout pregnancy and the first 3 months postpartum. Study visits occur at 4-week intervals; and pain characteristics, analgesic exposures, other medications, and depressive measures are collected. Obstetrical and neonatal outcomes are obtained following delivery. Subjects will be compared based on pain types (ie, neuropathic pain, non-neuropathic pain, and controls) and treatment exposures (eg, +/− opioids). Primary outcome measures include visual analog scale (VAS). Secondary outcome measures include other pain and depression assessments. Data will be analyzed using SAS 9.4. A p-value of<0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: (1) Chronic pain conditions were reported by 28.2% (44/156) of the initial referrals to the WMHP. (2) 95.5% of respondents with chronic pain were taking at least 1 medication, and 59.5% were taking 2 or more medications. Mean number of medications used were 2.6±2.1.3. The most common medications reported were acetaminophen (43.2%), opioids (43.2%), and sedative/hypnotics (36.4%). Non-pharmacological therapy (eg, physical therapy and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) was reported by 20.5% of respondents. (4) We anticipate that measures of pain severity will increase in pregnancy, peak in the third trimester, and decline in the postpartum period. (5) We foresee that the prospective results will confirm the chart review as indicated by a higher rate of medication exposures during pregnancy, including non-analgesic medications in the women with chronic pain syndromes. (6) We expect women with chronic pain syndromes to have a higher rate of obstetrical complications, specifically pre-term delivery and operative delivery. (7) Finally, we anticipate that chronic pain syndromes and management will result in a higher rate of neonatal complications, specifically neonatal intensive care unit admission, neonatal respiratory problems, and small for gestational age infants. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Chronic pain syndromes are prevalent in more than one-quarter of pregnant women in our study with the majority of women using pharmacological agents to manage their condition. This prevalence is greater or equal to than other common obstetrical conditions, such as gestational diabetes or preterm delivery. The novel prospective data will be germane to the clinical care of pregnant women with chronic pain disorders. Clinical practice will be better informed by our data regarding the potential impact of chronic pain and its management on pregnancy course and perinatal outcomes. These data will provide the initial foundation for the development of treatment guidelines for the management of chronic pain syndromes during the perinatal period.


Author(s):  
David N. Ruskin

Chronic pain is associated strongly with poor quality of life. Drug treatments for pain can be problematic; with the understanding that chronic pain syndromes often involve derangement of homeostasis, there is an increased interest in applying nonpharmacological metabolic therapies. This chapter surveys clinical and animal research into the effects of fasting, calorie restriction, ketogenic diet, and polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on pain. These dietary treatments can significantly ameliorate pain in inflammatory and neuropathic disorders. The choice among these treatments might depend on the specific pain syndrome and the tolerance of the patient for particular dietary modifications. Several possible mechanisms are discussed, some of which might be in common among these treatments, and some treatments might engage multiple mechanisms. Multiple mechanisms acting together could be ideal for restoring the disordered metabolism underlying some pain syndromes.


Biofeedback ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-14
Author(s):  
Sarah Roth

A thorough understanding of the physiological processes that underlie muscle tension is foundational to any discussion on environments and substances that alter such a process. The fascial web, an interconnection of the various fascia, extends throughout the entire body and acts to link every area of the body together and connect external and internal structures. It is the fascial tissue that transmits forces locally (i.e., between muscle and bone or between muscle and ligament) and distally, thereby creating muscle contraction in interconnected but distant areas of the body. Fascia is composed of various cell types, fibers (elastin, collagen, and reticular), and a fluid-like ground substance that is rich in proteoglycans. Fascial tissue responds both acutely and chronically to its environment via adaptations in both collagen and proteoglycan structure. Acutely, this results in the normal contraction of muscles and resultant movement, such as looking down at one's feet while walking, but chronically it can result in chronic pain syndromes, including tension headaches, due to tensegrity (tensional integrity) changes in the fascial framework. This can occur as a response to repetitive strain or acute injury. The purpose of this discussion is to provide an overview of some of the many influences on muscle tension from the perspective of a naturopathic doctor. I will use tension headaches as an example, though the principles discussed here may be extended to many different chronic pain syndromes.


1998 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Lidbeck ◽  
Gertie IM Hautkamp ◽  
Ritva A Ceder ◽  
Urban LO Näslund

OBJECTIVE: To make a detailed diagnostic analysis of patients with chronic pain syndromes, including classification according to the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP).DESIGN: Descriptive study of consecutive referrals during a two-year period.SETTING: A multidisciplinary out-patient pain clinic focused on occupational rehabilitation.SUBJECTS: A total of 309 chronic pain patients.METHODS: After a standardized multimodal physical and psychological examination, the chronic pain syndrome of each patient was assigned one or more clinical diagnoses; assigned to an etiological pain category (nociceptive pain, non-nociceptive including idiopathic pain, and psychological pain); and coded diagnostically according to IASP taxonomy.RESULTS: In all, 397 clinical diagnoses were made (ie, a mean of 1.3 diagnoses per patient). A large majority (87%) received a diagnosis of myalgia. Myofascial pain (trigger point syndrome) was diagnosed in two-thirds of the patients and was the most frequent clinical pain syndrome. A total of 51.8% of the pain syndromes were categorized as nociceptive, 43.0% as idiopathic and less than 1% as pain of psychological origin. Classification using the IASP system yielded a very high proportion of nociceptive, musculoskeletal pain syndromes of high intensity, with widespread pain and/or pain located in the neck/shoulder/arm region, and of dysfunctional etiology.CONCLUSIONS: Musculoskeletal pain was very common in this series, and myofascial pain syndromes were the most frequent specific pain disorders. However, myofascial pain had generally gone unrecognized by the referring physician. In contrast to findings of other studies, the incidence of low back pain and of primary psychological pain was low. Comparison of the results with those of Swedish epidemiological surveys showed the frequencies of the diagnoses in this series to be representative of chronic pain syndromes in the Swedish general population.


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