Psychological and behavioral aspects of complex regional pain syndrome management

Psychological and behavioral factors can exacerbate the pain and dysfunction associated with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and could help maintain the condition in some patients. Effective management of CRPS requires that these psychosocial and behavioral aspects be addressed as part of an integrated multidisciplinary treatment approach. Well-controlled studies to guide the development of a psychological approach to CRPS management are not currently available. A sequenced protocol for psychological care in CRPS is therefore proposed based on available data and clinical experience. Regardless of the duration of the condition, all CRPS patients and their families should receive education about the negative effects of disuse, the pathophysiology of the syndrome, and possible interactions with psychological/behavioral factors. Patients with acute CRPS (<6-8 weeks) may not need additional psychological care. All patients with chronic CRPS should receive a thorough psychological evaluation, followed by cognitive-behavioral pain management treatment, including relaxation training with biofeedback. Patients making insufficient overall treatment progress or in whom comorbid psychiatric disorders/major ongoing life stressors are identified should additionally receive general cognitive-behavioral therapy to address these issues. The psychological component of treatment can work synergistically with medical and physical/occupational therapies to improve function and increase patients' ability to manage the condition successfully.     

Orofacial Pain and Headache: A Review and Look at the Commonalities

Research has shown that psychosocial factors can predict poor outcome for spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for patients with chronic pain, substantiating the need for standardized assessment techniques to incorporate psychosocial factors in patient selection. Presurgical psychological assessment is often required for SCS. Best practices include clinical interviews by psychologists and use of standardized measures of psychosocial risk factors. Psychologists should assess mental health and social risk factors, as well as an individual’s understanding of SCS and expectations for pain relief, while consulting with physicians to support a multidisciplinary based patient selection. In addition, psychologists take part in preparing patients who were initially deemed unsuitable for SCS by providing recommendations and potential access to clinical care addressing psychological issues in chronic pain. Barriers to presurgical psychological assessments include limited access to skilled psychologists and issues with feasibility and appropriateness of standardized measures, and further work is needed to improve standardized methodology.     

Pain Management Issues as Part of the Comprehensive Care of Patients with Sickle Cell Disease

BackgroundVaso-occlusive pain crisis is one of the primary complications of sickle cell disease (SCD) and is responsible for the majority of hospital visits in patients with SCD. Stints of severe pain can last for hours to days and are difficult to treat and manage, often resulting in drastically reduced quality of life.PurposeOur purpose is to provide an overview of pain management issues in SCD populations.MethodsWe explored literature using PubMed and Embase for the etiology and management of pain in SCD. Databases were searched employing the following terms: sickle cell, pain pathways, pain perception, pharmacological therapies, psychological therapies, physical therapies and genetics.ResultsPain in SCD can vary from acute to chronic (persistent) or mixed and understanding of the underlying mechanisms is important for proper pain management. Currently, there are many means of managing pain in children with SCD, which involve pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches. A combination of psychotherapy and pain medications can be used for treatment of pain and other psychosocial co-morbidities in complex persistent pain.ConclusionsProviding more appropriate medication and optimal dosage based on individual's genomic variations is the future of medicine, and this will allow the physicians to hone in on optimal pain management in patients with SCD.     

Psychological interventions for acute pain in childhood

BACKGROUND: Pain sensation depends on individual anxiety and situational circumstances. It is attributed a psychological and social basis. In children, the sensation of pain generally exceeds its perception. ACUTE PAIN IN CHILDHOOD: Facing acute pain in childhood - especially during medical procedures -, interventions derived from behavioural medicine may help minimize the sensation of fear and pain as well as maximize the experience of internal control. But, it is impossible to totally eliminate acute pain that way. Although it is undisputed that children benefit from psychological intervention, in clinical practice its potential is largely underestimated. Factors with impact on the sensation of acute pain and resulting behavioural and coping strategies are presented. The psychological preparation for a painful medical procedure is demonstrated in detail as an example of a behavioural medicine derived procedure.     

Management of chronic pain in the acute care setting

Chronic nonmalignant pain requires evaluation and treatment different from acute pain. The pathophysiology is different, and there is commonly some degree of psychosocial dysfunction. Opioids tend to be much less effective as analgesics for chronic pain, and may increase the sensitivity to pain when given long-term. Because they are self-reinforcing, opioids may be sought and be reported to improve chronic pain, even when they may make the condition worse over time. There are many effective alternatives to opioids for the treatment of chronic pain, but their use is complicated and may require considerable time and effort to determine which ones work. Patients, particularly those who have already been prescribed opioids, may resist these alternatives. An extensive physical and psychosocial evaluation is required in the management of chronic pain, which is difficult if not impossible to achieve in the emergency or urgent care settings. Consequently, emergency and urgent care physicians should work closely with the patient's pain management specialist or personal physician. Systems should be set up in advance to identify those patients whose frequent use of acute care services for obtaining opioids may be compromising their long-term management, putting themselves at risk for psychological and tolerance-induced adverse effects of frequent opioid use. Opioids may be used in carefully selected patients in consultation with their pain management specialist or personal physician, but care must be exercised not to initiate or exacerbate psychological or tolerance-related complications of chronic pain.     

Managing non‐serious low back pain in the emergency department: Time for a change?

Low back pain is a common condition seen in the ED. However, its management in this setting has received relatively little attention and there have been few efforts to develop strategies to improve emergency care of low back pain. In order to ensure that care is appropriately delivered for low back pain patients in the ED, emergency physicians must understand issues of providing low‐value care and consider potential solutions to the problem. In this paper, we describe the usual emergency care provided for non‐serious low back pain and present possible strategies for restructuring ED practice and approaches for changing physician and patient behaviour. A better understanding of how non‐serious low back pain is currently being managed and discussion on how to provide evidence‐based care according to current guideline recommendations will help emergency physicians improve the value of care for these patients.     

Veränderung der Schmerztherapie in Deutschland

Modern pain therapy began with the discovery of morphine by Sertürner in 1803. The following continuous introduction of new analgesics promised an end of pain as a bane of mankind. Reality, however, soon proved different. Today patients with chronic pain rather than those with acute pain are in the focus of pain therapy. Only since the beginning of interdisciplinary treatment including psychological and psychosomatic approaches progress has been achieved in chronic pain. The first specialised pain clinic opened by Bonica in the USA and the founding of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) have been milestones in the treatment of chronic pain. Today several associations and societies are active promoting both the needs of patients suffering from chronic pain and the needs of the professionals treating pain patients. Although recently physicians can qualify in specialised pain therapy there are still by far too few specialists to provide sufficient care for all chronic pain patients in Germany.     

Pain in elderly patients: a neglected phenomenon?

The assessment and control of pain in elderly patients present unique problems. Old people are likely to experience more pain, both chronic and acute, than their younger counterparts. Demographic changes mean that larger numbers of older patients will require effective and efficient control of pain in order to optimize their quality of life. Relatively little research has focused on this potentially huge problem. This paper discusses issues specific to pain in elderly people, and suggests that wide ranging and careful assessments are needed. Benefits can be achieved not only from the appropriate use of analgesic drugs, but also physical and psychological therapies.     

The impact of pain on quality of life and the unmet needs of pain management: results from pain sufferers and physicians participating in an Internet survey

Pain is one of the most common medical complaints, but despite its prevalence, many individuals still suffer with unrelieved or undertreated pain. This marketing research survey was designed to determine the physical, psychological, and economic impact pain has on the lives of individuals suffering with pain and to identify the unmet needs of patients who have taken opioid medications to treat their pain. In addition, the survey sought to address the challenges physicians face when treating patients with pain. Pain sufferers were recruited through e-mail invitation to an Internet survey; 173,854 invitations were sent out, 22,018 people responded (12.7%), and 606 met the criteria for inclusion in the survey as pain sufferers. Of these, 359 people had moderate to moderately severe chronic pain and 247 people had moderate to moderately severe acute pain. Additionally, physicians currently treating pain were recruited through e-mail and postal mail invitations and 492 met eligibility criteria: 241 specialists (orthopedic or general surgeons, pain specialists or anesthesiologists), 125 primary care, and 126 emergency medicine physicians. Results of this survey supported what many physicians observe in their practice and hear from their patients, that pain has a negative impact on daily activities in the majority of pain sufferers. Many chronic pain sufferers reported that pain had deleterious effects on their mental health, employment status, sleep, and personal relationships. The impact of pain on patient quality of life and the unmet needs in pain management were recognized by the majority of physicians surveyed, with inadequate pain control, end-of-dose pain, and side effects associated with increased dosing reported as negative factors influencing their choice of pain medication. In conclusion, effective communication between physicians and patients is encouraged to not only improve overall pain management but also to establish shared treatment goals with functional outcomes.     

Predicting postherpetic neuralgia in elderly primary care patients with herpes zoster: prospective prognostic study

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most frequent complication of herpes zoster (HZ) and difficult to treat. Timely identification of high-risk HZ-patients enables physicians to focus on PHN prevention. To assess which simple to measure factors are independent predictors of PHN, and whether psychosocial and serological/virological parameters have additional predictive value, a prospective cohort study in primary care was conducted. We included 598 elderly (>50 years) consecutive patients with acute HZ (rash <7 days) below sixth cervical dermatome. At baseline demographic, clinical (e.g., duration and severity of pain and rash), psychological (Pain Cognition List [PCL] and Spielberger's Anxiety Inventory), serological (VZV-antibodies) and virological (viremia presence) variables were measured. Blood tests were performed in a random subset of 218 patients. Primary outcome was significant pain (VAS >30 on 0-100 scale) after three months. The final prediction model obtained from multivariable logistic regression was (internally) validated using bootstrapping techniques, and adjusted for optimism. Forty-six (7.7%) patients developed PHN. Independent predictors were age (odds ratio [OR]=1.08 per year), acute pain severity (OR=1.02 per unit), presence of severe rash (OR=2.31), and rash duration before consultation (OR=0.78 per day): area under receiver-operating-characteristic curve [ROC area]=0.77 (95% CI: 0.71-0.82). Of the five PCL scores, only factor V ('trust in healthcare') was an additional predictor (OR=1.01 per unit), though it increased the ROC area with only 0.01 to 0.78. The Spielberger's anxiety scores and serological and virological variables were no additional predictors. Thus, four simple variables can help physicians to timely identify elderly HZ-patients at risk of PHN.     

Predictors of Acute Postsurgical Pain and Anxiety Following Primary Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty

This study aims to examine the joint role of demographic, clinical, and psychological variables as predictors of acute postsurgical pain and anxiety in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty and total hip arthroplasty. A consecutive sample of 124 patients was assessed 24 hours before (T1) and 48 hours after (T2) surgery. Demographic, clinical, and psychological factors were assessed at T1 and several postsurgical pain issues, anxiety, and analgesic consumption were evaluated at T2. Hierarchical linear regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of acute pain and anxiety following surgery. In the final multivariate model, presurgical optimism emerged as the main significant predictor of postsurgical pain intensity. Presurgical optimism also had a significant role in the prediction of postsurgical anxiety, together with presurgical anxiety level and emotional representation of the condition leading to surgery (osteoarthritis). A significant positive correlation between postsurgical anxiety and acute pain was also confirmed. The present study enhances our understanding of predictors of acute pain and anxiety following total knee arthroplasty and total hip arthroplasty by showing the relevance of psychological factors, over and above other potential clinical predictors. These findings could be used to develop targeted interventions aimed at acute postsurgical pain and anxiety management following major joint arthroplasties.PerspectiveThis article reveals the significant influence of psychological factors on the prediction of acute pain and anxiety 48 hours after primary total hip and knee arthroplasty. These results could prove useful for the design of interventions aimed at postsurgical pain and anxiety management.     

A Review of the Efficacy,Safety, and Cost‐Effectiveness of COX‐2 Inhibitors for Africa and the Middle East Region

Abstract: Despite an increasingly sophisticated understanding of pain mechanisms, acute and chronic pain remain undertreated throughout the world. This situation reflects the large gap that exists between evidence and practice in pain management and is typified by inappropriate use of nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The scientific evidence around these drugs continues to expand at a high rate, yet physicians are often unaware of best practice. To address this gap among physicians in Africa and the Middle East, an Expert Panel meeting was convened with representatives from the region. The principal objective of the meeting was to review the latest guidelines on the management of acute and chronic pain and to review the efficacy, safety, and cost‐effectiveness of cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) inhibitors in these settings. The main outcome of this review process was a number of consensus statements concerning the definitions of acute and chronic pain, and the efficacy, safety and cost‐effectiveness of traditional nonselective NSAIDs (nsNSAIDs) and selective COX‐2 inhibitors (coxibs). The panel agreed that nsNSAIDs and coxibs are effective analgesics with similar efficacy for acute pain; for chronic musculoskeletal pain, NSAIDs are significantly more effective than either placebo or paracetamol. Coxibs offer important safety advantages over nsNSAIDs, including gastrointestinal safety and preservation of platelet function; notably, the cardiovascular safety of coxibs has been the subject of much recent debate. Furthermore, the panel agreed there is substantial evidence to indicate that cost savings can be achieved by using celecoxib in patients at moderate to high risk of gastrointestinal adverse events, even in countries with moderate healthcare expenditures.     

Identifying chest pain emergencies in the primary care setting

The majority of patients presenting to a primary care physician with acute chest pain will have non-life-threatening etiologies. Nevertheless, catastrophic cause of chest pain such as ACS, AD, PE, esophageal perforation, and pericarditis must be considered in the differential diagnosis. Often, these deadly conditions have atypical clinical presentations that must be recognized. Furthermore, the physical examination can be deceptively benign in patients harboring a catastrophic etiology of chest pain. By identifying these atypical presentations, recognizing the utility of the physical examination, and understanding of the limitations of traditional diagnostic imaging, primary care physicians can effectively diagnose patients who have life-threatening cause of acute chest pain.     

Aortic disasters

TAD and AAA are two of the highest risk disease entities in emergency medicine. Emergency physicians should be vigilant in their approach to patients who have symptoms compatible with acute aortic disease. In chest and abdominal pain presentations, the chart must look like there was a search for the TAD and AAA. By having a sound knowledge of atypical cases;, having an appreciation for how subtle TAD and AAA can be; and recording and documenting a thorough history, physical examination, and risk factor profile, the emergency physician may reduce substantially the risk of missing a diagnosis and subsequently being sued. Emergency physicians cannot diagnose every case of acute aortic disease; what they can do is practice with a sound understanding of risk management principles and consider these diagnoses in all patients with chest, back, or abdominal pain.Ultimately, this strategy would provide protection for the patient and the physician.     

Beyond the Twelve-Lead Electrocardiogram: Diagnostic Tests in the Evaluation for Suspected Acute Myocardial Infarction in the Emergency Department,Part II

On a daily basis the emergency physician is faced with the difficult task of determining whether or not a patient with acute chest pain is sustaining an acute myocardial infarction. In most cases this is not a straightforward decision. Although observation units are being used more often for chest pain evaluations, many emergency physicians currently admit such patients to an intensive care setting. Because fewer than one-third of emergency department chest pain patients actually suffer an acute myocardial infarction, expensive resources are, in retrospect, used unnecessarily. Conversely, patients who are infarcting, and are inadvertently discharged home from the emergency department, have a worse prognosis than those admitted. This two-part series reviews the newer modalities available that may help the emergency physician arrive at a more accurate diagnosis. This article, Part II, will review the use of biochemical assays of cardiac proteins and discuss the Chest Pain Observation Unit.     

晚期前列腺癌骨转移并发急性腰椎骨折1例的护理

目的探讨晚期转移性前列腺癌合并急性腰椎骨折时应采取的护理措施和应注意的护理要点。方法回顾1例急性腰椎骨折病例的护理过程,总结护理相关经验。结果患者住院期间出现严重自杀倾向,对临床护理带来重要挑战。经安全护理、心理疏导和疼痛护理,患者重建生活信心出院。结论转移性前列腺癌出现急性骨折可能带来患者巨大精神创伤,严密的安全护理、有效的心理疏导和疼痛护理,有助于患者重建生活信心。     

Cardiorespiratory alterations during normal pregnancy.

Maternal cardiorespiratory changes can hinder satisfactory evaluation of gravid women. Alterations in the maternal cardiorespiratory system may be further modified by pain, labor, surgery, maternal posture, and gestational age. Critical illness during pregnancy demands an aggressive multidisciplinary approach by health care professionals who are familiar with these changes. This article reviews pertinent issues that should assist physicians treating complex medical complications during pregnancy.