The myofascial component of the pain in the painful shoulder of the hemiplegic patient

OBJECTIVES: Poststroke shoulder pain occurs very frequently and compromises function and quality of life. Because treatment depends on a multidisciplinary approach, it is desirable to optimize effectiveness. Myofascial pain syndrome is defined by the presence of trigger points that can also be found in spastic stroke patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of myofascial pain in the shoulder girdle muscles in patients with poststroke shoulder pain and to document the clinical and functional results obtained with specific treatment for this condition. METHODS: Spastic stroke hemiplegic patients undergoing rehabilitation at the Rehabilitation Center of the Hospital das Clínicas of the Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo were evaluated regarding the intensity and characteristics of shoulder pain, previous therapeutic interventions, shoulder goniometry and the presence of trigger points. Patients underwent trigger point blockade by intramuscular infiltration of 1% lidocaine. The evaluation and treatment procedures were repeated in the subsequent 3 weeks as long as the pain intensity was greater than 5 on a visual analog scale (VAS). In the fourth week, the evaluation procedures were repeated. Patients who were in a multiprofessional rehabilitation program were instructed to continue the treatment, and the others received complementary therapeutic advice if necessary to initiate it. The evaluations were performed at 0, 1, and 3 weeks and after 4 months. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients (13 men; age=67.8±10.2 years; right hemiparesis: 11) participated in the study, and there was a reduction in pain assessed by VAS from baseline (7.6±2.7) to the first week (5.8±3.6; p<0.05) through the end of the third week (5.2±3.5; p<0.05), but not at the end of four months (6.6±2.9; p=0.11). Good responders had significantly lower pain levels after the third week and presented with a larger range of motion for passive abduction by the end of 4 months. These results demonstrate that the myofascial component of pain should be considered in poststroke shoulder pain and that its treatment may be a pathway for the rapid and long-lasting relief of symptoms. CONCLUSION: Trigger point blockade with lidocaine can reduce pain perception in spastic hemiplegic shoulder in as much as 50% of stroke survivors for four months.

Infiltración subacromial de ácido hialurónico en el tratamiento del dolor crónico de hombro. Serie prospectiva de 80 pacientes seguidos durante un año / Subacromial sodium hyaluronate injection for the treatment of chronic shoulder pain: A prospective series of eighty patients

Resumen: Objetivo: Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar la efectividad de las infiltraciones subacromiales de ácido hialurónico en el tratamiento del dolor crónico de hombro como alternativa a los tratamientos quirúrgicos y no quirúrgicos actualmente disponibles. Material y métodos: Estudio prospectivo de 80 pacientes consecutivos con dolor crónico de hombro seguidos durante 12 meses. Se realizaron cinco infiltraciones subacromiales con ácido hialurónico durante cinco semanas consecutivas y se analizaron los resultados clínicos obtenidos. Resultados: La puntuación en la escala de Constant mejoró en 7.7 puntos, el cuestionario DASH disminuyó en cinco puntos y la puntuación en la escala visual analógica para el dolor disminuyó 1.6 puntos por término medio. Los pacientes que presentaban dolor de menos de 24 meses de evolución respondieron mejor al tratamiento. Las mujeres respondieron mejor. Los pacientes con disminución del espacio subacromial o lesión del manguito rotador según la resonancia magnética mejoraron, pero los pacientes que mostraron signos de artrosis acromioclavicular en la resonancia empeoraron en todas las escalas evaluadas. Discusión: Las infiltraciones subacromiales de ácido hialurónico son especialmente efectivas en el tratamiento del dolor crónico de hombro de menos de 24 meses de evolución, con disminución del espacio subacromial o lesión parcial o total del manguito rotador, pero en nuestra experiencia, su resultado no es bueno en pacientes con artrosis acromioclavicular.

Abstract: Objective: Our purpose was to assess the effectiveness of hyaluronic acid infiltrations for chronic shoulder pain as an alternative to the non-surgical and surgical treatments that are currently available. Material and methods: This is a prospective study of 80 consecutive patients suffering from chronic shoulder pain followed for twelve months. Five subacromial hyaluronic acid injections on five consecutive weeks were administrated to all patients. Results: A significant improvement within the whole group after six months was observed. Constant score improved by 7.7 points, DASH questionnaire decreased by 5 points and Visual Analog Scale for pain decreased by 1.6 points. Patients with history of less than 24 months of pain responded better to treatment. Females responded better. Patients with decreased subacromial space or cuff tear in the MRI improved but patients diagnosed by the MRI of acromioclavicular osteoarthritis worsened in all scales assessed. Discussion: Subacromial hyaluronic acid injections are specially effective in patients with history of less than 24 months of pain, a decreased subacromial space or partial or total cuff tear but, in our experience, its result is not good in patients with acromioclavicular osteoarthritis.

Evaluación del dolor en el adulto mayor / Evaluation of the pain in older people

Resumen: Objetivo: Comparar las informaciones obtenidas del porcentaje verbal de mejoría declarada verbalmente con la escala visual analógica (EVA) en personas con edad menor y mayor o igual de 65 años. Pacientes y métodos: Fueron evaluados 95 individuos con dolor agudo en el hombro (entesitis). Fue solicitado en cada uno de ellos medir la intensidad del dolor a través de la EVA tras un tratamiento médico con infiltración de corticosteroide en el hombro; fueron examinados una semana después, con una nueva medición de la intensidad del dolor verbalmente. Enseguida, las informaciones fueron comparadas entre pacientes con edad mayor o igual y menor de 65 años. Resultados: Se utilizó una diferencia de hasta 10% en módulo (valor absoluto) entre el porcentaje verbalmente declarado y el calculado con base en las medidas declaradas en la EVA. En los sujetos < 65 años, la frecuencia de casos donde la variación entre el porcentaje de mejoría verbalmente declarado y el calculado excede 10% fue de 29.8%; entre las personas ≥ 65 años la discrepancia ocurrió en 60.95%. Conclusión: El análisis de este estudio utilizó distintos métodos descriptivos e inferenciales para investigar las hipótesis levantadas; dentro de las herramientas empleadas, una confirma la hipótesis sobre los individuos ≥ 65 años y nos lleva a recomendar que el uso de la EVA para este grupo etario sea realizado con cautela y orientación.

Abstract: Objective: To compare the information obtained of the percentage of improvement declared orally with the improvement marked in the visual analogical scale (VAS) in patients under and over 65 years of age. Patients and methods: Ninety-five individuals with acute shoulder pain (enthesitis) were evaluated. The subjects were requested to mark the pain intensity in the VAS before a treatment with corticosteroid injection in the shoulder and were evaluated again through the VAS one week after the procedure. They were also requested to declare orally the pain intensity. Then, the information was compared between patients aged under and over 65 years of age. Results: 29.8% of those younger than 65 years, and 60.95% of those older than that age presented more than 10% difference between orally stated and calculated pain relief percentage based on the VSA. Conclusion: The difference between the orally stated and the calculated pain relief percentage based on the VSA was significantly higher in the group of those older than 65 years. This finding proved that the VAS is a poor method to evaluate pain relief in the senior population.

Resultados funcionales de la aplicación de toxina botulínica tipo A contra antiinflamatorios orales en la rehabilitación de síndrome de hombro doloroso por lesión del mango de los rotadores / Functional results of type a botulinum toxin versus oral antiinflammatory agents in the rehabilitation of painful shoulder syndrome caused by rotator cuff lesion

Las enfermedades del mango de los rotadores se caracterizan por signos inespecíficos, síntomas y alteraciones de la anatomía, su etiología es multifactorial y pueden abarcar desde tendinitis hasta rupturas masivas de espesor completo del tendón del manguito de los rotadores, las cuales comprometen la biomecánica normal del hombro afectado. Normalmente suceden en mayores de 40 años; sin embargo, el asociado a trauma depende del mecanismo de lesión y no tiene relación directa con la edad de aparición de los síntomas. Se han descrito factores vasculares en el daño al tendón del manguito de los rotadores, en patologías que afectan a la microcirculación; sin embargo, estudios recientes no han demostrado que el tendón bajo observación directa presente datos de hipovascularidad. La toxina botulínica tipo A realiza su acción mediante bloqueo de la liberación de acetilcolina en la placa neuromuscular; en las articulaciones provoca liberación de la tensión capsular así como la disminución de factores pro inflamatorios tales como la interleucina-1; aunque existen pocos artículos sobre su utilidad intraarticular, en los grupos musculares y tendinosos, además de tener un efecto miorrelajante existen diversas publicaciones que apoyan su utilidad en el manejo del dolor y su utilidad en la rehabilitación de este grupo de pacientes; en dosis bajas, ha sido ampliamente utilizada. Material y métodos: Se trata de un estudio prospectivo, experimental y longitudinal en el cual se realizó seguimiento a 24 pacientes con diagnóstico de síndrome de hombro doloroso demostrado por pruebas clínicas y de gabinete debido a lesiones del mango de los rotadores, sin criterios de reparación quirúrgica inmediata, o ya reparados, a los cuales a 12 pacientes se les aplicará toxina botulínica tipo A en el espacio subacromial de forma peri-tendón del tendón conjunto del manguito de los rotadores, así como en puntos de dolor y contractura muscular en hombro, con una dosis total de 200 UI de toxina botulínica tipo A, mientras que al grupo control, de 12 pacientes, se le administraron antiinflamatorios vía oral por seis semanas, tipo Cox 2, Celecoxib 100 mg cápsulas una cada 12 horas; a los dos grupos se les sometió a un programa de rehabilitación ya establecido, el cual fue supervisado cada dos semanas y hasta las seis semanas de evolución; se realizaron valoraciones subjetivas y objetivas valorando la presencia de dolor, el nivel funcional y la movilidad posible mediante la escala de valoración funcional de hombro de Constant y la escala visual análoga. Resultados: Grupo de Celecoxib Promedio de escala de Constant inicial fue de 60 puntos, el inmediato a la primera dosis se mantuvo en 60 puntos, a las dos semanas de tratamiento con Celecoxib se encontró un puntaje de Constant promedio de 66 puntos y a las seis semanas el promedio fue de 70.33 puntos, siendo el valor de la p > 0.005. Grupo de toxina botulínica 200 UI máximo en hombro afectado, 50 UI subacromial y 150 en puntos de dolor además de asociarlo a programa de ejercicios de rehabilitación supervisados en consultorio. El promedio de la escala de Constant inicial fue de 58 puntos, el inmediato a la primera dosis se elevó a 70.83 puntos, a las dos semanas posteriores a infiltración y seguimiento de ejercicios en consultorio fue de puntaje Constant promedio de 77.16 puntos y a las seis semanas el promedio fue de 78.5 puntos, siendo el valor de la p < 0.005 (p = 0.00045). En cuanto a la escala visual análoga se observó que en el grupo de Celecoxib existió una disminución de dicha escala a las seis semanas con una p < 0.005.

Rotator cuff conditions are characterized by unspecific signs, as well as anatomic alterations and symptoms. They have a multifactorial etiology and may include everything from tendinitis to massive, full thickness tears of the rotator cuff tendon that compromise the normal biomechanics of the involved shoulder. They usually occur in people over 40 years of age but lesions resulting from trauma may vary according to the mechanism of injury and are not directly related with the age at onset of symptoms. Vascular factors have been described as related with rotator cuff tendon damage in conditions affecting the microcirculation. However, recent studies have not proven that the tendon under direct observation shows hypovascularity. Type A botulinum toxin acts by blocking the release of acetylcholine in the neuromuscular plate; in the joints it releases capsular tension and reduces proinflammatory factors such as interleukin-1 (IL-1). There are only a few papers on its intraarticular benefit; in muscle and tendon groups it not only has a muscle relaxant effect, but several publications support its utility for pain management. It has been widely used in the rehabilitation of this group of patients at low doses. Material and methods: Prospective, investigational and longitudinal study involving the follow-up of 24 patients with a diagnosis of painful shoulder syndrome proven clinically and with imaging tests, and caused by rotator cuff lesions. The patients either did not meet the criteria for immediate surgical repair or had already undergone such a repair. Type A botulinum toxin was applied to 12 patients in the subacromial space around the rotator cuff conjoint tendon, as well as in the painful spots and in the muscle contracture in the shoulder. The total dose of Type A botulinum toxin was 200 IU. The control group, also composed of 12 patients, was given a COX-2 oral antiinflammatory agent for 6 weeks (Celecoxib, 100 mg BID). Both groups followed a pre-established rehabilitation program for a total of 6 weeks and were supervised every 2 weeks. Subjective and objective assessments were made including pain, performance level and possible mobility, using Constant's functional shoulder assessment and the visual analog scale (VAS). Results: Celecoxib group: Mean initial Constant scale score was 60; after the first dose it remained unchanged. After 2 weeks of treatment with Celecoxib the mean Constant score was 66; by 6 weeks it was 70.33, with p > 0.005. The botulinum toxin group received a maximum dose of 200 IU in the affected shoulder, 50 IU were administered subacromially and 150 in the painful spots. This treatment was combined with rehabilitation exercises supervised at the doctor's office. The mean initial Constant scale score was 58; immediately after the first dose it went up to 70.83. Two weeks after the injection and the supervision of rehabilitation exercises at the office, the mean Constant scale score was 77.16; at six weeks it was 78.5, with p < 0.005 (p = 0.00045). The VAS in the Celecoxib group decreased at six weeks with p < 0.005.

Intraperitoneal dexamethasone as a new method for relieving postoperative shoulder pain after gynecologic laparoscopy

In this study, we tried to show the efficacy of Intraperitoneal dexametha-sone on relieving shoulder pain after gynecologic laparoscopy. In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, 63 patients who were candidates for gynecologic laparoscopy were included. At the end of the procedure patients randomly received 16 mg dexamethasone [n=31] or placebo [n=32] intraperitoneally. Visual analogue scale [VAS] was used for clinical evaluation of pain severity during 24 hours after laparoscopy. A physician, who was not aware whether patients were treated with drug or placebo, evaluated the patients. The severity of pain in the dexamethasone group within 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 hours after procedure was significantly less than in the placebo group [p<0.001]. The average consumption of opioids as analgesic/ sedative in the placebo group was more than the dexamethasone group [p=0.025]. Findings of this study show that the prescription of 16 mg of dexamethasone [single dose] in the peritoneal cavity may significantly reduce the severity of pain after Laparoscopy in comparison with placebo and may decrease the need for narcotics as pain relief

Aplicación de farmacopuntura en afecciones dolorosas del hombro / Application pharmacopuncture in painful affections of the shoulder

Se realizó un estudio experimental, tipo ensayo clínico controlado, en el período comprendido entre enero del 2007 hasta enero del 2008, con el fin de comparar la respuesta al tratamiento con farmacopuntura en el hombro doloroso con respecto al bloqueo del nervio supraescapular y proponer un algoritmo de tratamiento. La muestra quedó constituida por 60 pacientes, los cuales fueron aleatorizados y divididos en dos grupos, a uno se le realizó bloqueo del nervio supraescapular con betametasona y lidocaína al 2 por ciento en dosis habituales y al otro grupo se les aplicó farmacopuntura con pequeñas dosis de betametasona diluida con agua para inyección. El tratamiento fue aplicado dos veces por semana y hasta seis sesiones como máximo. Se evaluaron semanalmente por un equipo de trabajo teniendo en cuenta el criterio del paciente según la escala visual análoga, según criterio médico basado en el examen clínico, explorándose el dolor, la limitación de la movilidad articular y el balance funcional . Se observó una evolución satisfactoria más rápida en los pacientes tratados con farmacopuntura. El tratamiento con farmacopuntura en el hombro doloroso es de alta eficacia frente al bloqueo del nervio supraescapular.

We carried out an experimental, longitudinal and prospective study, at the Provincial Centre for the Development of Natural and Traditional Medicine Dr Mario E Dihigo, during the period from January 2007 to January 2008, with the objective of treating the increased incidence of patients with painful affections of the shoulder, requiring in many cases the usage of long, risk treatments, with results not always satisfactory. The sample was formed by 60 patients who were randomized and divided in two groups. A blockade of the supraescapular nerve with betamethasone and lidocain 2 per cent in habitual doses was applied to one group; the second one received pharmacopuncture with low doses of betamethasone diluted in water for injection. The treatment was applied 2 times a week and up to the maximum of 6 sessions. They were evaluated weakly for a working group, taking into account the patient's criteria according to the visual analogous scale, according to the medical criteria based on the clinical examination looking for pain, joint mobility limitation and functional balance. Among the studied patients there was a predominance of the female sex beginning from the third and fourth decades of life. Tendinitis of the rotator cuff was the most frequent diagnosis. There was a faster satisfactory recovery in patients treated with pharmacopuncture. Pharmacopuncture therapy in painful shoulder is of higher efficacy than the blockade of the supraescapular nerve.

Botulinum toxin type A for refractory post-stroke shoulder pain / Toxina botulínica do tipo A no tratamento do ombro doloroso após AVC

Botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) has been used to treat several neurological conditions such as sialorrhea, hyperhydrosis, dystonia, hemifacial spasm, spasticity and pain. Although spasticity has been successfully treated with BTX-A, few are the authors studying the use of BTX-A to treat shoulder pain secondary to stroke. In order to study if BTX-A is effective to treat post-stroke shoulder pain, we followed up during 4 months 16 patients with sustained shoulder pain. Patients received BTX-A according to previous discussion with the rehabilitation group to determine the muscles and dose to be injected and were evaluated by the join range of motion and analogic pain scale. There was decrease of pain during shoulder motion, mainly during the movements of extension and rotation. We conclude that BTX-A is a safe and efficacious therapy.

A toxina botulínica do tipo A (TB-A) tem sido utilizada com sucesso para o tratamento de várias enfermidades neurológicas, tais como sialorréia, hiperidrose, distonia, espasmo hemifacial, espasticidade e dor. Embora espasticidade seja tratada com sucesso após o advento da TB-A, poucos são os autores que utilizaram a TB-A no tratamento da dor no ombro espástico secundária a acidente vascular cerebral (AVC). Com o objetivo de estudar a eficácia da TB-A no tratamento da dor no ombro secundária a AVC, foram acompanhados 16 pacientes com esta enfermidade associada à dor refratária no ombro espástico. Os pacientes receberam TB-A de acordo com dose e pontos de injeção definidos previamente pelo grupo de reabilitação e foram avaliados pelos ângulos de abertura da articulação do ombro e escala de avaliação analógica de dor. Houve melhora da dor à movimentação da articulação do ombro, principalmente nos movimentos de rotação e extensão. Concluímos que a TB-A é uma terapêutica segura e eficaz para o tratamento do ombro doloroso secundário a AVC.

Cervical Facet Joint Injections in the Neck and Shoulder Pain

The effects from cervical facet joint injections in those patients who have been complaining cervical zygapophyseal joint pain were compared. The patients were diagnosed originally as myofascial pain syndrome (MPS), cervical herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP), and whiplash-associated disorders (WAD). Patients with the zygapophyseal joints pain of C5-6 and C6-7 were classified by their pain origin as MPS, HNP, and WAD. All patients had been undergone cervical zygapophyseal joints injections with the mixture of lidocaine and triamcinolone unilaterally or bilaterally through the posterior approach under C-arm imaging guide. The therapeutic effects were compared with reduction of numeric rating scale (NRS) of pain before and immediately after blockade and symptom-free periods in each group after 12 months. Symptom durations before injections were 16.1+/-9.6, 4.6+/-1.9 and 4.1+/-1.1 months in each MPS, HNP, and WAD groups. The reductions of NRS immediately after the blockade among the three groups were not different. However, the symptom-free duration after blockade lasted longer in the HNP group than the other two groups. In patients with cervical zygapophyseal pain syndromes, the analgesic effect from cervical facet joint blocks lasted longer in cervical HNP than MPS or WAD.