Long-Term Outcomes in the Management of Central Neuropathic Pain Syndromes: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Central neuropathic pain syndromes are a result of central nervous system injury, most commonly related to stroke, traumatic spinal cord injury, or multiple sclerosis. These syndromes are distinctly less common than peripheral neuropathic pain, and less is known regarding the underlying pathophysiology, appropriate pharmacotherapy, and long-term outcomes. The objective of this study was to determine the long-term clinical effectiveness of the management of central neuropathic pain relative to peripheral neuropathic pain at tertiary pain centers. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with central (n=79) and peripheral (n=710) neuropathic pain were identified for analysis from a prospective observational cohort study of patients with chronic neuropathic pain recruited from seven Canadian tertiary pain centers. Data regarding patient characteristics, analgesic use, and patient-reported outcomes were collected at baseline and 12-month follow-up. The primary outcome measure was the composite of a reduction in average pain intensity and pain interference. Secondary outcome measures included assessments of function, mood, quality of life, catastrophizing, and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: At 12-month follow-up, 13.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.6-25.8) of patients with central neuropathic pain and complete data sets (n=52) achieved a ≥30% reduction in pain, whereas 38.5% (95% CI, 25.3-53.0) achieved a reduction of at least 1 point on the Pain Interference Scale. The proportion of patients with central neuropathic pain achieving both these measures, and thus the primary outcome, was 9.6% (95% CI, 3.2-21.0). Patients with peripheral neuropathic pain and complete data sets (n=463) were more likely to achieve this primary outcome at 12 months (25.3% of patients; 95% CI, 21.4-29.5) (p=0.012). CONCLUSION: Patients with central neuropathic pain syndromes managed in tertiary care centers were less likely to achieve a meaningful improvement in pain and function compared with patients with peripheral neuropathic pain at 12-month follow-up.

Long-Term Outcomes in the Management of Painful Diabetic Neuropathy.

BACKGROUND: Painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) is a frequent complication of diabetes mellitus. Current treatment recommendations are based on short-term trials, generally of ≤3 months' duration. Limited data are available on the long-term outcomes of this chronic disease. The objective of this study was to determine the long-term clinical effectiveness of the management of chronic PDN at tertiary pain centres. METHODS: From a prospective observational cohort study of patients with chronic neuropathic non-cancer pain recruited from seven Canadian tertiary pain centres, 60 patients diagnosed with PDN were identified for analysis. Data were collected according to Initiative on Methods, Measurement, and Pain Assessment in Clinical Trials guidelines including the Brief Pain Inventory. RESULTS: At 12-month follow-up, 37.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 23.0-53.3) of 43 patients with complete data achieved pain reduction of ≥30%, 51.2% (95% CI, 35.5-66.7) achieved functional improvement with a reduction of ≥1 on the Pain Interference Scale (0-10, Brief Pain Inventory) and 30.2% (95% CI, 17.2-46.1) had achieved both these measures. Symptom management included at least two medication classes in 55.3% and three medication classes in 25.5% (opioids, antidepressants, anticonvulsants). CONCLUSIONS: Almost one-third of patients being managed for PDN in a tertiary care setting achieve meaningful improvements in pain and function in the long term. Polypharmacy including analgesic antidepressants and anticonvulsants were the mainstays of effective symptom management.

Perineural steroid injections around ilioinguinal, iliohypogastric, and genitofemoral nerves for treatment of chronic refractory neuropathic pain: A retrospective study.

Background: Perineural local anaesthetic and steroid injections around ilioinguinal (II), iliohypogastric (IH), and genitofemoral (GF) nerves are often performed to treat chronic refractory neuropathic pain in the lower abdomen and groin, but there is a lack of published data on outcomes of these interventions. Aims: The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate analgesic outcomes of ultrasound-guided II, IH, and GF nerve blocks in patients with chronic neuropathic pain in the lower abdominal wall and groin. Methods: Analgesic outcomes were assessed at 6 weeks after injections and patients were classified as "responders" if the numerical rating scale for pain score reduced by 30% or more. Variables analyzed for impact on outcomes included demographics, intensity of pain and duration, etiology, dose of opioid, presence of anxiety, depression, and diabetes mellitus. Results: In this cohort of 54 patients with severe baseline pain who had failed to receive analgesic benefit from recommended first- and second-line medications for neuropathic pain, 30 patients had history of surgery and 24 had pain secondary to visceral inflammatory pathologies. Twenty-five (46.3%) patients were identified as responders. A majority of the patients in this cohort had pain for more than one year. There was a higher incidence of diabetes mellitus in nonresponders compared to responders but the difference was not significant (14% and 0%, respectively; P = 0.115). Conclusions: Ultrasound-guided perineural steroids can ameliorate chronic refractory abdominal wall and groin neuropathic pain in patients who have failed to respond to conventional medical management at 6 weeks after the procedures.

Contexte: L'anesthésie locorégionale périneurale et les injections de stéroïdes à proximité du nerf ilio-inguinal (II), du nerf ilio-hypogastrique (IH) et du nerf génito-fémoral (GF) sont souvent utilisées pour traiter la douleur neuropathique chronique réfractaire dans le bas-ventre et dans l'aine, mais peu de données ont été publiées sur les résultats de ces interventions.But: L'objectif de cette étude rétrospective était d'évaluer les résultats analgésiques du blocage des nerfs II, IH et GF guidé par ultrasons chez des patients souffrant de douleur neuropathique chronique dans la paroi du bas-ventre et dans l'aine.Méthodes: Les résultats analgésiques ont été évalués six semaines après les injections et les patients ont été classés « répondeurs ¼ si le score obtenu sur l'échelle numérique pour la douleur avait diminué de 30 % ou plus. Les variables analysées pour leur effet sur les résultats comprenaient les données démographiques; l'intensité et la durée de la douleur; l'étiologie; le dose d'opiacés, la présence d'anxiété; la dépression; et le diabète sucré.Résultats: Parmi cette cohorte de 54 patients souffrant d'une douleur sévère au départ pour lesquels les médications de première et de deuxième ligne recommandées pour la douleur neuropathique n'avaient pas été bénéfiques, 30 patients avaient une histoire de chirurgie et 24 avaient des douleurs secondaires à des pathologies inflammatoires viscérales. 25 patients (46,3 %) ont été identifiés comme répondants. La majorité des patients de cette cohorte ressentaient de la douleur depuis plus d'un an. Il y avait une plus grande incidence de diabète sucré chez les non-répondeurs comparativement aux répondeurs mais la différence n'était pas significative (14 % et 0 % respectivement; p = 0,115).Conclusions: Les stéroïdes périneuraux guidés par ultrasons peuvent améliorer la douleur neuropathique chronique réfractaire dans la paroi abdominale et dans l'aine chez les patients qui n'ont pas répondu à la prise en charge médicale conventionnelle six semaines après les procédures.

Development, implementation and evaluation of a pain management and palliative care educational seminar for medical students.

BACKGROUND: Despite calls for the development and evaluation of pain education programs during early medical student training, little research has been dedicated to this initiative. OBJECTIVES: To develop a pain management and palliative care seminar for medical students during their surgical clerkship and evaluate its impact on knowledge over time. METHODS: A multidisciplinary team of palliative care and pain experts worked collaboratively and developed the seminar over one year. Teaching methods included didactic and case-based instruction, as well as small and large group discussions. A total of 292 medical students attended a seminar during their third- or fourth-year surgical rotation. A 10-item test on knowledge regarding pain and palliative care topics was administered before the seminar, immediately following the seminar and up to one year following the seminar. Ninety-five percent (n=277) of students completed the post-test and 31% (n=90) completed the follow-up test. RESULTS: The mean pretest, post-test and one-year follow-up test scores were 51%, 75% and 73%, respectively. Mean test scores at post-test and follow-up were significantly higher than pretest scores (all P<0.001). No significant difference was observed in mean test scores between follow-up and post-test (P=0.559), indicating that students retained knowledge gained from the seminar. CONCLUSIONS: A high-quality educational seminar using interactive and case-based instruction can enhance students' knowledge of pain management and palliative care. These findings highlight the feasibility of developing and implementing pain education material for medical students during their training.

Music as a sleep aid in fibromyalgia.

BACKGROUND: Interventions to improve sleep in fibromyalgia may generalize to improvements in multiple symptom domains. Delta-embedded music, pulsating regularly within the 0.25 Hz to 4 Hz frequency band of brain wave activity, has the potential to induce sleep. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of a delta-embedded music program over four weeks for sleep induction in patients with fibromyalgia. METHODS: The present unblinded, investigator-led pilot study used a within-subject design. Analysis was based on 20 individuals with fibromyalgia who completed the study, of the 24 recruited into the study. The primary outcome variables were the change from baseline in Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and Jenkins Sleep Scale scores. A patient global impression of change was measured on a seven-point Likert scale. Secondary outcome measures, comprised of items 5, 6 and 7 of the FIQ, were used as indicators of pain, tiredness and being tired on awakening. RESULTS: The FIQ median score of 76.4 (95% CI 61.3 to 82.1) at baseline improved to 60.3 (95% CI 53.1 to 72.0; P=0.004). The Jenkins Sleep Scale median value of 17.5 (95% CI 15.5 to 18.5) at baseline fell to 12.5 (95% CI 8.5 to 14.5; P=0.001) at study completion. The outcomes of the patient global impression of change ratings were mostly positive (P=0.001). Being tired on awakening declined significantly from a median of 9.0 (95% CI 8.0 to 10.0) to 8.0 (95% CI 5.5 to 9.0; P=0.021). However, there was no significant improvement in pain level (baseline median 7.5 [95% CI 7.0 to 8.5] versus study completion median 7.0 [95% CI 6.5 to 8.0]; P=0.335) or tiredness (baseline median 9.0 [95% CI 8.0 to 9.5] versus study completion median 8.0 [95% CI 6.0 to 8.5]; P=0.061). There were no serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Delta-embedded music is a potential alternative therapy for fibromyalgia.

Intake assessment of problematic use of medications in a chronic noncancer pain clinic.

BACKGROUND: The present article outlines the process of instituting an assessment of risk of problematic use of medications with new patients in an ambulatory chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) clinic. It is hoped that the authors' experience through this iterative process will fill the gap in the literature by setting an example of an application of the 'universal precautions' approach to chronic pain management. OBJECTIVES: To assess the feasibility and utility of the addition of a new risk assessment process and to provide a snapshot of the risk of problematic use of medications in new patients presenting to a tertiary ambulatory clinic treating CNCP. METHODS: Charts for the first three months following the institution of an intake assessment for risk of problematic medication use were reviewed. Health care providers at the Wasser Pain Management Centre (Toronto, Ontario) were interviewed to discuss the preliminary findings and provide feedback about barriers to completing the intake assessments, as well as to identify the items that were clinically relevant and useful to their practice. RESULTS: Data were analyzed and examined for completeness. While some measures were considered to be particularly helpful, other items were regarded as repetitive, problematic or time consuming. Feedback was then incorporated into revisions of the risk assessment tool. DISCUSSION: Overall, it is feasible and useful to assess risk for problematic use of medications in new patients presenting to CNCP clinics. CONCLUSION: To facilitate the practice of assessment, the risk assessment tool at intake must be concise, clinically relevant and feasible given practitioner time constraints.

Examination of migraine management in emergency departments.

BACKGROUND: Despite advances in treatment, patients with migraine have been underdiagnosed and undertreated, specifically in emergency departments. In addition, great variability exists with respect to the diagnosis, management and treatment of migraine patients in emergency departments. In particular, migraine-specific treatments, including serotonin receptor agonists, appear to be rarely used. OBJECTIVE: To examine the diagnosis and management of migraine patients within Ontario emergency departments. METHODS: A prospective survey was designed to inquire how emergency physicians diagnose and manage patients with migraine. Questions focused on the use of serotonin receptor agonists, the rationale behind their use or nonuse, and acute headache protocols. The survey also inquired about the use of International Classification Of Headache Disorders-2 criteria in diagnosing migraine by emergency physicians, medication prescribed on discharge, and referrals made to outpatient specialists. These surveys were distributed to and anonymously completed by emergency physicians in several departments in Ontario. RESULTS: Migraine-specific treatments were underused in emergency departments. Furthermore, many departments lacked headache protocols and, often, migraine-specific treatment was not included in the few departments with protocols. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis and management of migraines can be improved within emergency departments, and patients can be more effectively channelled toward appropriate outpatient care.

The Canadian STOP-PAIN project - Part 1: Who are the patients on the waitlists of multidisciplinary pain treatment facilities?

PURPOSE: The Canadian STOP-PAIN Project assessed the human and economic burden of chronic pain in individuals on waitlists of Multidisciplinary Pain Treatment Facilities (MPTF). This article presents the patients' bio-psycho-social profile. METHODS: A sample of 728 patients was recruited from waitlists of eight university-affiliated MPTFs across Canada. Subjects completed validated questionnaires to: 1) assess the characteristics and impact of their pain; and 2) evaluate their emotional functioning and quality of life (QoL). Follow-up questionnaires were completed by a subgroup of 271 patients three months later. RESULTS: Close to 2/3 of the participants reported severe pain (> or = 7/10) that interfered substantially with various aspects of their daily living and QoL. Severe or extremely severe levels of depression were common (50.0%) along with suicidal ideation (34.6%). Patients aged > 60 yr were twice as likely to experience severe pain (> or = 7/10) as their younger counterparts (P = 0.002). Patients with frequent sleep problems were more at risk of reporting severe pain (P < or = 0.003). Intense pain was also associated with a greater tendency to catastrophize (P < 0.0001) severe depressive symptoms (P = 0.003) and higher anger levels (P = 0.016). Small but statistically significant changes in pain intensity and emotional distress were observed over a three-month wait time (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study highlights the severe impairment that patients experience waiting for treatment in MPTFs. Knowing that current facilities cannot meet the clinical demand, it is clear that effective prevention/treatment strategies are needed earlier in primary and secondary care settings to minimize suffering and chronicity.

The Canadian STOP-PAIN project - Part 2: What is the cost of pain for patients on waitlists of multidisciplinary pain treatment facilities?

PURPOSE: The Canadian STOP-PAIN Project was designed to document the human and economic burden of chronic pain in individuals on waitlists of Multidisciplinary Pain Treatment Facilities (MPTF). This paper describes the societal costs of their pain. METHODS: A subgroup of 370 patients was selected randomly from The Canadian STOP-PAIN Project. Participants completed a self-administered costing tool (the Ambulatory and Home Care Record) on a daily basis for three months. They provided information about publicly financed resources, such as health care professional consultations and diagnostic tests as well as privately financed costs, including out-of-pocket expenditures and time devoted to seeking, receiving, and providing care. To determine the cost of care, resources were valued using various costing methods, and multivariate linear regression was used to predict total cost. RESULTS: Overall, the median monthly cost of care was $1,462 (CDN) per study participant. Ninety-five percent of the total expenditures were privately financed. The final regression model consisted of the following determinants: educational level, employment status, province, pain duration, depression, and health-related quality of life. This model accounted for 35% of the variance in total expenditure (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The economic burden of chronic pain is substantial in patients on waitlists of MPTFs. Consequently, it is essential to consider this burden when making decisions regarding resource allocation and waitlist assignment for a MPTF. Resource allocation decision-making should include the economic implications of having patients wait for an assessment and for care.

Characteristics of women with vulvar pain disorders: responses to a Web-based survey.

This article presents data contributed by 428 highly educated, internet-savvy women who frequented various vulvar pain discussion lists. The age range was in the reproductive years and older and over 90% were Caucasians. No country of origin was given. They had a number of distressing symptoms, including vulvar pain at rest and with contact, burning, itching, redness, and inflammation. Most felt that they had either vulvar vestibulitis, vulvodynia, or both, although they had other vulvar conditions as well. Many felt that yeast infections, stress, antibiotics, infections, and chemicals played a contributing role. There were a number of comorbidities, including irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and interstitial cystitis. Sexual abuse was not a major issue. The vulvar pain destroyed or altered then sex lives, lowered their self-esteem, and affected their relationships. Often, they relied upon understanding partners, support groups, and hobbies but not the medical profession for comfort.

Clitoral pain: the great unexplored pain in women.

Clitoral pain is not often reported by patients or in literature. The author reports on 7 women from his practice and 14 women who were on-line volunteers, all of whom had clitoral pain as a major feature. Features included mild to moderate rest pain and significant contact, light-touch induced or pressure induced pain. Associations include Multiple Sclerosis, GUillain Barre Syndrome, urethral sphincter dyssynergia, various vulvar pain syndromes (nine cases), post-hysterectomy, Lichen Sclerosis (five cases), spondylolisthesis, vaginismus and genital or pelvic trauma. Eight claimed painful, allodynic nipples and seven had sensitive nipples. Clitoral pain was an important cause of pain in these women.