ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Early and optimal treatment of postoperative pain based on a multimodal treatment concept is very important so that subsequent chronification can be avoided. OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the influence of progressive muscle relaxation on the sensation of pain and the need for analgesics after orthopedic interventions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This nonrandomized pilot study tested 104 patients in the Clinic of Orthopedics at the Saarland University Medical Center in Homburg, Germany. The patients underwent total endoprosthesis (TEP) of the or the knee or spine surgery (laminectomy), and they had the option of choosing to use the technique of progressive muscle relaxation. All patients completed a questionnaire on the first, fourth, and ninth postoperative day. Data were collected on the maximum and minimum intensity of pain, duration of strong pain, length of hospital stay, and use of pain medication. These were compared by means of t tests for the group with progressive muscle relaxation and the group without progressive muscle relaxation. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed between the two groups regarding pain sensation analgesic dosage. There was a tendency for the length of hospital stay to be shorter in the group with progressive muscle relaxation. CONCLUSION: The positive effect of progressive muscle relaxation cannot be confirmed on the basis of the study data. Owing to the varying study design and implementation as well as the inclusion of heterogeneous patient groups, no conclusion can be drawn at present regarding the effectiveness of progressive muscle relaxation in common practice; therefore, further research is necessary.
Subject(s)
Autogenic Training , Pain, Postoperative , Analgesics , Germany , Humans , Pain, Postoperative/therapy , Pilot Projects , Relaxation Therapy , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Einleitung: Trotz immer besserer medizinischer und operativer Therapiemaßnahmen bleibt eine adäquate Schmerztherapie für viele gynäkologische Krankheitsbilder eine He-rausforderung. Neue patientenfokussierte Testsysteme können dabei zur Verlaufsbeurteilung und Therapieoptimierung beitragen. Ziel war es, die Pilot-Ergebnisse unserer, in Deutschland einmaligen, interdisziplinären, universitär geführten, integrativen Schmerzsprechstunde anhand neu-ester patientenfokussierter Testsysteme auszuwerten und zur weitergehenden interkollegialen Diskussion vorzustellen. Materialien und Methoden: Retrospektive, monozentrische Analyse der Behandlungsverläufe von Patientinnen einer neuen integrativen und interdisziplinären, gynäkologischen Schmerzsprechstunde mittels patientenfokussiertem Testsystem (PROMIS-29). Ergebnisse: Insgesamt konn-ten die Ergebnisse von 18 Patientinnen analysiert werden. Zur Nachuntersuchung zeigten sich signifikante Verbesserungen in allen Domänen des PROMIS-29. Schlussfolgerung: Die vorgestellte interdisziplinäre, integrative Schmerz-sprechstunde unter Zuhilfenahme patientenfokussierter Testsysteme kann relevante Schmerzdomänen erfassen und erfolgreich therapieren. Weitere Untersuchungen müssen diese neue Art der Verlaufsbeobachtung und gynäkologisch fokussierter Schmerzbehandlung nun mit längeren Nach-sorgeintervallen bestätigen.
Subject(s)
Genital Diseases, Female/therapy , Integrative Medicine , Pain Clinics , Pain Management/methods , Patient Reported Outcome Measures , Female , Humans , Pilot Projects , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The adequate treatment of chronic pain also calls for measuring its quality not only its intensity. For this reason, this pilot study investigated the non-verbal description of pain quality based on tones, distinguishing between nociceptive and neuropathic pain. METHODS: A nociceptive and a neuropathic pain stimulus were applied to 80 chronic pain patients and 80 healthy subjects. Using a tone generator, all participants matched both pain stimuli to an appropriate tone (in Hz). The stimulus intensity was measured using the NRS-scale, and the PainDETECT questionnaire was completed. RESULTS: Both groups matched a significantly higher tone to the neuropathic than to the nociceptive pain stimulus. Compared to healthy participants, chronic pain patients allocated higher tones to both pain stimuli. Higher values were also shown for the neuropathic pain stimulus, and chronic pain patients indicated an overall higher intensity of pain as healthy participants. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to differentiate pain stimuli non-verbally through tones, however, whether quality or intensity, was the key factor remains unknown. Future studies could investigate the influence of additional factors. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: A practical tool using tones should be developed to detect pain quality in patients - without verbal descriptions - quickly and more precisely.
