Pain types and risk factors in post-COVID-19.

Objectives: This study aims to accurately evaluate pain lasting longer than three months and falls under the category of chronic pain and to determine the risk factors to follow up and treat properly and to develop appropriate diagnostic and treatment algorithms. Patients and methods: Between March 2021 and December 2021, a total of 437 patients (162 males, 275 females; mean age: 44±14.6 years; range, 12 to 82 years) who were referred to the participating centers due to pain complaints and were diagnosed with post-COVID-19 condition according to the criteria defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) were included in the study. The patients were divided into three groups as nociceptive pain, neuropathic pain, and central sensitization, based on the physician's clinical evaluation and the Self-Report Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (S-LANSS) and Central Sensitization Inventory scores. Results: The most common diagnosis was nociceptive pain followed by central sensitization. Patients with nociceptive pain had less pain. It was found that not exercising regularly, having a chronic disease and being a woman were risk factors for central sensitization, having thyroid disease before COVID-19, and defining the current pain as very severe were risk factors for neuropathic pain. Conclusion: In the evaluation of post-COVID-19 pain, neuropathic pain and central sensitization should be also considered in addition to nociceptive pain and the severity of pain, systemic diseases and physical activity should be questioned.

Exercises for fibromyalgia syndrome: what YouTube tells us as a source of information for patient and physician education.

OBJECTIVE: YouTube, a popular worldwide source to access health information online, may have an impact in enhancing exercise therapy for fibromyalgia patients. This study is aimed to investigate the quality and reliability of exercise videos prepared for fibromyalgia syndrome on YouTube. METHODS: A thorough search on YouTube using six search terms related to fibromyalgia treatment and exercise was conducted. The videos with content on exercises for fibromyalgia, acceptable audio-video quality, and are in English language were included, whereas duplicates were excluded from the analysis. Quality was determined using the Global Quality Scale (GQS) and JAMA system, and reliability using the mDISCERN criteria. RESULTS: Out of a total of 600 videos, 70 videos that met the inclusion criteria were included in the analysis. Physicians were found to produce content mostly in high and medium quality (%70.2), other medical professionals mostly in low and medium quality (93.8%), while non-medical users mostly in low quality (86.7%). Ninety percent of the videos targeted patients, while 10% targeted healthcare professionals as an audience, and the majority (93.7%) of videos targeting patients were of low and medium quality, as most (85.7%) of the videos targeting healthcare professionals were of high quality. CONCLUSION: YouTube can be used as a tool to increase exercise adherence in fibromyalgia patients, as it offers a wide range of content that is easily accessible and useful at times. To implement this tool, physicians need to upload more content online as they stand for pioneers of high-quality information dissemination on the internet. KeyPoints • This research emphasizes the need for high-quality online healthcare information which is accessed by a vast number of individuals and the implementations that effectively address and prevent the spread of misinformation. • Additionally, it presents suggestions for the future regarding the uploading of such content on the internet. • Physicians hold the key responsibility in ensuring the availability of high-quality online health content, thereby carrying significant implications for its overall impact.

Validation of the Turkish Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire-8.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to test the validity of the Turkish version of the Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire (CPAQ)-8. Patients and methods: This methodological and cross-sectional study was conducted with 80 female patients (mean age: 49.5±10 years; range, 28 to 75 years) diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome between January 2020 and December 2021. Participants completed the Turkish version of the CPAQ-8, as well as the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, Brief Pain Inventory, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale. Internal consistency, confirmatory factor analysis, and construct validity were examined in the statistical analysis of the data obtained. Results: The two-factor model created by exploratory factor analysis provided a better fit than the global factor model. Cronbach's alphas of both subscales of the CPAQ-8 were found to be 0.76 and 0.80; therefore, they provided internal consistency. The CPAQ-8 was found to be significantly correlated with all other scales compared. Conclusion: The Turkish version of the CPAQ-8 is an assessment tool with sufficient validity in assessing pain acceptance levels in fibromyalgia patients experiencing chronic pain. Future studies are needed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the questionnaire in different chronic pain models.

Pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment approaches to chronic lumbar back pain.

Low back pain is a common and important cause of disability. Chronic pain increases disability and cost. In this review, we discuss pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment approaches for chronic low back pain in the light of current data and guidelines.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage May Not Have an Additional Effect on the Intensive Phase of Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a potentially debilitating complication of breast cancer and its treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) added to multilayer compressive bandage treatment in addition to an exercise program, on arm volume, subjective symptoms, upper limb functions, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with BCRL. Methods: This prospective, randomized, single-blind interventional trial involved 54 patients with BCRL. Eligible patients were randomly allocated to a complex decongestive therapy (CDT) group (n = 27) and a standard therapy (ST) group (n = 27). Both groups participated in a 15-session program (every weekday for 3 weeks) that included compressive multilayer bandaging and exercise training. The patients who were allocated to the CDT group received MLD before bandaging in addition to the ST. Bilateral arm circumferences were measured using a measuring tape at six reference points. Subjective symptoms, such as discomfort, heaviness, and swelling severity were measured using a visual analog scale (VAS). Upper limb functions and HRQoL were assessed using the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (Quick-DASH) and Lymphedema Functioning, Disability, and Health Questionnaire (Lymph-ICF), respectively. Results: The excess arm volume, percent change of excess arm volume, Quick-DASH scores, and Lymph-ICF subscale scores significantly decreased (p < 0.001) in both treatment groups. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups (p > 0.05) in terms of changes in these outcomes. The VAS discomfort (p = 0.015) and VAS heaviness (p = 0.014) scores decreased significantly in the CDT group compared to the ST group. Conclusion: The study findings indicated that both treatment approaches were effective in patients with BRCL. However, no additional effect of MLD was found with regard to percent reduction in arm volume in the intensive treatment period of BRCL.