OBJECTIVE: The overall goal of this study was to examine the relationship between preoperative, 1-year post-operative, and 2-year postoperative self-image in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis undergoing spinal fusion surgery. In addition, a minor goal was to examine the relationship between pre-surgical mental health and post-surgical self-image and satisfaction. Additionally, spinal curvature and preoperative pain were explored in relation to the effect of pre-surgical mental health on post-surgical self-image. Analyses were performed in order to better understand the relationship of corrective surgery to self-image, and self-image's relationship to persistent postoperative pain, which has been recognized as a common clinically significant problem. METHODS: The Scoliosis Research Society Questionnaire-30 and Spinal Appearance Questionnaire were administered to 219 patients enrolled in the Prospective Pediatric Scoliosis study at pre-operative, 1-year post-operative, and 2-year post-operative time points. A subset (n=163) of these patients had complete data. The Scoliosis Research Society Questionnaire-30 includes pain and mental health subscales, which were examined preoperatively for the purpose of this study. Measurements of preoperative curve (Cobb) angle percentage correction were used in the analysis of this data, which were determined using operative notes. The Spinal Appearance Questionnaire (SAQ) includes self-image appearance and expectations subscales, which were examined at the preoperative, 1-year postoperative, and 2-year postoperative time points. RESULTS: There were significant improvements in self-image after surgical intervention in children with idiopathic scoliosis undergoing spinal fusion surgery. Cobb angle percentage correction, preoperative pain scores as determined by the SRS-30, and preoperative mental health scores as determined by the SRS-30 were not significant predictors of postoperative self-image as measured by the SAQ. There is little to no correlation between the preoperative measures and postoperative self-image. CONCLUSIONS: Prior studies have confirmed that pediatric persistent postsurgical pain is a significant health concern, and that presurgical mental health and self-image are factors that contribute to a pediatric patient's longitudinal experience with postsurgical pain. This study shows that there are clinically significant improvements in self-image after surgical intervention in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis undergoing spinal fusion surgery. These findings suggest that preoperative pain, degree of spinal curvature correction, and preoperative mental health are not determinative of postoperative self-image in pediatric populations. Future studies should be conducted on more diverse populations, and take into account measures that may be predictors of poor postoperative self-image, specifically depression and anxiety. In summary it is important to explore the biological mechanisms pertaining to pediatric post-surgical chronic pain and their relation to differences in somatosensory phenotypes in this patient population.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Hispanic patients receive disparate pain care compared to non-Hispanic White (NHW) patients. Healthcare providers’ ethnic bias may be one reason for pain disparities. This investigation sought to determine the influence of Hispanic ethnicity and ethnic bias on chronic pain management decisions. During an online experiment, 97 medical students made pain assessment and opioid treatment decisions for Hispanic and NHW virtual human patients with chronic pain. They also completed explicit and implicit measures of ethnic bias. Individual-level analyses found that 31% and 36% of participants demonstrated large effect sizes (dz>.50), indicating that patient ethnicity strongly influenced their pain assessment and opioid treatment decisions, respectively. At the group level of analysis, participants’ decisions did not differ significantly between NHW and Hispanic patients (all p values >.05). Participants did not report significant explicit ethnic bias (t[96]=1.88, p=.06; dz=.19; Hispanic mean rating=77.6[SD=18.7]; NHW mean rating=75.2[SD=19.4]) but demonstrated a small-to-moderate implicit preference for NHWs relative to Hispanics (Mean=.31[SD=.41]). Patient ethnicity and implicit ethnic bias had an interactive effect on opioid treatment decisions (F[1, 95]=5.15, p<.05, generalized eta squared =.02); however, the direction of the effect was not as hypothesized. Participants with higher implicit ethnic bias gave significantly higher opioid ratings to Hispanics relative to NHWs (p=.05), whereas participants with lower bias gave marginally higher opioid ratings to NHWs relative to Hispanics (p=.20). Participants with higher vs. lower implicit ethnic bias differed only in their treatment ratings for NHW patients, such that participants with lower bias gave significantly higher opioid ratings to NHW patients than did participants with higher bias (p<.05). This investigation found that approximately one-third of participants made significantly different chronic pain management decisions for Hispanic vs. NHW patients. Participants’ implicit ethnic bias interacted with their opioid treatment decisions but not as expected. Future investigations should measure healthcare providers’ stereotypes about Hispanic patients with pain as this may better predict their pain decisions.

Quantitative sensory testing (QST) is a useful tool in evaluating patients with neuropathic pain. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and taking into consideration the transportation barriers that many chronic pain patients face, there is an increasing need for a valid QST protocol that can be completed at home. This study sought to establish and validate an at-home QST protocol for the evaluation of patients with neuropathic pain. A sample of 18 patients with neuropathic pain who had previously completed the validated bedside QST protocol completed the at-home QST assessment and a series of questionnaires. Bivariate correlations between in person and at home QST measures were assessed using Pearson correlations, and Spearman's rho was applied when variables showed non-normal distributions. Results found that comparable at home QST protocols included punctate hyperalgesia, cold allodynia, cold hyperalgesia, and the cold pain tolerance-time measure. At home tests that did not show strong correlations with previously established beside QST included static mechanical allodynia, dynamic mechanical allodynia, temporal summation of mechanical pain, and the cold pain tolerance- pain rating. This research will be instrumental in testing less mobile participants or those who cannot come to a laboratory site for traditional QST testing and future sensory phenotyping of patients that will move the field toward a more individualized medicine approach. / 2024-01-28T00:00:00Z

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Johannesburg 2017. / Neck pain is one of the most common debilitating musculoskeletal complaints seen in physiotherapy practice. It is often associated with headache, upper back and shoulder/arm pain (cervico-brachial pain) and such patients are more disabled than patients with neck pain only. Cervico-brachial pain syndrome is an upper quarter pain syndrome in which neural tissue sensitivity to mechanical stimulus is thought to play a role. Neuropathic pain is a problem associated with and prevalent in neck and arm pain. Psychosocial factors, such as fear-avoidance beliefs and catastrophising, have been shown to play an important role in treatment outcomes. Neural mobilisation (NM) is often used to influence the neural structures in conditions with signs of neural involvement or neural mechano-sensitivity. It seems reasonable to use neural mobilisation in cervico-brachial pain as neural structures play an important role in this condition The optimal treatment intervention for cervico-brachial pain is yet to be established. The prevalence of cervico-brachial pain in a South African population is also unknown. Aims of the study The aims of the study were to: i. To establish the prevalence of cervico-brachial pain in patients being seen in physiotherapy practices in Pretoria, South Africa. ii. To establish the effect of neural mobilisation on the pain, function and quality of life of patients with acute and sub-acute cervico-brachial pain. iii. To establish the influence of high catastrophising scores and neuropathic pain on treatment outcomes. iv. To establish the effect of demographic factors on the pain, function and quality of life of patients with cervico-brachial pain. Methods Research Question 1. A retrospective survey of physiotherapy patient records dated 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011 was conducted. The prevalence of patients with neck pain in relation to other musculoskeletal complaints was calculated and expressed as a percentage. Symptoms recorded included the following; headache, dizziness, pins and needles, feeling of weakness, other sensations, more than one symptom and pain in other area/s. Based on body charts, areas of pain were coded as neck pain only, pain in the shoulder, shoulder and upper arm, shoulder to elbow, lower arm, hand, neck and arm up to wrist, neck and arm including hand. Research Questions 2, 3 and 4 A single blind randomised clinical trial was conducted to establish the effect of neural mobilisation on cervico-brachial pain. The intervention group (IG) received cervical and thoracic mobilisation exercises, advice and NM. The usual care (UC) had the same treatment without NM. Outcomes were assessed at 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 6 months and 12 months. The Numerical Pain Rating Scale was used to determine the effect of NM on pain. The Patient Specific Functional Scale was used to determine the effect of NM on function and the EuroQual5 instrument was used to establish the effect of NM on the quality of life. At 6 weeks the Global Rating of Change was administered to measure patient’s perception of recovery. The Neuropathic Diagnostic Questionnaire (DN4) was used to classify patients with neuropathic pain and the Pain Catastrophising Scale to identify catastrophisers. Results and Discussion Prevalence of neck and radiating arm pain in physiotherapy private practice, Pretoria South Africa The prevalence of neck pain in private physiotherapy practices in Pretoria, SA is high (46.4% of the total musculoskeletal complaints) with radiating arm pain (52.2% of neck pain population) and pain in other areas (22.6% of neck pain population) being commonly associated with neck pain. Furthermore, other symptoms such as headache (25.4% of the neck pain population) and paraesthesia (11.2%) are also frequently present. Neck pain is multi-faceted and this has implications for its management. Future studies with a bigger, representative population sample are needed to establish the prevalence of neck pain in SA. The effect of neural mobilisation on cervico-brachial pain All patients improved significantly in terms of pain, function and quality of life over the 12-month period. However, the IG had significantly less pain than the UC group at 6 months (p=0.03 95% CI 0.96 - 2.03) and this difference was more pronounced in patients with neuropathic pain (IG 2.91 95%CI 1.74 - 4.08 and CG 5.5 95% CI 3.45 - 7.55 p=0.01). There were no significant differences between groups in terms of function or quality of life. Patients with neuropathic pain had significantly more pain at 6 months (positive neuropathic pain 3.71 95%CI 2.57 – 4.84; negative neuropathic pain 1.44 95% CI 0.93 – 1.96 p=0.0001) and 12 months (positive neuropathic pain 3.23 95% CI 1.74 – 4.71; negative neuropathic pain 1.38 95% CI 0.88 – 1.91 p=0.01) compared to those without neuropathic pain. At 12 months function was also negatively affected by the presence of neuropathic pain (positive neuropathic pain 23.91 95%CI 20.96 – 26.86; negative neuropathic pain 27.15 95% CI 25.95 – 28.36 p=0.04). It did not have an effect on quality of life. Catastrophisers had more pain at 6 months (catastrophisers 4.25 95% CI -1.90 – 10.40; non-catastrophisers 1.70 95% CI 1.22 – 2.17 p=0.02) and 12 months (catastrophisers 3.56 95% CI 1.10 – 6.02) compared to non-catastrophisers (1.47 95% CI 0.96 – 1.99 p=0.02). There was no difference in their function at any time, however at baseline they reported a lower quality of life (Catastrophisers 61.96 95% CI 52.04 – 71.87; non-catastrophisers 75.79 95% CI 71.91 – 79.66 p=0.002). Conclusion The addition of NM to cervical and thoracic mobilisation, exercises and advice to stay active, in the management of cervico-brachial pain, resulted in less pain at 6-month follow-up. For patients with neuropathic pain the positive effect was more pronounced. Adding NM as an adjunct to usual care is effective to improve pain for patients with cervico-brachial pain especially for those with a neuropathic pain component. The presence of neuropathic pain and catastrophising resulted in poor pain-related outcomes. / MT2017

Background: In the sub-Saharan African countries, cancer pain is a widespread and intractable problem that has a major impact on the quality of life of patients with cancer and their relatives. For many patients, cancer causes a series of symptoms, where pain is one of those that, according to research, affects the patient negatively in several ways. Purpose: The purpose of the literature review was to compile literature on pain in patients with cancer in sub-Saharan Africa. Method: A general literature study based on a systematic method of analyzing data (Popenoe et al., 2021). Searches have taken place in databases of scientific articles and 13 articles with a qualitative, quantitative and banded design have been included.   Results: A compilation of the results yielded four themes: Occurrence of pain, Pain assessment instruments, Medicines, CAM and alternative treatment methods and Impact on daily life. The studies show that patients with cancer report a lot of pain and that assessment tools are used very rarely. In addition to this, drugs for pain are difficult to obtain. Alternative treatment methods are common and pain is strongly associated with anxiety, depression and negative impact on quality of life.   Conclusion: Patients with cancer in sub-Saharan Africa report a lot of pain, which has a major impact on daily life. A number of obstacles to optimal pain relief have been identified and several studies have been conducted on these obstacles. Solutions exist, but the process is complicated by laws, financial priorities, the ignorance of the healthcare staff and availability of pain medication. Education of healthcare professionals, overview of laws and local regulations and increased availability of pain medication can improve the pain problem and increase the quality of life for patients with cancer in sub-Saharan Africa.

No description available.

Opioid misuse and addiction constitute a significant public health challenge in the 21st century, with opioids involved in the majority of drug overdose deaths since 1999. A vigorously researched area that contributes substantially to the opioid misuse and addiction challenge is pain. The impact of pain, however, on important health outcomes for individuals in recovery from opioid use is less well understood. The effects of pain on substance use and mental health outcomes was investigated among individuals in recovery from opioid use disorder. Two studies are reported. First, the relationships between pain status and severity on substance use, treatment utilization, and mental health outcomes (e.g., depressive symptoms) was characterized cross-sectionally. Second, subgroups of OUD recovery defined by depression, opioid withdrawal, and pain were identified. Relationships between recovery subgroups, OUD symptoms, remission, opioid use, and quality of life were assessed. Finally, transitions among subgroups across 4 years of recovery were characterized. The present findings support pain as a key dimension of opioid use disorder recovery, highlighting the distinction between acute and chronic pain, the dynamic nature of opioid use disorder recovery, and emphasizing the necessity of integrating pain into opioid use disorder treatment. / Doctor of Philosophy / Misuse of and addiction to opioids is a significant health challenge. Pain has played a central role in facilitating the opioid epidemic in the United States, but the impact of pain on substance use and mental health outcomes for individuals in recovery from opioid use is less well understood. The following two studies investigated how pain affects substance use and mental health outcomes among individuals in recovery from opioid use disorder. Study 1 examined how different types of pain (chronic pain, acute pain, no pain) affect substance use, treatment use, and mental health measures (e.g., depression, quality of life). Study 2 investigated the role that depression, opioid withdrawal, and pain have in defining different groups in opioid recovery. Together these studies support pain as an important factor in OUD recovery, highlight the distinction between acute and chronic pain, emphasize the importance of integrating treatment for opioid use disorder and pain, and demonstrate that opioid use disorder recovery is a dynamic process with individuals transitioning among different recovery groups over time.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to investigate problem areas of organists' performance as indicated by common experiences of pain. The research problems were to determine the specific areas of the body that were affected by pain, to determine the perceived level of that pain on a scale indicative of its severity, and to explore the relationship between demographic and performance-related factors within the population and specific area of reported pain. An examination of the demographic, performance-related, and pain data, as well as subject comments, indicated possible relationships of the pain experience to other factors. Organists attributed their pain to instrument characteristics, such as keyboard action, music rack height, bench design, and pedalboard shape. Pain was also associated with the time spent playing the organ, playing literature which required large reaches and rapid passage work, such as french toccatas, or playing with incorrect posture. To explore these relationships to spinal and upper extremity pain, further research is indicated.

Background: Low back pain is very common and has a tremendous economic impact. With the prevalence and incidence of low back pain on the rise, individuals are turning to alternative treatments. Yoga is the most widely used complementary and alternative medicine treatment for low back pain and it is not fully certain how effective this method is for resolving the symptoms. Objectives: The purpose of this manuscript is to systematically review the current literature for randomized controlled trials that assess the outcomes of yoga intervention in individuals with low back pain. Methods: An electronic database search was performed to analyze studies. To be included in the review, the studies were required to be a randomized controlled trial, published in English, present in a peer reviewed journal, identify yoga as the primary treatment focus for low back pain in at least one group, and included participants with at least a 12 week history of low back pain. Results: A search of the databases revealed 177 articles, of which, 8 met the inclusion criteria. Conclusions: Yoga intervention appears to be effective in alleviating symptoms brought on by low back pain. Yoga was either demonstrated to significantly improve quality of life and reduce disability, stress, depression, and medication usage associated with low back pain in 6 of the 8 analyzed trials. More research is necessary to account for the lack of between-group differences in two trials.