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PubMed2003

Osteoradionecrosis of the hyoid presenting as a cause of intractable neck pain following radiotherapy and the role of magnetic resonance image scanning to aid diagnosis.

Osteoradionecrosis of the hyoid has been reported rarely in the worldwide literature. We present the case of a 56-year-old gentleman who presented with intractable neck pain, following surgery and radiotherapy for a T(2)N(2c)M(0) tongue base carcinoma, to highlight the need to consider osteoradionecrosis of the hyoid rather than recurrence of the carcinoma as the cause of such symptoms. The previously unreported appearance of osteoradionecrosis of the hyoid on a magnetic resonance image (MRI) scan and the use of this investigation to aid diagnosis is discussed.

Fatal Outcome↗
PubMed1978

Pathological studies of spinal nerve ganglia in relation to intractable intercostal pain.

Pathological examination, by light and electron microscopy, of spinal nerve ganglia surgically removed in treatment of intractable intercostal pain, has shown changes in sensory cells, whether the etiology of the pain has been trauma related to intercostal nerve, or infection by herpes zoster virus. The possible role of the sensory cell changes in accounting for causalgic type pain is discussed.

Ganglia, Spinal↗
PubMed1994

The role of pancreatojejunostomy in patients without dilated pancreatic ducts.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety and efficacy of longitudinal pancreatojejunostomy in patients with chronic pancreatitis and intractable pain who do not have a markedly dilated pancreatic duct. BACKGROUND: Ductal decompression by side-to-side, longitudinal pancreatojejunostomy has become the operation of choice for patients with chronic pancreatitis and intractable pain when the pancreatic duct is markedly dilated. However, markedly dilated pancreatic ducts are found in less than 40% of patients with disabling pain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight consecutive patients with intractable pain from chronic pancreatitis, most of whom had minimal or no dilation of the pancreatic duct, were treated with side-to-side, longitudinal pancreatojejunostomy between 1970 and 1993. RESULTS: There were 18 (64%) males and 10 (36%) females. The mean age was 41 years (range 11 to 72). The etiologies for chronic pancreatitis were alcohol (82%), gallstones (7%), trauma (7%), and familial trait (4%). Intractable pain was present for a mean of 4 years (range 0.5 to 12). Thirteen patients (46%) were dependent on narcotics prior to surgery. Twenty-five patients (89%) had minimal (< 8 mm) or no dilation of the pancreatic duct and 3 (11%) had markedly dilated pancreatic ducts (> 10 mm). All experienced complete pain relief in the immediate postoperative period. Twenty-four patients (86%) have remained free of pain after a mean follow-up of 3.5 years (range 1 to 8). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with chronic pancreatitis and intractable pain, small pancreatic duct size should not be considered a contraindication to side-to-side, longitudinal pancreatojejunostomy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Evaluation and treatment of chronic intractable rectal pain--a frustrating endeavor.

A study was undertaken to assess the evaluation and treatment of chronic intractable rectal pain. Sixty consecutive patients, 23 males and 37 females with a mean age of 69 (range, 29-87) years and a mean length of symptoms of 4.5 years, were evaluated by questionnaire, office examination, anal manometry, electromyography, cinedefecography, and pudendal nerve study. In all cases, organic abdominopelvic and anorectal etiologies for the pain were excluded by extensive radiologic and endoscopic evaluation. All patients had failed conservative and medical therapy. Ninety-five percent of patients had one or more associated factors: constipation or dyschezia (57 percent), prior pelvic surgery (43 percent), prior anal surgery (32 percent), prior spinal surgery (8 percent), irritable bowel syndrome (10 percent), or psychiatric disorders (depression or anxiety; 25 percent). Possible etiologies for the pain included levator spasm or anismus in 62 percent, coccygodynia in 8 percent, and pudendal neuropathy in 24 percent of patients. Therapy for pain control included electrogalvanic stimulation (EGS) in 29, biofeedback (BF) in 14, and steroid caudal block (SCB) in 11 patients. Pain control was assessed by an independent observer at a mean of 15 (range, 2-36) months after completion of therapy. Continued successful pain relief was classified by patients as good or excellent after EGS in 38 percent, after BF in 43 percent, and after SCB in 18 percent; overall success was reported by 47 percent of patients. The presence of levator spasm, coccygodynia, or pudendal neuropathy did not influence outcome. The routine use of physiologic investigation of rectal pain may not be justifiable. Moreover, more than half of the patients were refractory to all three therapeutic options used in this study.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Deep brain stimulation in headache.

BACKGROUND: The therapeutic use of deep brain stimulation to relieve intractable pain began in the 1950s. In some patients, stimulation of the periaqueductal grey matter induced headache with migrainous features, indicating a pathophysiological link between neuromodulation of certain brain structures and headache. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS: Neuroimaging studies have revealed specific activation patterns in various primary headaches. In the trigeminal autonomic cephalgias, neuroimaging findings support the hypothesis that activation of posterior hypothalamic neurons have a pivotal role in the pathophysiology and prompted the idea that hypothalamic stimulation might inhibit this activation to improve or eliminate the pain in intractable chronic cluster headache and other trigeminal autonomic cephalgias. Over the past 6 years, hypothalamic implants have been used in various centres in patients with intractable chronic cluster headache. The results are encouraging: most patients achieved stable and notable pain reduction and many became pain free. All deep-brain-electrode implantation procedures carry a small risk of mortality due to intracerebral haemorrhage. Before implantation, all patients must undergo complete preoperative neuroimaging to exclude disorders associated with increased haemorrhagic risk. No substantial changes in hypothalamus-controlled functions have been reported during hypothalamic stimulation. Hypothalamic stimulation may also be beneficial in patients with SUNCT (short-lasting, unilateral, neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing)--a disorder with close clinical and neuroimaging similarities to the cluster headache. WHERE NEXT?: Neuroimaging findings in patients undergoing posterior hypothalamic stimulation have shown activation of the trigeminal nucleus and ganglion. This evidence supports the hypothesis that hypothalamic stimulation exerts its effect by modulating the activity of the trigeminal nucleus caudalis, which in turn might control the brainstem trigeminofacial reflex--thought to cause cluster headache pain. Future studies might determine whether other areas of the pain matrix are suitable targets for neuromodulation in patients with cluster headache who do not respond to hypothalamic modulation.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Results after laparoscopic lysis of adhesions and placement of seprafilm for intractable abdominal pain.

BACKGROUND: The surgical treatment of patients with chronic abdominal pain resulting from intraabdominal adhesions is controversial. We report our experience with treatment of this challenging patient population using laparoscopic lysis of adhesions (LOA) and placement of Seprafilm (Genzyme, Cambridge, MA, USA). METHODS: The participants in this study were 19 consecutive patients (2 men and 17 women) who underwent laparoscopic LOA and placement of Seprafilm between July 1998 and July 2001. Patients with abdominal pain resulting from irritable bowel syndrome, hernias, or endometriosis were excluded. The patients had undergone a mean of 6.4 previous abdominal procedures (range, 1-14) and 2.3 previous LOAs (range, 0-10). They had experienced chronic, intractable abdominal pain for at least 4 months (range, 4-180). Eight patients had preoperative obstructive symptoms. RESULTS: A completely laparoscopic procedure was used to treat 16 patients, whereas the procedure for 3 patients was converted to open surgery because of dense adhesions. Perioperative complications included two patients in whom enterocutaneous fistulae developed and one patient with intraabdominal hematoma. At follow-up (mean, 9.6 months; range, 1-32 months), 14 patients (73.7%) had completely discontinued all pain medications. At this writing, 12 of these patients are completely symptom free. Two patients are taking nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as needed, and three patients require round-the-clock narcotics. Three patients were readmitted with small bowel obstruction, which was managed nonoperatively. One patient had diagnostic laparoscopy for recurrent pain 6 months postoperatively, but had no adhesions. CONCLUSION: Chronic intractable abdominal pain is relieved in most patients via this approach. Repeat laparoscopy in two patients showed no intraabdominal adhesions. Laparoscopic LOA and placement of Seprafilm is an excellent approach to this challenging patient population with symptoms caused by intraabdominal adhesions.

Abdominal Wall↗
PubMed1983

Intra-arterial perfusion therapy with 5-fluorouracil in patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma and intractable pelvic pain.

In a phase-II trial, 18 patients with intractable pelvic and perineal pain caused by local recurrent and/or metastatic colorectal carcinoma resistant to combinations of analgesics, systemic cytostatic chemotherapy and/or radiation were treated with intra-arterial perfusion therapy using 15-30 mg 5-FU/kg body wt./day for 1-5 days. Of 18 patients, ten achieved complete pain relief for 3-32 weeks (mean, 15.7 weeks); after the perfusion therapy eight used less than 50% of the amount of analgesics required before treatment; one patient had only a minor response; two patients were treated unsuccessfully. Side effects were mild and controllable. One patient died subsequent to arterial embolism in the leg where the catheter was placed; pelvic perfusion therefore appears risky in patients with severe arteriosclerosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Continuous intrathecal hydromorphone and clonidine for intractable cancer pain.

The use of hydromorphone and clonidine, delivered intrathecally by an implanted infusion pump, is described in a patient with intractable cancer pain. The patient was a 48-year-old woman with uterine cervical cancer-related pain that was poorly responsive to conventional oral narcotics. Hydromorphone was used because of the patient's history of morphine intolerance. When progressive intrathecal hydromorphone dosages were required, intrathecal clonidine (an alpha 2 adrenergic agonist) was infused concomitantly. Intrathecal hydromorphone and clonidine successfully controlled this patient's pain without the necessity to resort to destructive neurosurgery.

Carcinoma↗
PubMed1985

[Peridural morphine in intractable cancer pains. Means and obstacles].

Long-term analgesia with epidural morphine (EM) is a new tool in the management of intractable cancer pain. Twenty-six out of 160 cancer patients referred to the Pain Division for pain assessment were selected for analgesia with long-term epidural morphine, so aiming to define its place amongst more traditional methods of treatment, such as drugs, nerve-blocks, neurosurgery or radiotherapy. All 26 patients were cases of conventional analgesic failure, with very advanced cancer states. Thirteen patients became absolutely pain free throughout the treatment period: five of them were even allowed home. Another ten patients were satisfied with EM, though some residual pain of neurogenic and visceral type persisted. In three patients, epidural morphine was judged as a complete failure. The 134 other patients could be managed with either of the other above mentioned techniques. The most important selection criterion for patients requiring epidural morphine seemed to be continuous multiple site bilateral pain of deep somatic origin. The response was variable in continuous visceral pain, while neurogenic, cutaneous and intermittent pain due to intestinal obstruction responded only exceptionally. EM was most valuable in terminal situations when systemic opiates failed to give satisfactory analgesia, or in acute transitory situations, while waiting for a response to cancer-orientated therapy. Epidural morphine considerably improved the patients' quality of life, compared with conventional methods tried beforehand. Analgesic methods in cancer are palliative procedures. In terminal or temporary situations, other more invasive methods are not suited. The EM technique is simple, adjustable to advancing pain and has few side-effects, especially when compared with neurolytic and neurosurgical procedures.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Peridural meperidine in humans: analgesic response, pharmacokinetics, and transmission into CSF.

Effective analgesia resulted from the injection of peridural meperidine in two groups of cancer patients, eight with postoperative pain and eight with intractable pain. Peridural meperidine HCl, 100 mg (n = 8), in 10 ml saline administered to patients following surgery was followed by a median duration of analgesia of 6 hours (range 4-20 hours) over periods ranging from 1-4 days. Peridural meperidine HCl, 30-100 mg (n = 8), in 10 ml saline administered to patients with intractable pain gave a median duration of analgesia of 8 hours (range 4-20 hours) over periods ranging from 1-9 days. There was no obvious tendency towards tolerance. In all patients, the onset of analgesia was within 5 min and was complete within 30 min. This analgesia paralleled the rise in CSF meperidine concentrations following peridural administration. Systemic absorption of peridurally administered meperidine occurred with a half-life of 15-30 min and produced blood concentrations high enough to contribute to analgesia after approximately 20 min in the majority of patients. There was no objective evidence in any neurological change nor sympathetic blockade after peridural meperidine. From this evidence the dorsal horn of the spinal cord may be the major site of action as distinct from the axonal blockade produced by local anesthetics, indicating 'selective' spinal analgesia.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Cryoanalgesia for intractable perineal pain.

Cryoanalgesia, the local application of extreme cold to nerves to produce analgesia, has been used to treat patients with intractable perineal pain. The cryoprobe was inserted percutaneously through the sacral hiatus into the sacral canal to produce anaesthesia of the lower sacral nerve roots. Forty patients received a total of 70 treatments: 31 patients (78%) were helped by the procedure and the median duration of improvement was 30 days. The treatment was more successful in relieving symptoms in patients suffering from pelvic cancer and coccydynia. The best results were obtained in those patients who received numerous freeze applications or prolonged freezing.

Coccyx↗
PubMed1983

Microcervical foraminotomy. A surgical alternative for intractable radicular pain.

Utilizing a microsurgical technique that minimizes laminectomy and facet trauma, simple posterior foraminotomy has been used for the treatment of intractable radicular pain in 235 patients with 585 symptomatic cervical nerve roots during the past ten years. The procedure was initially applied as an alternative treatment for patients unresponsive to anterior discectomy and/or laminectomy procedures. The operation accomplishes a thorough decompression of the posterior and inferior walls of the foraminal tube from entrance to exit, without disturbance of the intervertebral disc. All patients in the series experienced resolution of radicular pain by this technique. Correlation between preoperative myelographic defects and surgical pathology became less rewarding as the series matured since the majority of foraminal lesions apparently responsible for root irritation lie outside the spinal canal.

Cervical Vertebrae↗
PubMed1988

Intrathecal morphine and clonidine for control of intractable cancer pain. A case report.

The use of intrathecal clonidine, in combination with intrathecal morphine, for the treatment of a patient with intractable cancer pain is reported. The addition of clonidine overcame the problem of tolerance to the analgesic effects of morphine alone. The patient was maintained pain free for three months, without complications, until his death. At autopsy, no evidence of neurotoxicity associated with the prolonged intrathecal administration of clonidine and morphine was found.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell↗
PubMed2005

Intractable abdominal pain following laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding.

A 42-year-old woman presented with intractable crampy abdominal pain continuing for 1 year. The pain worsened after eating and improved when walking. She had undergone laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding 4 years previously, with re-banding 18 months later because of anterior band slippage. The patient underwent numerous examinations, all with normal findings. A scintigraphy finally showed some tracer enrichment in the terminal ileum, which led to the assumption that a Meckel's diverticulum was causing her discomfort. Subsequent diagnostic laparoscopy showed no Meckel's diverticulum but instead displaced tubing, which was wrapped around the mesenteric root. The mesenteric root showed scarred alterations from chronic strangulation. After replacing the tubing from the band the abdominal pain immediately vanished. In retrospect, the contrast study of the gastric band shows unnatural traction of the tubing towards the lower abdomen, allowing suspicion of the intraoperative findings.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed2005

A life shaped by pain: women and endometriosis.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The research aim was to explore women's perceptions of living with endometriosis, its effects on their lives and the strategies used to manage their disease. BACKGROUND: Symptomatic endometriosis significantly affects women's quality of life. Characteristically the condition causes severe pain and has a negative impact on the ability to work, on family relationships and self-esteem. There has been little discussion about women's experience of endometriosis in nursing literature. DESIGN: A qualitative research design informed by feminist research principles was chosen for this project. METHODS: Eighteen women agreed to take part in the research. The individual, audio taped interviews were semi-structured and interactive. The interviews were analysed using a thematic analysis approach. RESULTS: The dominant feature of data from the interviews was the experience of severe and chronic pain impacting on all aspects of life. Analysis related to pain resulted in four themes: manifestations of pain, the pain trajectory, intractable pain and controlling pain. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic process typically took 5-10 years indicating that primary health care practitioners need higher levels of 'suspicion' for this condition. Case studies and problem-based scenarios focusing on endometriosis in health professional education programmes would enhance diagnostic skills and knowledge development. No formal pain management follow up after diagnosis and treatment meant women actively sought information from other sources as they made major lifestyle changes in the areas of activity and nutrition. Pain management services specifically for women with endometriosis would provide much needed support with this neglected aspect of the disease. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This is a fertile area for the development of the Nurse Practitioner role which, also drawing on the considerable collective expertise of women with endometriosis, could provide significant information and support for women as they manage this highly complex condition.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2006

[Devices for the relief and evaluation of pain: preface and comments].

Pain is the most popular complaint since the appearance of the human on earth, a very unpleasant feeling sometimes difficult to be treated. Therefore, we have many patients who complain of pain in our hospitals or clinics. When a patient with pain visits our institution, first of all, we must evaluate the grade of pain, and then start to treat the pain of the patient. Of course, we have many devices available to treat the patient with pain. In the following special articles, device for evaluation of pain, spinal stimulation device, device for electrical current therapy (ECT), LASER device for chronic and acute pain, epiduroscopy for lumbago, as well as disposable infusion pump for postoperative pain and cancer pain are described. The mechanism of pain may be understood by patients themselves. However, devices in these articles are very useful for the treatment of pain, especially intractable pain. I feel very happy if these articles contribute greatly for the treatment of patients with pain.

Analgesia, Patient-Controlled↗
PubMed1994

Continuous brachial plexus neural blockade in a child with intractable cancer pain.

A 6-year-old boy presented with a large, rapidly growing osteosarcoma of the upper humerus and severe neuropathic arm pain. Despite large doses of morphine (100 micrograms/kg/hr), which resulted in intermittent somnolence and respiratory depression, his pain was poorly controlled. An interscalene brachial plexus catheter was inserted, and bupivacaine was injected on ten occasions over 5 days, with markedly improved analgesia and decreased opioid requirement. Cancer pain in children can be controlled by opioids in 95% of cases; however, circumstances such as intractable neuropathic pain may require specific regional anesthetic techniques.

Bone Neoplasms↗