• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.79-87
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• 2011

Objectives : The aim of this study was to observe the pain relief effect of moxibustion therapy in a patient with complex regional pain syndrome(CRPS). Methods : A male with type I CRPS, 48-year-old, who suffered from severe pain and paresthesia on his legs despite of treatments of oral medications and spinal cord stimulation was treated by indirect moxibustion following Korean medicine dianosis. Total 20 moxibustion treatments(once daily, 5 days a week, for 4 weeks) were given on the 4 acupoints(both side) where known to be effective fro the CRPS. Visual analogue scale(VAS), digital infrared thermal imaging(DITI), Beck depression index(BDI) were evaluated before and after the treatments. Pain relief, thermal changes on affected legs, and improvement of depression scale were observed after the treatments. Results : As for DITI, right thigh showed low temperature compared with left on before the treatments. While after the treatments, DITI showed similar temperature in both legs at discharge day. Conclusions : Though it is a case report, moxibustion therapy might have pain relief effect. Further rigorous case series and controlled trials are warranted.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.214-217
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• 2005

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) was first attempted by Shearly et al for the relief of intractable pain. A spinal cord stimulator has traditionally been used for failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) angina pectoris, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and ischemic pain in the extremity. However, the complications associated with the use of a spinal cord stimulator, such as wound infection, hematoma, lead migration and device malfunction; make its long term application difficult. Here, our experience of an interesting case, in which intractable right leg pain was controlled using a spinal cord stimulator placed in the left epidural space, is reported, with a review of the literature.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.107-110
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• 2006

Tremor is a rhythmic, involuntary and oscillatory movement of body parts, and it is the most common movement disorder. Spasticity is also one of the movement disorders that is commonly accompanied with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome; however, the basic nature of spasticity has not yet been proved. A 25-year-old male patient had two operations and he was being treated because of a back injury that occurred 4 years ago. He suffered from pain, tremor and spasticity on both his lower legs, and his symptoms were diagnosed as failed back surgery syndrome. The tremor and spasticity were aggravated despite of continuous treatments. We then treated him with spinal cord stimulation. His pain, tremor and spasticity disappeared after spinal cord stimulation.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.250-261
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• 2021

Background: Complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS-I) consists of disorders caused by spontaneous pain or induced by some stimulus. The objective was to verify the effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) using 830 nm wavelength light at the affected paw and involved spinal cord segments during the warm or acute phase. Methods: Fifty-six mice were randomized into seven groups. Group (G) 1 was the placebo group; G2 and G3 were treated with PBM on the paw in the warm and acute phase, respectively; G4 and G5 treated with PBM on involved spinal cord segments in the warm and acute phase, respectively; G6 and G7 treated with PBM on paw and involved spinal cord segments in the warm and acute phase, respectively. Edema degree, thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia, skin temperature, and functional quality of gait (Sciatic Static Index [SSI] and Sciatic Functional Index [SFI]) were evaluated. Results: Edema was lower in G3 and G7, and these were the only groups to return to baseline values at the end of treatment. For thermal hyperalgesia only G3 and G5 returned to baseline values. Regarding mechanical hyperalgesia, the groups did not show significant differences. Thermography showed increased temperature in all groups on the seventh day. In SSI and SFI assessment, G3 and G7 showed lower values when compared to G1, respectively. Conclusions: PBM irradiation in the acute phase and in the affected paw showed better results in reducing edema, thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia, and in improving gait quality, demonstrating efficacy in treatment of CRPS-I symptoms.

• Journal of The Korean Dental Society of Anesthesiology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.173-175
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• 2014

Atypical facial pain is loosely used term to describe some chronic facial pain when the symptoms do not exactly and entirely fit one diagnostic criteria. In many cases of pain disorders, sympathetic system is involved, such as in conditions which symptoms mimic post-herpetic neuralgia or complex regional pain syndrome. We report a case of a patient with atypical facial pain following the reduction of temporomanidbular joint dislocation. The atypical pain which was resistant to analgesic medication was successfully managed with stellate ganglion block. Therefore we suggest that stellate ganglion block can be an effective treatment method for controlling atypical facial pain.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.78-81
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• 2010

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has become an established clinical option for treatment of refractory chronic pain. Current hardware and implantation techniques for SCS are already highly developed and continuously improving; however, equipment failures over the course of long-term treatment are still encountered in a relatively high proportion of the cases treated with it. Percutaneous SCS leads seem to be particularly prone to dislocation and insulation failures. We describe our experience of lead breakage in the inserted spinal cord stimulator to a complex regional pain syndrome patient who obtained satisfactory pain relief after the revision of SCS.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.104-108
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• 2018

Syncope is defined as a transient loss of consciousness and postural tone, characterized by rapid onset, short duration, and spontaneous recovery. Stellate ganglion block (SGB) is a nerve block method that is used for treatment of neuropathic pain in the head, neck and upper extremities, especially trigeminal neuralgia, postherpetic neuralgia and complex regional pain syndrome. SGB can modulate and stabilize the sympathetic nervous system, which prevents it from overexcitation and improves symptoms of syncope. The authors report a patient who was treated for pain and edema of both upper extremities with SGB, then showed improvement in recurrent syncope followed by chest pain and overall quality of life.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.295-298
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• 2013

Glomus tumors are benign tumors that account for 1% to 5% of all soft tissue tumors of the hand and are characterized by a triad of sensitivity to cold, localized tenderness and severe paroxysmal pain. Paroxysmal pain is a symptom common not only in glomus tumors but also in CRPS, and the hand is one of the commonly affected sites in patients with both glomus tumors and CRPS. Therefore, it is not easy to clinically diagnose glomus tumors superimposed on already affected region of CRPS patients. We report a case of glomus tumor concomitantly originating with CRPS at the hand.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.33-37
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• 2012

Thoracic paravertebral block is performed for the treatment of patients with chronic pain, such as complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and post-herpetic neuralgia. Thoracic paravertebral block can result in iatrogenic pneumothorax. Because pneumothorax can develop into medical emergencies and needle aspiration or chest tube placement may be needed, early diagnosis is very important. Recently, thoracic ultrasonography has begun to be used to diagnose pneumothorax. In addition, ultrasound-guided aspiration can be an accurate and safe technique for treatment of pneumothorax, as the needle position can be followed in real time. We report a case of iatrogenic pneumothorax following thoracic paravertebral block for the treatment of chronic pain due to CRPS, treated successfully by ultrasound-guided aspiration.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.458-467
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• 2022

Background: Few studies have investigated unspecified or idiopathic pain associated with COIVD-19. This study aimed to provide the incidence rates of unspecified pain and idiopathic pain in patients with COVID-19 for 90 days after COVID-19 diagnosis. Methods: A propensity score matched cohort was used, including all patients with COVID-19 in South Korea, and analyzed their electronic medical records. The control group consisted of those who had not had tests for COVID-19 at all. Unspecified pain diagnoses consisted of diagnoses related to pain included in the ICD-10 Chapter XVIII. Idiopathic pain disorders included fibromyalgia, temporomandibular joint disorders, headaches, chronic prostatitis, complex regional pain syndrome, atypical facial pain, irritable bowel syndrome, and interstitial cystitis. Results: After matching, the number of participants in each group was 7,911. For most unspecified pain, the incidences were higher in the COVID-19 group (11.7%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 11.0-12.5) than in the control group (6.5%; 95% CI, 6.0-7.1). For idiopathic pain, only the headaches had a significantly higher incidence in the COVID-19 group (6.6%; 95% CI, 6.1-7.2) than in the control group (3.7%; 95% CI, 3.3-4.1). However, using a different control group that included only patients who visited a hospital at least once for any reasons, the incidences of most unspecified and idiopathic pain were higher in the control group than in the COVID-19 group. Conclusions: Patients with COVID-19 might be at a higher risk of experiencing unspecified pain in the acute phase or after recovery compared with individuals who had not had tests for COVID-19.