• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.81-87
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• 2017

Objectives : Chronic post-thoracotomy pain is a refractory condition that responds poorly to existing pain treatments. The aim of this report is to describe favorable symptom changes in a patient with chronic post-thoracotomy pain after major chest trauma who received a series of manual acupuncture treatments over 3 months. Methods : Twelve sessions of manual acupuncture were provided to the patient, once or twice a week. Results : The manual acupuncture sessions were well tolerated. Minor adverse events, including temporary minor bleeding at the needled sites, were intermittently observed. The patient's symptoms, including pain, sleep disturbance, and anxiety gradually resolved and had almost completely disappeared after 12 sessions of acupuncture treatment. Conclusion : This single case report cannot confirm whether the observed positive changes in the patient's symptoms and dysfunctions are associated with the acupuncture treatments. Randomized controlled trials are necessary to explore the role of acupuncture in chronic post-thoracotomy pain in patients with major chest trauma.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.135-141
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• 2013

Background: Although paclitaxel is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of solid cancers, side effects such as neuropathic pain lead to poor compliance and discontinuation of the therapy. Ethyl pyruvate (EP) is known to have analgesic effects in several pain models and may inhibit apoptosis. The present study was designed to investigate the analgesic effects of EP on mechanical allodynia and apoptosis in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells after paclitaxel administration. Methods: Rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: 1) a control group, which received only vehicle; 2) a paclitaxel group, which received paclitaxel; and 3) an EP group, which received EP after paclitaxel administration. Mechanical allodynia was tested before and at 7 and 14 days after final paclitaxel administration. Fourteen days after paclitaxel treatment, DRG apoptosis was determined by activated caspase-3 immunoreactivity (IR). Results: Post-treatment with EP did not significantly affect paclitaxel-induced allodynia, although it tended to slightly reduce sensitivities to mechanical stimuli after paclitaxel administration. After paclitaxel administration, an increase in caspase-3 IR in DRG cells was observed, which was co-localized with NF200-positive myelinated neurons. Post-treatment with EP decreased the paclitaxel-induced caspase-3 IR. Paclitaxel administration or post-treatment with EP did not alter the glial fibrillary acidic protein IRs in DRG cells. Conclusions: Inhibition of apoptosis in DRG neurons by EP may not be critical in paclitaxel-induced mechanical allodynia.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1779-1784
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• 2006

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of an oriental medicine(Siryung-tang) on pain caused by Post-herpetic neuralgia. We treated a 70 year-old male patient who suffered left flank pain by Post-herpetic neuralgia. As for treatment, we used Siryung-tang. After seven-day of treatment, all symptoms started to improved. This study suggests that Siryung-tang is effective in treatment of pain by Post-herpetic neuralgia.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.177-193
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• 1996

The purpose of this study was to test whether Yoga exercise, one of muscle relaxation, helps to relieve chronic low back paln. Sample were selected from nurses who were worked at K medical center in the period from March 18 to April 23, 1996. The sample size was fifteen. The research design was one-group pretest-posttest design. To test the major research question, this study had the following procedure. The pretest included measuring individuals' degree of pain and discomfort depending on the scope and types of an range of motion, and their pain by their activity of daily living(ADL). The treatment was conducted twice every other week. The reason why this study had twice observations was to control history effect and maturation which treat internal validity in the research design of this study. In this research design, a treatment was to expose Yoga exercise to samples. The exercise was taken in 30 minutes per day for four days in a week (Two consecutive days and twice every other day). The posttest included re-measuring the individuals' the degree of pain and discomfort, and their pain by their ADL. Several hypotheses concerning effect of Yoga exercise was analyzed by the paired t-test, comparing the difference scores between pre and post tests. The results of this study was as follows. The first hypothesis that the post-treatment group taking the Yoga exercise had the pain score lower than the pre-treatment group was supported(t=3.31, p=.005). The second hypothesis that the discomfort score of the post-treatment group had lower than does that of the pre-treatment group was supported(t=2.75, p=.016). The third hypothesis that the post-treatment group had the pain score by ADL lower than does the pre-treatment group was supported(t=5.52, p=.000). In summary, this study examined the effect of a yoga exercise, one of muscle relaxation, on those who were suffered from chronic low back pain. The effect measured by the degree of pain and discomfort with a visual analog scale was statistically significant. The degree of pain according to postures in ADL also showed statistical significance. These findings showed that a yoga exercise was effective to alleviation of chronic low back pain. A pretest-posttest control group design, however, needs to get more accurate results since the design satisfies Internal validity. Consequently, yoga as an exercise cure improves an interaction between muscles and articulations, and performance of ADL for those suffered from chronic low back pain. Furthermore, this positive impact may be an effective method as nursing intervention for their physical, mental, emotional, social, and psychological recovery.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.565-574
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• 2021

Background: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a severe form of pain that affects the daily activities of a patient. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy is an emerging option for the treatment of acute and chronic pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of TENS therapy as an adjunct to drug therapy for the treatment of TN. Methods: A total of 52 patients diagnosed with TN according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders (version 3) were included. Each patient was randomized to either the TENS or placebo TENS groups. Intervention was given in continuous mode and 100-Hz frequency for 20 mins biweekly for 6 weeks. Parameters were measured at baseline, TENS completion and 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year of follow up. The parameters observed were mean carbamazepine dose, mean visual analog scale (VAS) score, mean present pain intensity (PPI) score, and functional outcome. Non-parametric analyses, one-way ANOVA and the Kruskal-Wallis test were applied for intragroup comparisons, while the Mann-Whitney U test and independent t-test were used for intergroup comparisons of variables. The chi-square test was applied to analyze categorical data. Results: Compared to the placebo TENS group, the mean dose of carbamazepine in the TENS group was significantly reduced at TENS completion, as well as at 6 months and 1 year follow up. Changes in mean VAS score, mean PPI score, and functional outcome did not show significant differences between the groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: TENS therapy does not lead to any changes in pain levels but it may reduce the mean dose of carbamazepine when used as an adjunct treatment in patients with TN.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.162-167
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• 1991

Epidural steroid therapy has been well-established for the treatment of sciatica and low back pain. Disappointing results following surgical decompression or discectomy pain owing for to nerve root compression have led to trials of corticosteroids injected either systemically or into the intrathecal or epidural space to treat intervertebral disc. Epidural steroid is less effective in the patients with low back pain who have a history of surgical operation, so that the use of epidural morphine and methylprednisolone has been advocated for the amelioration of chronic low back pain in the post-laminectomy pain("failed back") syndrome over the past several years. We treated 47 patients with low back pain who had a history of one or two surgical procedures. We concluded that epidural steroid therapy is less effective in the patients with "failed back" syndrome than in the virgin back furthermore, there is a greater risk of complication such as inadvertent dural puncture and corresponding motor paralysis and headache.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.287-297
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• 2006

Purpose : Chronic pelvic pain(CPP) is a common gynecologic symptoms. Recent research has been directed towards understanding the pathology of CPP, but many questions have existed. And the study for treating CPP has been tried by various manners. A Korean medicine(KM) also try to treat a various methods for treatment of CPP. It is often that a pelvic pain is continue a post-hysterectomy or a operating of gynecology. We have a case of CPP treatment by KM that is a patient continue pain after post-ovarian cystectomy with laparoscopy. So we report a case on pelvic pain and complication of post-ovarian cystectomy with laparoscopy. Methods : A 44 years old woman, who suffered from chronic pelvic pain, dizziness, nausea, dyspepsia, general weakness, insomnia after ovarian cystectomy, was enrolled in this study. She received KM therapies such as herbal medicine, moxibustion, acupuncture for 4 weeks. Results : CPP and symptoms after ovarian cystectomy were reduced by KM therapies. Conclusion : 'The present study suggests that KM therapies have a significant effect on CPP and complications of post-ovarian cystectomy with laparoscopy.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.55-66
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was to test whether adhesive taping therapy, one of rehabilitation, helps to relieve chronic low back pain. Sample were selected from 35 outpatients at oriental medicine hospital in the period from April 20 to June 20, 1998. The research design was one-group pretest - posttest design. The pretest included measuring discomfort depending on the scope and types of a range of motion, and their pain by their activity of daily living(ADL). In this research design, a treatment was to expose adhesive taping therapy to samples. The posttest included remeasuring of their discomfort and pain by ADL. The results of this study was as follows: Hypothesis I was that the discomfort score of the post-treatment group had lower than does that of the pre-treatment group. This study accepted the hypothesis (t=2.70, p=.015). Hypothesis II was that the post-treatment group had the pain score by ADL lower than does the pre-treatment group. Empirical results showed statistical significance(t=4.53, p=.000). In summary, the effect measured by the discomfort with a visual analog scale was statistically significant. The degree of pain according to postures in ADL also showed statistical significance. Consequently, these findings showed that the adhesive taping therapy was effective to alleviation of chronic low back pain.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.109-116
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• 1993

In March of l992, We performed two intentional total spinal blocks for the relief of pain. This was for 2 cases of post-traumatic cervical syndrome whose various symptoms were chronically unresponsive to the usual conservative treatments. We regularly checked the blood pressure, pulse rate, oxygen saturation and observed clinically the changes of respiration, consciousness, lid and light reflexes during the total spinal block. Pain relief was evaluated by using the Visual Analog Scale which is designed to measure the subjective intensity of pain. The results were as follows; 1) The effectiveness of total spinal block was 60% in case 1, 40% in case 2. 2) We observed two complications from the procedure. Firstly during the block, these were transient periods of hypotension. Following the block, accidental procedures related direct neural trauma resulted in anterior chest wall pain. In conclusion we believe that total spinal block is a satisfactory and reliable method for the treatment of post-traumatic cervical syndrome.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.29-34
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the short term effects of the traction and decompression device, which is a newly developed domestic medical device, on pain and functional activity in patients with chronic low back pain with or without radicular pain. Methods: Forty patients with chronic low back pain were included and allocated to decompression (n=20) and traction groups (n=20). They received decompression or traction therapy for 20 minutes a day, 3 days per week for two weeks. For evaluating pain and functional activity, a visual analogue scale (VAS) for low back pain and the Oswestry back pain disability index (ODI) were obtained on pre-treatment, and at 6, 12 and 15 days after treatment. Patients'satisfaction levels were measured 15 days after treatment. Results: VAS was significantly decreased at 12 days and 15 days post-treatment compared to pre-treatment in both groups (p<0.05). ODI was significantly decreased at 12 days and 15 days post-treatment compared to pre-treatment in the decompression group (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in the VAS and ODI scales (p>0.05). Patients' satisfaction levels were significantly higher in the decompression group than in the traction group (p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that decompression therapy might be effective for increasing functional activity in patients with low back pain and could provide patients with higher satisfaction than traction therapy. This study provided validity data for the therapeutic effects of the decompression device in patients with low back pain and it will be useful for medical cost development and patient education of this device.