• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제39권3호
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• pp.181-189
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• 2022

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative condition characterized by loss of motor neurons, resulting in motor weakness of the limbs and/or bulbar muscles. Pain is a prevalent but neglected symptom of ALS, and it has a significant negative impact on the quality of life of patients and their caregivers. This review outlines the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, underlying mechanisms, and management strategies of pain in ALS to improve clinical practice and patient outcomes related to pain. Pain is a prevalent symptom among patients with ALS, with a variable reported prevalence. It may occur at any stage of the disease and can involve any part of the body without a specific pattern. Primary pain includes neuropathic pain and pain from spasticity or cramps, while secondary pain is mainly nociceptive, occurring with the progression of muscle weakness and atrophy, prolonged immobility causing degenerative changes in joints and connective tissue, and long-term home mechanical ventilation. Prior to treatment, the exact patterns and causes of pain must first be identified, and the treatment should be tailored to each patient. Treatment options can be classified into pharmacological treatments, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antiepileptic drugs, drugs for cramps or spasticity, and opioid; and nonpharmacological treatments, including positioning, splints, joint injections, and physical therapy. The development of standardized and specific assessment tools for pain-specific to ALS is required, as are further studies on treatments to reduce pain, diminish suffering, and improve the quality of life of patients with ALS.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.49-53
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• 2014

Background: The carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common cause of severe hand pain. In this study we treated acute pain in CTS patients by means of local intradermal injections of anti-inflammatory drugs (mesotherapy). Methods: In twenty-five patients (forty-five hands), CTS diagnosis was confirmed by clinical and neurophysiological examination prior to mesotherapy. A mixture containing lidocaine 10 mg, ketoprophen lysine-acetylsalycilate 80 mg, xantinol nicotinate 100 mg, cyanocobalamine 1,000 mcg plus injectable water was used. Sites of injection were three parallel lines above the transverse carpal ligament and two v-shaped lines, one at the base of the thenar eminence, and the other at the base of the hypothenar eminence. Results: The day after the treatment, all but four patients reported a significant reduction in pain and paresthesias. After 12 months, 17 patients had a complete pain relief, eight patients reported recurrence of pain and sensory symptoms and four out of them underwent surgical treatment. Conclusions: With the obvious limits of a small-size open-label study, our results suggest that mesotherapy can temporary relieve pain and paresthesias in most CTS patients and in some cases its effect seems to be long-lasting. Further controlled studies are needed to confirm our preliminary findings and to compare mesotherapy to conventional approaches for the treatment of CTS.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.129-135
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• 2016

Although discal cysts are a rare cause of low back pain and radiculopathy. Currently, surgical excision is usually the first-line treatment for discal cysts. However, alternative treatment methods have been suggested, as in some cases symptoms have improved with interventional therapies. A 27-year-old man presented with an acute onset of severe pain, and was found to have a discal cyst after an open discectomy. The patient underwent cyst aspiration and steroid injection through the facet joint under C-arm guidance. After the procedure, the patient's pain improved to NRS 0-1. On outpatient physical examination 1 week, and 1 and 3 months later, no abnormal neurological symptoms were present, and pain did not persist; thus, follow-up observation was terminated. When a discal cyst is diagnosed, it is more appropriate to consider interventional management instead of surgery as a first-line treatment, while planning for surgical resection if the symptoms do not improve or accompanying neurologic deficits progress.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.87-94
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• 1997

The purposes of this study were 1) to determine the changes between pre-treatment and post-treatment of four groups of 15 persons each and 2) to compare the effect of conventional transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation(TENS) and laser at auricular acupuncture points on experimental pain threshold measured at the wrist. Sixty healthy adult men and women(M:32, F:28), aged 20 to 28 years, were assigned randomly to one of four groups. Group 1 received TENS to the appropriate auricular point for wrist pain, Group 2 received laser to the appropriate auricular point for wrist pain, Group 3 received placebo TENS to the appropriate auricular point for wrist pain, Group 4 received no treatment and served as controls. Experimental pain threshold at the wrist was determined with a painful electrical stimulus before and 20 minutes after ear stimulation. Group 1 was the only group that showed a stastically significant increase (p<0.05) in pain threshold after treatment whereas the Group 2,3 and 4 did not. These results suggest that TENS has the capability to higher pain threshold but laser does not.

• 한방재활의학과학회지
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.121-126
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• 2018

Atypical facial pain is persistent facial pain in the absence of clinical neurological deficit. We experienced two patient who are diagnosed atypical facial pain with Classification of International Headache Society. They were treated by acupuncture at their cervical and facial region. After treatment, their Pain intensity numerical rating scale(PI-NRS) is decreased and EuroQol five dimensions questionnaire(EQ-5D) score is increased. Treatment of acupuncture at cervical and facial region could be effective for easing the clinical symptoms of atypical facial pain. Further studies are needed to find effective treatment for atypical facial pain.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.154-159
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• 2013

Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI) arises from morphological abnormalities between the proximal femur and acetabulum. Impingement caused by these morphologic abnormalities induces early degenerative changes in the hip joint. Furthermore, FAI patients complain of severe pain and limited range of motion in the hip, but a guideline for treatment of FAI has not yet been established. Medication, supportive physical treatment and surgical procedures have been used in the treatment of the FAI patients; however, the efficacies of these treatments have been limited. Here, we report the diagnosis and treatment for 3 cases of FAI patients. Intra-articular (IA) steroid injection of the hip joint was performed in all three patients. After IA injection, pain was reduced and function had improved for up to three months.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.25-38
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• 2002

Spiral taping shows great effectiveness in relieving musculoskeletal pains. The purpose of this research is to compare effectiveness of herbal acupuncture of Carthami semen(Honghwa) vs its cotreatment with spiral taping for the treatment of acute low back pain. The target patients were those who satisfied with all of the following conditions. 1. Those who suffered from acute low back pain but without past history of the pain in the last six weeks. 2. The pain wasn't radiated to the lower limbs and were without any neurotic symptoms. A computerized randomization was used to set the patients in two groups. The control group was consisted of 41 patients and treated with herbal acupuncture. The experimental group was consisted of 49 patients and treated with spiral taping as well as herbal acupuncture. The treatment was given two times a week and the nurses measured the ROM and VAS evaluation before every treatment. The patients wrote ODI by themselves before the first treatment and after the 3rd treatment. After three months, an interview of the patients' condition through a follow up survey was done. In terms of acute low back pain in both the control group and experimental group, significant treatment effects were found by assessing VAS, ROM and ODI. By comparing the control group and the experimental group, there was more significant improvement in the experimental group than the control group of VAS and ROM, but no significant effect was found between the groups of ODI. This study shows that the herbal acupuncture of Carthami Semen plays a significant role in relieving acute low back pain. It also shows that spiral taping of the experimental group was more highly effective. As a result, spiral taping can be used with acupunture of Carthami Semen for a highly effective treatment for acute low back pain.

• 대한물리의학회지
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• 제3권3호
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• pp.185-192
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• 2008

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of the electro-acupuncture stimulation into the multifidus for the lumbar flexibility improvement and pain reduction. The subjects were consisted of 20 women patients with chronic low back pain. Methods : 20 women patients with chronic low back pain voluntary participated for the research. 15 minute electro-acupuncture stimulation(frequency: 4Hz, Intensity: below threshold of pain) with Infra-red therapy, 3 times a week during 6 weeks period. Acupuncture application given to the patients' trigger point of the multifidus. The Application of multifidus was L3, L4, L5 spinal vertebra levels Short form McGill pain questionnaire (SFMPQ) was used to measure patient's pain level. Lumbar flexibility measurement was trunk flexion and trunk extension. Global Perceived Effect Scale(GPES) was used to measure recovery or worse of patient's condition. Results : SFMPQ was after treatment showed significantly decreased more than before stimulation treatment (P<.05). Lumbar flexibility was after treatment showed significantly increase more than before treatment(P<.05). GPES was after treatment showed significantly increased more than before treatment(p<.05). Conclusion : This study will be used as treatment method of patient with chronic LBP. The multifidus muscle in chronic LBP patients clinical significance. Most of chronic LBP patients have multifidus contraction pattern. So chronic LBP patients necessary multifidus muscle release treatment.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제40권2호
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• pp.95-98
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• 2006

Objective : The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of radiofrequency neurotomy[RFN] for remnant pain after vertebroplasty for the treatment of severe compression fracture. Methods : 25 patients with remnant pain after vertebroplasty for one level severe compression fracture were treated by RFN. The severe compression fractures were defined to the vertebrae which less than 50% of their original heights have collapsed. Pain relief was evaluated at 2 weeks, 6 weeks and 3 months after the procedure using a visual analog scale[VAS]. Results : Successful outcome was determined if pain reduction exceeded 50% on the VAS at 6 weeks. Six of the 25 patients did not respond favorably to RFN [pain reduction less than 50%], and nineteen patients showed successful responses. Mean VAS score was decreased from 5.48 to 2.96 at 6 weeks. Conclusion : The radiofrequency neurotomy may be both feasible and useful treatment for the remnant pain after vertebroplasty. However long-term follow up is needed to confirm the effectiveness.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.292-298
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• 1994

The common disorder called facet syndrome exhibits lower back pain, with or without, radiating pain to buttock and thigh due to facet joint arthropathy. Many physicians have believed that the usual lesion of facet syndrome was an anatomical impairments of facet joint itself. So facet joint block has been known only as a therapeutic and diagnostic modality of facet syndrome. Based on clinical experience and anatomical study, we have concluded varying opinions from common sense about facet syndrome. Pain in the facet joint is supposedly the secondary effect of narrowing of joint space by sustained muscle contracture around joints. We therefore conclude that spasmolytic treatment of muscles connecting the two vertebral articular space would be better for treatment and diagnosis of facet syndrome rather than facet block with local anesthetic and steroid only.