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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

Treatment of acute or chronic severe, intractable pain and other intractable medical problems associated with unrecognized viral or bacterial infection: Part I.

In many cases of chronic intractable pain without any discernible causes, when both Western medical treatment and acupuncture treatment failed to eliminate the pain, this pain is often due to the unrecognized presence of viral or bacterial infection. Even effective anti-viral or bacterial agents often fail to eliminate or inhibit the infection, as these drugs may also fail to reach the most painful area where often unrecognizable circulatory disturbances co-exist. Using the Bi-Digital O-Ring Test Molecular Identification Method, we were able to localize substance P and thromboxane B2 (a good indicator of the presence and degree of circulatory disturbances) in the painful area along with virus or bacteria. Based on the Bi-Digital O-Ring Test localization method for specific substances or microbes, the author has successfully treated cases of chronic intractable pain by the combination of anti-viral or bacterial agents with either manual acupuncture, electro-acupuncture or transcutaneous electrical stimulation through a pair of surface electrodes. Among a variety of infections, the most common cause of severe intractable pain was herpes simplex virus, and the most common bacterial cause of intractable pain of moderate degree was campylobacter. In addition, chlamydia was a very common cause of mild intractable pain. When peripheral nerve fibers are hypersensitive from nerve injury due to viral infection, in addition to the drug therapy for infection, use of Vitamin B1 25 mg., 2 times a day for an average adult often accelerates recovery time. As an anti-viral agent for the herpes virus family, the author found that EPA (Omega 3 fish oil, Eicosa Pentaenoic Acid, C20:5 omega 3), at doses between 180 mg. and 350 mg (depending upon body weight) 4 times a day for 2 to 6 weeks, without prescribing the common anti-viral agent Acyclovir, often eliminated the symptoms due to viral infection including all well-known types of the herpes virus, such as herpes simplex virus, Epstein-Barr virus, and cytomegalovirus. Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus are usually not associated with intractable severe pain, but they are often associated with a recurrent burning or itching sensation and they can cause intractable frequent muscle twitching. Viruses belonging to the herpes family almost always exist between the midline of one side of the spinal cord and the midline of the front of the body where these nerves from the spinal cord end and the same virus is localized only on one side of the body at the same spinal level.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Acupuncture Therapy↗
PubMed1995

CT-guided pain procedures for intractable pain in malignancy.

CT-guided stereotactic percutaneous destructive procedures, i.e. percutaneous cordotomy, trigeminal tractotomy, and extralemniscal myelotomy, have been routinely used for the treatment of localized intractable pain in malignancy since 1987. In 67 cases if local pain due to malignancy, CT guided percutaneous cordotomy was performed and in 97% complete pain control was achieved. In 45 of these cases, a "selective cordotomy" was performed meaning that analgesia was produced only in the painful region of the body. CT guided trigeminal tractotomy was applied to a total of 19 cases in 5 of which pain had been caused by malignancy. The results were satisfactory. 12 cases, suffering from visceral pain due to malignancy, were treated by CT-guided extralemniscal myelotomy and in 10 cases pain relief was achieved.

Functional Laterality↗
PubMed1987

Recent advances in the knowledge of mechanisms of intractable pain.

Chronic intractable pain can arise from damage at three separate sites, or a combination of these sites: (a) deep tissue, (b) peripheral nerves, and (c) dorsal roots. At each site there is a complex progression of local and distant effects which are produced by a variety of chemical mediators and neurophysiological events. Damage, no matter at which site, often brings changes far beyond the original lesion. It is only by an understanding of the complex mechanisms involved, and the effects that they cause, that new and rational treatments for pain will be found.

Humans↗
PubMed1994

Intrathecal morphine in the treatment of chronic intractable pain.

Fifteen patients with intractable pain received intrathecal morphine delivered via a programmable (Medtronic) device. In twelve patients the pain was due to cancer and three patients had pain of non malignant origin. All of the patients reported excellent or good relief. A total of 14 complications were reported in 7 patients. Most of these were minor and related to surgical or mechanical problems. One patient with pain of non malignant origin developed serious complications which required the removal of the infusion device. The results of this study show that chronic intrathecal infusion of morphine is superior to conventional forms of analgesia in patients with intractable pain of malignant origin. We would advise that it should remain a therapy of last resort in patients with intractable non malignant pain as the long term side effects are still unknown and the potential for serious side effects still exists.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Cross-validation of the Back Pain Classification Scale with chronic, intractable pain patients.

The current study investigated the utility of the Back Pain Classification Scale with chronic, intractable low back pain and headache patients. Subjects consisted of 50 chronic low back pain and 50 chronic headache patients referred to a university based Pain Center for evaluation. Data indicated that subjects were a representative sample of severely intractable chronic pain patients typically referred for Pain Center evaluation and treatment. Each was administered the Back Pain Classification Scale as part of a thorough physical and psychological/behavioral evaluation. All subjects were classified by blind review of medical records into one of two categories: (1) presence of psychopathologically based pain complaint with little or no pathophysiological findings and (2) presence of pathophysiologically based pain complaints with little or no psychopathological findings. Subjects were also independently classified from blind review of their scores on the Back Pain Classification Scale into one of these two categories. Findings revealed that the Back Pain Classification Scale accurately predicted the actual classification of 80% of the low back pain patients (i.e., 30% above baseline prediction rate) and only 60% of the chronic headache patients (i.e., only equal to the baseline prediction rate). Furthermore, the scale was found to be most accurate in predicting low back pain patients with primary psychopathologically based pain. It was concluded that the Back Pain Classification Scale was an empirically valid instrument to use with chronic low back pain patients, but not with chronic headache patients. This lack of utility with chronic headache patients was also viewed as support for the construct validity of the scale. Wider use of the scale with chronic low back pain patients was suggested.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[The effect of DREZ (dorsal root entry zone) lesions on intractable pain in patients with spinal cord injury].

Some patients with spinal cord injury complain of a severe intractable pain. This intractable pain places new hurdles on the road to return to the ordinary daily life in these patients. The effective therapy for the intractable pain has not been established. Dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) lesion was originally reported by Nashold et al to alleviate deafferented pain syndrome. Three male and one female patients with intractable pain following spinal cord injury were treated with DREZ-lesions. One month after operation, all 4 patients obtained good pain relief. However, at a follow-up period till February 1989 (ranging 11 months from 2 years and 6 months), 2 patients had subjective pain relief. When other therapies on intractable pain following spinal cord trauma are not effective, the DREZ-lesion might be considered.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Intraventricular morphine administration as a treatment possibility for patients with intractable pain].

The treatment of intractable pain, especially in cancer patients, often sets problems to patient and therapist. While epidural and intrathecal spinal administration of opiates is a routine treatment in pain with a sub-diaphragmatic topography it is almost ineffective in cervicocephalic or thoracic cancer. An alternative here is the administration of morphine into the lateral or third ventricle by a catheter-reservoir system. We report on our experience in the treatment of twenty patients, mostly suffering from cancer (18 cases), from 1990 to 1993. It is shown to be an effective, non-destructive method with minimal side effects in the treatment of nociceptive pain. Analgesia takes effect within a few minutes and the necessary doses are low. Our results agree with those of other authors describing good to excellent results in 95% of patients with somatogenic pain. However, no or only minimal effect is achieved in the treatment of neurogenic pain by intracerebroventricular morphine therapy.

Brain↗
PubMed1987

Chronic intrathecal morphine for intractable pain.

Forty-three patients with intractable pain received intrathecal morphine delivered by implanted continuous-infusion (Infusaid) or programmable (Medtronic) devices. In 35 patients the pain was due to cancer, and eight patients had chronic nonmalignant pain. The origin of the nonmalignant pain included lumbar arachnoiditis, multiple sclerosis, severe osteoporosis resulting in a thoracic compression fracture, and intractable pain as a consequence of cancer therapy in individuals cured of their disease. Twenty-eight (80%) of the patients with cancer-related pain experienced excellent or good relief. Side effects were rare. Tolerance occurred infrequently and could be managed effectively. The results of this study support earlier studies on the application of chronic intrathecal morphine for intractable cancer pain. These findings also indicate that, in carefully selected patients, nonmalignant pain may be managed satisfactorily with this technique.

Arachnoiditis↗
PubMed1975

Intermittent stimulation of nucleus ventralis posterolateralis for intractable pain.

A number of patients with intractable pain were subjected to electrical stimulation of the nucleus ventralis posterolateralis. Positive results obtained support the theory according to which pain is caused by lack of proprioceptive stimuli reaching the thalamus. The implantation technique is discussed and improvements of electrodes and of the device are proposed. Optimal stimulation parameters are defined.

Aged↗