BACKGROUND Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT) or with cranial autonomic symptoms (SUNA) are primary headaches characterized by frequent attacks of severe headaches in association with cranial autonomic features. Patients with chronic SUNCT or SUNA have unremitting symptoms that necessitate prolonged use of medical preventive tr...

OBJECTIVES To report on the efficacy of dorsal root ganglion stimulation in a patient with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) type I of the knee. MATERIALS AND METHODS A 48-year-old woman with CRPS type I of the right knee, diagnosed according to the Budapest criteria set, received DRG stimulation for intractable CRPS type I of the knee. RESULTS After a successful trial period with three...

INTRODUCTION Cancer pain is one of the most frequently encountered pain syndromes. With the application of the World Health Organization analgesic ladder, adequate analgesia is achieved in 75% to 90% of patients. The remaining patients suffer from intractable pain requiring intrathecal analgesia. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyse the pain intensity before and after intratheca...

Since its introduction as a procedure of last resort in a terminally ill patient with intractable cancer-related pain, spinal cord stimulation has been used to effectively treat chronic pain of varied origins. Spinal cord stimulation is commonly used for control of pain secondary to failed back surgery syndrome and complex regional pain syndrome, as well as pain from angina pectoris, peripheral...

Solitary plasmacytoma of bone is a rare malignant tumor mostly involving the axial skeleton. The tumor occurs in middle- aged or elderly people (mean age: 55 years) and has a high risk of progression to multiple myeloma. Radiotherapy is the preferred treatment for this disease. We report a case of recurrent solitary plasmacytoma of the fourth lumbar vertebra in a 35-year-old male. The patient s...

Percutaneous sacroplasty is a safe and effective procedure for sacral insufficient fractures under CT or fluoroscopic guidance; although, few reports exist about sacral metastatic tumors. We designed a pilot study to treat intractable pain caused by a sacral metastatic tumor with sacroplasty. A 62-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman with medically intractable pain due to metastatic tumors of S...

OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to analyze whether tympanic plexus neurectomy is a successful surgical option in patients with intractable otalgia. STUDY DESIGN A retrospective single institution study from the experience of two surgeons was conducted. METHODS Records of adult patients with intractable unilateral otalgia of likely glossopharyngeal origin were reviewed, with institution...

Clinical signs and symptoms of spasticity include hypertonia, involuntary movements (spasms, clonus), decreased range of motion, contractures, and often spasm-related pain. When spasticity is refractory to medical management, patients may be referred for intrathecal baclofen (ITB) pump placement. We reviewed a cohort of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients with intractable spasticity re...

Human pheochromocytoma cells, which are demonstrated to contain and release met-enkephalin and norepinephrine, may be a promising resource for cell therapy in cancer-induced intractable pain. Intrathecal injection of alginate-poly (l) lysine-alginate (APA) microencapsulated human pheochromocytoma cells leads to antinociceptive effect in a rat model of bone cancer pain, and this effect was block...

AIMS Amputation in intractable cases of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) remains controversial. The likelihood of recurrent Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), residual and phantom limb pain and persistent disability after amputation is poorly described in the literature. The aims of this study were to compare pain, function, depression and quality of life between patients with intracta...