BACKGROUND Although mirror pain occurs after cordotomy in patients experiencing unilateral pain via a referred pain mechanism, no studies have examined whether this pain mechanism operates in patients who have bilateral pain. OBJECTIVE To assess the usefulness of cordotomy for bilateral pain from the viewpoint of increased pain or new pain caused by a referred pain mechanism. METHODS Twenty...

BACKGROUND Neck and back pain are among the most common causes of prolonged disability, and development of interventions with effect on pain, disability and return to work is important. Reduction of fear avoidance might be one mechanism behind improvement after interventions. The aim of the present study was to evaluate changes in pain and disability at the 12-month follow-up of patients with n...

Setting A hospital in Switzerland. Patients 148 patients (mean age 45 y, 57% women, mean LBP duration 11 y) who were < 65 years of age and had > 3 months of LBP with or without referred pain serious enough to require medical attention or absence from work. Exclusion criteria included constant or persistent severe pain, pregnancy, previous spinal surgery, and current nerve-root entrapment accomp...

This clinical note describes an unusual phenomenon of referred sensation reported in a sample of 98 chronic pain patients during electrical stimulation. Thirty-nine percent reported a variety of sensations referred to different parts of the body. Of these, 74% reported the sensations referred to the painful region. Among the sensations were paresthesias, pain, temperature changes, and pressure ...

OBJECTIVE To determine the consequences of using different external criteria on responsiveness of the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) in patients with chronic low back pain. DESIGN Questionnaire measures before and after rehabilitation treatment. SETTING Rehabilitation centre. SUBJECTS Patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain, referred for treatment. MAIN MEASURES T...

CONTEXT Historically, the term greater trochanteric pain syndrome has been used to describe a spectrum of conditions that cause lateral-sided hip pain, including greater trochanteric bursitis, snapping iliotibial band, and/or strains or tendinopathy of the abductor mechanism. Diagnosis of these conditions may be difficult because clinical presentations are variable and sometimes inconclusive. E...

Patient characteristics associated with the course and severity of low back pain (LBP) and disability have been the focus of extensive research, however, known characteristics do not explain much of the variance in outcomes. The relationship between anterior trunk pain (ATP) and LBP has not been explored, though mechanisms for visceral referred pain have been described. Study objectives were: (...

Various theories regarding temporomandibular joint symptoms are reviewed. Two hundred and forty six patients suffering from head, neck, or facial pain, or masticatory dysfunction were studied. In 108 of these patients, the diagnosis of temporomandibular joint synovitis, lateral pterygoid muscle dysfunction, or tenomyositis of the masseter muscle was made. Examination procedures, diagnosis, freq...

Pain originating from ophthalmic disease has been well documented. A series of patients presenting with eye or periorbital pain attributed to cervical region dysfunction were diagnosed and treated with injections of subcutaneous lidocaine followed by triamcinolone acetonide. Twelve patients, 11 women and 1 man, ranging in age from 20 to 82 years had an evaluation including a complete eye examin...