Effects of Multiple Waveforms on Patient Preferences and Clinical Outcomes in Patients Treated With Spinal Cord Stimulation for Leg and/or Back Pain.

Objectives: We present the results of a prospective, randomized, crossover, single-blind, study in which each patient is in control of himself. The aim was to evaluate subperception-based (SP-SCS) waveforms in previously implanted spinal cord stimulation (SCS) patients with leg and/or back pain due to failed back surgery syndrome, who experienced only paresthesia-based stimulation (PB-SCS). Patients with PB-SCS experience in SCS was 4.

Comparison of Tonic vs. Burst Spinal Cord Stimulation During Trial Period.

Background: Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a well-known treatment in patients with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS). Burst stimulation is a recently developed stimulation modality that seems to be superior to tonic stimulation.

Methods: This observational multicenter study compared tonic and burst stimulation during a trial period in patients with FBSS or radiculopathy.

Effectiveness of opioid analgesics in chronic noncancer pain.

Background: There is general agreement about the need to perform a screening test to assess the risk of opioid misuse prior to starting a long-term opioid treatment for chronic noncancer pain. The evidence supporting the effectiveness of opioid long-term treatment is weak, and no predictors of its usefulness have been assessed.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the effect on pain and quality of life of chronic opioid treatment, and detect the possible predictors of its effectiveness.

Risk assessment of opioid misuse in italian patients with chronic noncancer pain.

Objective. Opioid therapy in patients with chronic noncancer pain must be preceded by evaluation of the risk of opioid misuse. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive validity of the Italian translation of the Pain Medication Questionnaire (PMQ) and of the Diagnosis Intractability Risk and Efficacy Score (DIRE) in chronic pain patients.

Improvement in psychosocial outcomes in chronic pain patients receiving intrathecal morphine infusions.

Background: When conventional multimodal analgesic therapy is unsuccessful, more aggressive analgesic treatments are required for patients with intractable chronic pain. Despite extensive clinical experience with implanted morphine pumps, there is still controversy regarding the psychosocial effects of this invasive analgesic therapy. In this prospective study, we evaluated the impact of intrathecal (IT) morphine infusions on pain perception and psychosocial functionality.