Prepacked Take-Home Analgesia in Outpatient Hand Surgery Reduces Opioid Dispensation.

Background: Adequate postoperative pain treatment is important for quality of life, patient satisfaction, rehabilitation, function, and total opioid consumption, and might lower both the risk of chronic postoperative pain and the costs for society. Prolonged opioid consumption is a well-known risk factor for addiction. Previous studies in upper extremity surgery have shown that total opioid consumption is a third of the amount prescribed, which can be explained by package size.

Coping strategies and life satisfaction in subgrouped fibromyalgia patients.

The present study describes pain- and stress-coping strategies and life satisfaction in subgroups of fibromyalgia patients. Thirty-two females with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and 21 healthy pain-free women were studied. Those with FMS were classified as thermal (both heat and cold) pain sensitive or slightly cold pain sensitive based on pain thresholds determined using a Thermotest device.

Plasma oxytocin levels in women during labor with or without epidural analgesia: a prospective study.

Background: Epidural analgesia (EDA) has been reported to prolong labor. Whether this is by interference with endogenous oxytocin release or other mechanisms is unclear. With increasing numbers of women receiving an EDA, it is important to study its effects on labor.

Quantitative sensory testing in fibromyalgia patients and in healthy subjects: identification of subgroups.

Objective: To determine perception and pain thresholds in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome and in healthy controls, and to investigate whether patients with fibromyalgia syndrome can be grouped with respect to thermal hyperalgesia and whether these subgroups differ from healthy controls and in clinical appearance.

Design: The authors conducted a quasi-experimental clinical study.

Subjects: Twenty-nine women patients with fibromyalgia syndrome and 21 healthy pain-free age-matched women participated in the study.