Cancer-related pain in long-term survivors of oncological diseases: results of a survey on the current care situation.

Purpose: The increasing survival rates of oncology patients have led to a corresponding increase in long-time survivors living with chronic cancer-related pain. Data is scarce on the care situation for this distinct clinical entity and on specific therapy requirements, such as interdisciplinary, multimodal pain therapy (IMPT). Our cross-sectional study aimed to assess the current care situation, distinct chronification factors, and optimization potential.

[Treatment of cancer-related pain-From pharmacotherapy to invasive procedures].

Depending on the stage of the tumor up to 80% of the patients suffer from cancer-related pain but treatment is often inadequate. Multiple causes can trigger pain and these can be due to the tumor itself, its secondary consequences but also treatment related. A differentiated assessment and individually tailored treatment of cancer-related pain not only improve the quality of life but also reduce the risk of pain chronification.

[Influence of health care crises on the treatment of cancer pain: a presentation using the example of the COVID-19 pandemic from the provider's perspective].

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic led to significantly restricted access to pain medicine services. Patients with cancer-related pain are considered a vulnerable group in terms of care deficits. A questionnaire among providers providing treatment to this group was used to assess limitations and solutions in this critical situation.

The Use of Telemedicine in an Interdisciplinary Pain Center in the Years 2020 and 2021 in Germany: Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

: COVID-19 changed the management of patients with chronic pain. The increased utilization of telemedicine was recommended as a solution. Telemedicine provides medical services by overcoming the geographical distance between practitioner and patient and makes it possible to continue treating the patients with a high level of safety for patients and staff.

Patients With Chronic Pain: The Aspect Of Negative Body Image.

Objective: Negative body image is an increasingly important factor in chronic pain disorders; particularly because the two conditions mutually influence each other. Our study examines body-image-related attitudes and comorbid psychic symptoms in patients with chronic pain disorders.

Methods And Measures: 188 patients with chronic pain answered the Dresden body image questionnaire (DKB-35), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI).

Rasch analysis of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale in patients with chronic pain.

Objective: Questionnaires are commonly used to assess and screen pain-related, psychological symptoms in patients with chronic pain. In Germany, the "German pain questionnaire" provided by the German Pain Society used for this purpose includes the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS). This study aims to analyze the DASS by fitting its data to the Rasch model to test the psychometric quality.

[Spiritual interventions in multimodal pain management].

If we understand chronic pain not only as a disease but also as an existential crisis, it seems logical and reasonable to consider spiritual aspects in the treatment process. Spirituality is understood as an umbrella term for all activities and experiences that give meaning and significance to people's lives-irrespective of their religious affiliation. So far, spiritual aspects have been considered therapeutically mainly in the palliative context.

Chronic Primary Pelvic Pain Syndrome in Men.

Background: Chronic primary pelvic pain syndrome in men (CPPPSm) can be associated with urogenital pain, urinary symptoms, sexual dysfunction, and emotional disturbance. Its clinical heterogeneity and incompletely understood pathogenesis make it more difficult to treat. This article is intended to familiarize the reader with basic aspects of the manifestations, pathophysiology, diagnostic evaluation, differential diagnosis, and treatment of this condition.

Minimally invasive surgery for spinal cerebrospinal fluid leaks in spontaneous intracranial hypotension.

Objective: Spinal CSF leaks cause spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH). Surgical closure of spinal CSF leaks is the treatment of choice for persisting leaks. Surgical approaches vary, and there are no studies in which minimally invasive techniques were used.

[Adverse effects of opioids, antidepressants and anticonvulsants on sex hormones : Often unnoticed but clinically relevant].

Androgen insufficiency under treatment with opioids, antidepressants and anticonvulsants in chronic pain diseases is a side effect with a high prevalence. It can lead to clinical metabolic alterations, adynamia, stress intolerance, anemia or osteoporosis and has a significant impact on the quality of life. Opioids, antidepressants and anticonvulsants affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis of sex hormones.

[Chronic pain as an existential challenge].

There is currently an emphasis on the biopsychosocial concept of pain in pain therapy programs. However, the complexity of chronic pain, in particular its importance for those affected by it, can only be insufficiently captured with this concept. This is due to the fact that, to date, one core aspect of the phenomenon chronic pain has only rarely been taken into account: its existential character.

Patients with Chronic Pain Prefer Maintenance of Pain Treatment Despite COVID-19 Pandemic Restrictions.

Background: Worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic has a significant impact on daily life. First studies describe a negative impact of pandemic stressors even on individuals without previous mental illnesses. The home lockdown and the shutdown of pain clinics make it difficult for all patients to get the healthcare they need.

[Use of rapid-onset fentanyl preparations beyond indication : A random questionnaire survey among congress participants and pain physicians].

Background: Despite publicised advice and warnings, there are only scant data on the non-indicated prescription of rapid-onset preparations of fentanyl (ROF) in non-cancer pain (NCP). Powered by Editorial Manager® and ProduXion Manager® from Aries Systems Corporation.

Objective: Initiated by the Working Group Cancer Pain and supported by the German Pain Society, a random sample survey was conducted to assess the non-indicated use of ROF.

[Chronic pain and society : Sociological analysis of a complex interconnection].

The current debate about the interconnection between chronic pain and society is economically narrowed. This involves the threat of losing sight of the fact that the interconnection between society and chronic pain is a complex entanglement that goes beyond economic costs. This article addresses the mentioned entanglement by acknowledging the following four levels of society: (1) the social structure, (2) the way of life, with special reference to occupation and its counterpart, leisure time, (3) the (normative) interpretation patterns of chronic pain and (4) the treatment situation.

[Pain Therapy Aspects in Tumour Surgery].

Due to preexisting pain or surgically induced sensitization patients undergoing oncological surgery are predisposed for a postoperative high pain intensity with the risk of developing persistent pain. In oncological surgery, pain therapy should be adapted to the underlying pain mechanism. Different treatment principles should be applied in a graded concept of acute pain therapy.

[Chronic pain care : Reality and entitlement].

From the point of view of healthcare policies, improvement in pain care has been required for years; however, there is a great discrepancy between the current need for pain care and the actual provision by healthcare services. This article seeks to demonstrate that while healthcare policies are one of the critical factors involved, a variety of conceptual, diagnostic and therapeutic causes should also be taken into account. Firstly, considering that pain care is primarily concerned with the suffering of pain by patients, the focus lies with their conscious experience in order to define the patients' understanding of pain.

Spinal cord stimulation inhibits cortical somatosensory evoked potentials significantly stronger than transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.

Background: Despite the good clinical results elicited by spinal cord stimulation (SCS), the physiological basis of action of SCS is widely unknown. Inhibition of somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) amplitudes by SCS has been described, but it is unclear whether this displays dose dependency. Moreover, it is unknown whether the pain-relieving effect elicited by SCS correlates with the inhibition of SEPs.

The impact of psychological factors on outcomes for spinal cord stimulation: an analysis with long-term follow-up.

Background: For more than 3 decades, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has successfully been employed to treat neuropathic pain. Psychological factors are assumed to be important for the efficacy of SCS. However, the impact of psychological factors on the outcome of SCS has only rarely been studied.

Cervical spinal cord stimulation: an analysis of 23 patients with long-term follow-up.

Background: For more than 3 decades, spinal cord stimulation has successfully been employed to treat neuropathic pain. Cervical spinal cord stimulation, despite now being standard in many hospitals, has only rarely been subjected to a critical review within the literature.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of cervical spinal cord stimulation (SCS) in a representative clinical sample.

Spinal cord stimulation for Raynaud's syndrome: long-term alleviation of bilateral pain with a single cervical lead.

Introduction:   Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has been described in a variety of neuropathic and vasospastic pain conditions including Raynaud's syndrome.

Methods:   We report here the outcome of single lead SCS in the case of a 49-year-old woman with severe Raynaud's syndrome, which had failed to respond to medical therapy.

Results:   With a single quadripolar cervical lead in midline position at the C2/C3 level sustained pain relief of the bilateral pain was accomplished.