Pain
Khan F, Pallant JF, Amatya B, et al. Cognitive-behavioral classifications of chronic pain in patients with multiple sclerosis. Int J Rehabil Res. 2011; 34(3):235-42.
The aim of this study was to replicate, in patients with MS, the three-cluster cognitive-behavioral classification proposed by Turk and Rudy.
Hirsh AT, Bockow TB, Jensen MP. Catastrophizing, pain, and pain interference in individuals with disabilities. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2011; 90(9):713-22.
The aim of this study was to examine the influence of sex and disability on catastrophizing, pain intensity, and pain interference in individuals with a spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis. The findings are consistent with a biopsychosocial conceptualization of pain and functioning in individuals with chronic pain secondary to a physical disability. In addition, these data suggest that assessment and treatment (when indicated) of catastrophizing should be a regular part of the clinical management of these patients.
Seixas D, Sá MJ, Galhardo V, et al. Pain in Portuguese patients with multiple sclerosis. Front Neurol. 2011; 2:20.
Pain prevalence figures in MS from European countries other than Portugal range between 40 and 65%. The prevalence of pain found was 34%. Headache and back pain were the most common anatomical sites described, followed by upper and lower limbs.
Zakrzewska JM, McMillan R. Trigeminal neuralgia: the diagnosis and management of this excruciating and poorly understood facial pain. Postgrad Med J. 2011; 87(1028):410-6.
Trigeminal neuralgia is defined as sudden, usually unilateral, severe, brief, stabbing recurrent episodes of pain within the distribution of one or more branches of the trigeminal nerve, which has a profound effect on quality of life. This review looks at the pharmacological and surgical interventions.
Grau-López L, Sierra S, Martínez-Cáceres E, et al. Analysis of the pain in multiple sclerosis patients. Neurologia. 2011; 26(4):208-213
The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics and prevalence of pain in patients with MS, and to assess the associated clinical variables and radiological findings. They concluded that pain is a frequent disabling symptom in MS and is associated with disability and spinal cord lesions.
Jensen MP, Moore MR, Bockow TB, et al. Psychosocial factors and adjustment to chronic pain in persons with physical disabilities: a systematic review. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2011; 92(1):146-60.
The review’s findings support the importance of psychosocial factors as significant predictors of pain and functioning in persons with physical disabilities
National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence. CG96 Neuropathic pain - pharmacological management: full guide line. London: NICE; 2011. Available from: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/CG96
The purpose of this clinical guideline is to provide useful and practical recommendations on pharmacological management in non-specialist settings for both people with neuropathic pain and healthcare professionals.
Yang M, Zhou M, He L, et al. Non-antiepileptic drugs for trigeminal neuralgia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2011; (1): CD 004029.
The objective was to systematically review the efficacy and tolerability of non-antiepileptic drugs for trigeminal neuralgia. Of the four studies identified, one had low and three an unclear risk of bias. There is insufficient evidence from randomized controlled trials to show significant benefit from non-antiepileptic drugs in trigeminal neuralgia. More research is needed.
Solaro C, Messmer Uccelli M. Pharmacological management of pain in patients with multiple sclerosis. Drugs 2010; 70 (10):1245-54.
Reviews treatment options for pain in MS, which should serve to update current knowledge, highlight shortcomings in clinical research and provide indications towards achieving evidence-based treatment of pain in MS.
Mori F, Codecà C, Kusayanagi H, et al. Effects of Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Chronic Neuropathic Pain in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis. J Pain 2010; 11(5):436-442.
Investigated whether anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may be effective in reducing central chronic pain in MS patients. Results showed that anodal tDCS is able to reduce pain-scale scores in MS patients with central chronic pain and that this effect outlasts the period of stimulation, leading to long-lasting clinical effects.
Newland PK, Naismith RT, Ullione M. The impact of pain and other symptoms on quality of life in women with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. J Neurosci Nursi 2009; 41(6):322-328.
The purpose of this study was to assess pain, fatigue, depression, sleep disturbance, and quality of life (QOL) in women with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) compared with healthy controls. Demonstrates that pain often occurs in association with fatigue, depression, and sleep disturbance, which can lead to a decreased mental QOL.
Hughes CM, Smyth S, Lowe-Strong, AS. Reflexology for the treatment of pain in people with multiple sclerosis: A double-blind randomised sham-controlled clinical trial. Mult Scler 2009; 15(11):1329-1338.
Investigates the effectiveness of reflexology on pain in and MS population. Significant and clinically important decrease in pain intensity was observed in both intervention and placebo groups.
Cruccu G, Biasiotta A, Di Rezze S, et al. Trigeminal neuralgia and pain related to multiple sclerosis. Pain 2009; 143 (3):186-191.
Multicentre controlled study collected 130 patients with MS: 50 patients with TN, 30 patients with trigeminal sensory disturbances other than TN (ongoing pain, dysaesthesia, or hypoesthesia), and 50 control patients. All patients underwent pain assessment, trigeminal reflex testing, and dedicated MRI scans.
Jensen MP, Barber J, Romano JM, et al. A comparison of self-hypnosis versus progressive muscle relaxation in patients with multiple sclerosis and chronic pain. Int J Clin Hypn 2009; 57 (2): 198-221.
Twenty two people with MS and chronic pain took part in this study comparing the effects of self-hypnosis training (HYP) with progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) on pain intensity and pain interference; 8 received HYP and the remaining 14 participants were randomly assigned to receive either HYP or PMR. HYP-condition participants reported significantly greater pre- to postsession as well as pre- to posttreatment decreases in pain and pain interference than PMR-condition participants, and gains were maintained at 3-month follow-up.
O'Connor AB, Schwid SR, Herrmann DN, et al. Pain associated with multiple sclerosis: systematic review and proposed classification. Pain 2008; 137 (1): 96-111.
Systematic review summarizes current understanding of the association between MS and pain and provides a basis for the design and interpretation of future studies.
Pöllmann W, Feneberg W. Current management of pain associated with multiple sclerosis. CNS Drugs 2008; 22 (4): 291-324
Article explores current management options for different types of pain encountered in multiple sclerosis.
Newland PK, Wipke-Tevis DD, Williams DA, Rantz MJ, Petroski GF. Impact of pain on outcomes in long-term care residents with and without multiple sclerosis. J Am Geriatr Sco 2005;53(9):1490-6.
Retrospective study of long-term care residents found that people with MS were more likely to experience pain, pressure ulcers and depression than other residents. Pressure ulcers were a particular risk after moving into long-term care.
Ehde DM, Osborne TL, Jensen MP. Chronic pain in persons with multiple sclerosis. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am 2005;16(2):503-12
Discusses range of pain that may be experienced by people with MS and different models for understanding this, as well as need for more research into access to and efficacy of pain treatments.
D’Aleo G, Sessa E, D’Aleo P, Rifici C, Di Bella P, Petix M, Bramanti P. Nociceptive R3 reflex in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients. Funct Neurol 1999;14(1):43-7.
Compared healthy subjects with people with MS to see whether people with MS are more susceptible to pain, using the R3 component of the blink reflex. A significant difference was found between people with MS and healthy controls for R3 threshold and pain threshold.