11/29. Topiramate for phantom limb pain: a time-series analysis.There is growing evidence of topiramate's efficacy in treating neuropathic pain. This article reports a detailed analysis of the response of four amputee subjects with phantom limb pain. Individual time-series analyses revealed that three out of four amputee participants receiving topiramate had statistically significant decreases in pain, with the peak effect noted at 800 mg daily. This analysis supports a hypothesis that topiramate may be effective in reducing phantom limb pain, and suggests a definitive study is indicated.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = limb (Clic here for more details about this article) |
12/29. The natural history and long-term outcome of 57 limb sarcoidosis neuropathy cases.Fifty-seven patients with biopsy-proven sarcoidosis causing limb neuropathy were reviewed in order to delineate the characteristic symptoms, impairments, disability, course, outcome and response to corticosteroid treatment of limb sarcoid neuropathy. Typically the neuropathy had a definite date of symptomatic onset. Prominent were positive neuropathic sensory symptoms (P-NSS), especially pain, overshadowing weakness and sensory loss. P-NSS were the main cause of disability. Almost always the pattern was asymmetric and not length-dependent (unlike distal polyneuropathy). We inferred (from kind and distribution of symptoms, signs and electrophysiologic and other test results) that the pathologic process was focal or multifocal, involving most classes of nerve fibers and variable levels of proximal to distal levels of roots and peripheral nerves. Additional features aiding in diagnosis were: systemic symptoms such as fatigue, malaise, arthralgia, fever and weight loss; involvement of multiple tissues (i.e. skin, lymph nodes and eye); the patterns of neuropathy; MRI features; and ultimately tissue diagnosis. Axonal degeneration predominated, although an acquired demyelinating process was observed in 3 patients. For most cases, the disease had a chronic, monophasic course. MRI studies done in later years of affected neural structures were helpful in identifying leptomeningeal thickening, hilar adenopathy; and enlargement and T2 enhancement of nerve roots, plexuses, and limb nerves. Corticosteroid treatment appeared to ameliorate symptoms more than impairments. Several variables were associated with neuropathic improvement: CSF pleocytosis, short duration between symptom onset and treatment, and a higher grade of disability at first evaluation-a possible rationale for future earlier diagnosis and treatment.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.1666666666667keywords = limb (Clic here for more details about this article) |
13/29. Peripheral nerve field stimulation in chronic abdominal pain.INTRODUCTION: spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has become an accepted therapeutic modality for the treatment of intractable pain syndromes, primarily used today in the settings of failed back surgery syndrome, neuropathic back and limb pain. The use of spinal cord stimulators for peripheral nerve field electrostimulation is becoming increasingly recognized as a safe, effective alternative for chronic pain conditions that are refractory to medical management and do not respond to traditional dorsal column stimulation. Advances in technology have allowed for minimally invasive percutaneous placement of multipolar leads with complex programmable systems to provide patient- controlled relief of pain in precisely targeted regions. With these improvements in hardware, the use of Peripheral Nerve Field Stimulation (PNFS) appears to have an untapped potential for providing patients with pain relief for a wider range of underlying conditions than was previously believed possible. We present three cases, each with a different etiology of chronic abdominal pain: one with inguinal neuralgia, one with chronic pancreatitis, and one with pain following liver transplant. Each patient was refractory to conventional medical approaches. For all three patients, PNFS provided significant relief from pain, enabling patients to decrease or discontinue their opioid medications and to enjoy significant improvement in their quality of life. We conclude that PNFS is a safe, effective and minimally invasive treatment that may be used successfully for a wide variety of indications including chronic abdominal pain.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.16666666666667keywords = limb (Clic here for more details about this article) |
14/29. Occipital neuralgia evoked by facial herpes zoster infection.Occipital neuralgia is a pain syndrome which may usually be induced by spasms of the cervical muscles or trauma to the greater or lesser occipital nerves. We report a patient with occipital neuralgia followed by facial herpes lesion. A 74-year-old male experienced sudden-onset severe headache in the occipital area. The pain was localized to the distribution of the right side of the greater occipital nerve, and palpation of the right greater occipital nerve reproduces the pain. He was diagnosed with occipital neuralgia according to ICHD-II criteria. A few days later, the occipital pain was followed by reddening of the skin and the appearance, of varying size, of vesicles on the right side of his face (the maxillary nerve and the mandibular nerve region). This was diagnosed as herpes zoster. This case represents a combination of facial herpes lesions and pain in the C2 and C3 regions. The pain syndromes can be confusing, and the classic herpes zoster infection should be considered even when no skin lesions are established.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.19532040441954keywords = muscle (Clic here for more details about this article) |
15/29. Superior laryngeal neuralgia: carotidynia or just another pain in the neck?A clinical pain syndrome similar to "carotidynia" developed in a patient several years after undergoing carotid endarterectomy. The pain was reversed by superior laryngeal nerve block, followed by superior larnygeal neurectomy. A diagnosis of superior laryngeal neuralgia was suggested by several characteristic features: (1) pain along the anterior cervical triangle, with extension to the ipsilateral ear and eye, (2) hoarseness, and (3) paralysis of the ipsilateral cricothyroid muscle on laryngoscopy. Carotidynia usually refers to neck pain arising from the carotid artery in the neck and is often viewed as a migraine variant. Our observations suggest that carotidynia may not be a migraine variant and that "carotidynia" may not be an accurate term for all pains in the anterior cervical triangle. We suggest that evaluation of neck pain include speech pathology and otolaryngologic consultations (including laryngoscopy) if any voice disorder is reported or noted. Since the superior laryngeal nerve is the neural structure most contiguous to the bifurcation of the carotid artery, the superior laryngeal nerve may have become entrapped in a fibrotic process that developed after carotid endarterectomy. Such pain may be a rare complication of carotid endarterectomy. When other causes have been excluded and pain continues, a superior laryngeal nerve block should be considered.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.19532040441954keywords = muscle (Clic here for more details about this article) |
16/29. Mechanisms of syncope in glossopharyngeal neuralgia.syncope is a rare presentation of glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GN). The mechanisms of the syncope were studied in a patient with recurrent episodes comprising prolonged cardiac standstill and arterial hypotension. During attacks, no supraventricular or ventricular potentials were recorded in the ECG. atropine prevented the cardiac arrest without affecting the pain, indicating the vagus as the efferent limb of the reflex asystole. Following atropine blood pressure continued to fall during GN attacks, suggesting abolition of sympathetic tone. Indeed, serum norepinephrine levels fell during these attacks. Infiltration of either vagus above the clavicle with local anesthetics did not abolish the cardiac asystole. carbamazepine and a dual chamber pacemaker were effective in controlling the symptoms of the patient. The results suggest that, during a neuralgic attack, the stimulation excites both vagi, causing asystole and simultaneously abolishes sympathetic tone.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.16666666666667keywords = limb (Clic here for more details about this article) |
17/29. Post-herpetic neuralgia: the relation of pain complaint, sensory disturbance, and skin temperature.Twelve otherwise healthy patients with longstanding postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) were prospectively studied using clinical examination, infrared thermography and response to local anesthetic skin infiltration. All had at least 2 of 3 possible components to their PHN pain: continuous, neuralgic, or allodynic. In patients with allodynia, maximal reported pain and the location of maximal allodynia on sensory examination were largely overlapping and were often warm thermographically. Areas of dense sensory loss and skin scarring without allodynia were usually cool thermographically. Local anesthetic skin infiltration produced substantial pain relief in all 9 patients (essentially complete relief in 7) with allodynia: the 3 patients with predominantly continuous pain were not relieved. In 7 of 8 skin infiltration responders, the same dose of lidocaine i.m. in the deltoid muscle also produced significant, though less complete pain relief. These results suggest that PHN patients can be divided into at least 2 clinical groups: those with predominantly continuous pain localized to a region of significant sensory loss and those in whom allodynia is the most prominent sensory disturbance. The latter group has pain localized to areas with relatively preserved sensation. The differences in clinical features and response to lidocaine suggest that there are at least 2 different mechanisms contributing to the pain of PHN.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.19532040441954keywords = muscle (Clic here for more details about this article) |
18/29. Treatment of recurrent metatarsalgia by neuroma resection and muscle implantation: case report and proposed algorithm of management for Morton's "neuroma".This report describes the theoretical basis for an approach to treating a recurrent Morton's "neuroma." The recurrence, being a true, classic neuroma, is treated by a technique validated in the treatment of the upper extremity painful neuroma: neuroma resection and muscle implantation. A plantar approach, implanting into the deep layer of intrinsics, was used. The three year success of this technique in a long-distance runner is reported.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.97660202209771keywords = muscle (Clic here for more details about this article) |
19/29. Extended neuralgic amyotrophy syndrome.Neuralgic amyotrophy refers to an idiopathic syndrome where weakness and wasting occur in one limb, usually in the muscles innervated by the upper brachial plexus. Seven patients are presented who developed cranial nerve involvement (facial, spinal accessory) in the midst of a typical attack of neuralgic amyotrophy or who developed either recurrent brachial or brachial and lumbosacral plexopathies. An underlying demyelinating neuropathy was identified in one patient and two patients were herion addicts. These reports confirm that neuralgic amyotrophy may occasionally form part of a more extensive disorder of the peripheral nervous system, thereby providing indirect support for the role of a systemic immunological factor in pathoetiology.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.36198707108621keywords = muscle, limb (Clic here for more details about this article) |
20/29. The cessation of cervical nerve root pain following modified SMAS rhytidectomy.The cessation of cervical nerve root pain following modified SMAS rhytidectomy is reported. CAT scans and radiographs demonstrating substantial changes in the intervertebral relationships are documented. No previous report exists demonstrating the biomechanical response to platysma muscle surgery. The potential for alterations in the cervical spine either positive, as in this case, or perhaps negative with exacerbation or creation of symptoms not existing prior to surgery, is presented. The complex biomechanical influence of the procedure indicates that further study and appreciation of the biomechanical changes are necessary to thoroughly understand the ramifications of the SMAS rhytidectomy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.19532040441954keywords = muscle (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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