Examining Sociodemographic Disparities in the Use of Peripheral Nerve Blocks After Pilon Fractures
Recent studies have shown racial and ethnic disparities in patients receiving peripheral nerve blocks for perioperative pain management. PNBs are associated with decreased opioid use, improved post-operative pain control and decreased length of stay (Pack, 2020). There are further opportunities for examining sociodemographic variables such as language, gender, or insurance type. We extracted data regarding receipt of PNBs and sociodemographic variables from our electronic medical record for patients hospitalized after sustaining a pilon fracture between March 2021 and October 2023 (N = 225). (Source: The Journal of Pain)
Source: The Journal of Pain - April 1, 2024 Category: Materials Science Authors: Arjun Bhalla, Elisabeth Powelson, Paul Bhalla, Andrew Walters Source Type: research
Examining the Impact of Pain Coping Strategies on Chronic Pain Among Native Americans
This study includes 83 NAs with chronic pain who completed mail-in surveys. Average pain intensity in the past week was assessed from an 11-point numerical rating scale. A 12-item (modified) version of the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) assessed pain interference across a variety of daily activities (e.g., mobility, sleep, work) during the previous week. (Source: The Journal of Pain)
Source: The Journal of Pain - April 1, 2024 Category: Materials Science Authors: Taylor V. Brown, Erin N. Street, Cassandra A. Sturycz-Taylor, Tyler A. Toledo, Joanna O. Shadlow, Jamie L. Rhudy Source Type: research
Exploring Racial Disparities in Migraine Diagnosis Delays: Impact of the Health Provider
Delayed diagnosis is harmful to migraine sufferers and results in increased migraine burdens. Identifying barriers to quick and equitable diagnosis of migraine is imperative, especially when considering the increased migraine burden that racial minorities experience. The current study explores potential racial disparities in diagnostic timelines for migraines and underlying barriers for delays. A Migraine in America survey was electronically completed by 1,103 adults with diagnosed migraines and included questions regarding race, gaps between onset of migraine symptoms and formal diagnosis, and if relevant, perceived cause...
Source: The Journal of Pain - April 1, 2024 Category: Materials Science Authors: Maya Joshi Delity, Alexandra M. Otto, Daniel Luedtke, Sara Hayes, Amanda Lipski, Amy Wachholtz Source Type: research
Gender Differences in Pain Treatment Decisions in Simulated Telemedicine Doctor-Patient Interactions
Νon-Hispanic White populations are regularly over-prescribed opioids and other analgesics, which leads them to born a greater burden of the opioid epidemic, while minoritized groups and women are typically under-prescribed pain medication relative to clinical guidelines and experience poor pain man agement outcomes. One potential mechanism underlying this phenomenon is clinicians adjusting their prescription according to inaccurate stereotypes about the pain sensitivity and opioid abuse rates of different demographic groups. (Source: The Journal of Pain)
Source: The Journal of Pain - April 1, 2024 Category: Materials Science Authors: Theoni Varoudaki, Elizabeth Losin Source Type: research
Inadequacies in Reporting and Representation of Sex and Gender in Randomized Clinical Trials of Chronic Pain Interventions: An ACTTION COPASETIQ Review
The concepts of sex and gender are often incorrectly used in health research. Sex is a biological construct while gender is a social construct, but both may have differential effects on the outcome of pain treatments. To better understand how chronic pain trials collect, report, and analyze data regarding sex and gender we conducted a targeted systematic review of randomized clinical trials of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for various chronic pain conditions. Across 6 pain specialty journals, 2,883 abstracts from papers published 2016-2021 were screened, and 73 manuscripts ultimately reviewed for repor...
Source: The Journal of Pain - April 1, 2024 Category: Materials Science Authors: Isabel C. Shklyar, Guillermo Ceniza-Bordallo, Kavin Srinakarin, Audrey Tseng, Tonya M. Palermo, Uchenna O. Umeh, Christin Veasley, Denham Ward, Dennis C. Turk, Robert H. Dworkin, Dale J. Langford Source Type: research
Musculoskeletal Pain During Long COVID: Are There Gender or Racial-Ethnic Differences?
In this study, adult patients ( ≥18 years) were identified through an electronic health record as having a positive PCR COVID test and completed a questionnaire to ascertain symptoms after their acute phase of COVID-19 (i.e., long COVID). Of 507 participants with complete data, 46% (n=231) reported musculoskeletal pain. Chi-squa re tests found no differences in long COVID pain by gender (150/303 [50%] women vs. (Source: The Journal of Pain)
Source: The Journal of Pain - April 1, 2024 Category: Materials Science Authors: Tracy Anastas, Rachel Geyer, Nikki L. Gentile, Jing Zhang, Anita Chopra, Annette L. Fitzpatrick Source Type: research
Preferences for Chronic Pain Treatment Among American Indian and Alaska Natives
The prevalence of chronic pain is higher among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) individuals than any other groups in the United States. However, there are no culturally congruent psychological pain interventions for AI/AN populations, and access to chronic pain interventions for AI/AN individuals remains low. To begin to address the need for accessible and culturally appropriate pain treatment for AI/AN individuals, University of Washington researchers collaborated with the Indian Health Services – Yakama Service Unit to conduct a series of focus groups to identify: (1) pain treatment preferences among AI/AN ind...
Source: The Journal of Pain - April 1, 2024 Category: Materials Science Authors: Andrea K. Newman, Mark P. Jensen, Kara Link, Kathy Littlebull, Molly Fuentes, Chantelle E. Roberts, Robin John, Ryan Pett Source Type: research
Race Differences in Pain Sensitivity Among Former Professional American-style Football Players
Racial disparities in the pain experience are well-documented. Specifically, previous studies have shown that compared to White individuals, Black individuals report greater pain severity and sensitivity (e.g., lower pain thresholds) within the general population. However, the understanding of how these differences in pain sensitivity contribute to pain outcomes, particularly among former American football (ASF) players, whose psychosocial experiences may differ significantly from those observed in the general population, remains unknown. (Source: The Journal of Pain)
Source: The Journal of Pain - April 1, 2024 Category: Materials Science Authors: JiHee Yoon, Robert R. Edwards, Can Ozan Tan, Inana Dairi, Ross Zafonte, Rachel Grashow, Samantha M. Meints Source Type: research
Racial Inequities in Pain Care and Research among Black Youth with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: Preliminary Qualitative Findings
Pain-related stigma studies of adolescent chronic pain have low rates of Black participants, who are more likely to experience racial pain care inequities. To identify barriers to pain treatment equity and research engagement, we conducted qualitative interviews with Black adolescents with chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) and their caregivers. Adolescents with CMP (12-17 years old) who identify as Black or African American and their caregivers were approached. One set of adolescent and caregiver interviews have been completed and data collection is ongoing. (Source: The Journal of Pain)
Source: The Journal of Pain - April 1, 2024 Category: Materials Science Authors: Emily O. Wakefield, Vaishali Belamkar, Siddika Mulchan, Carissa DelGaudio, Melissa Santos Source Type: research
Reducing Disparities in Pain Care for Low English Proficiency Patients: A Guideline-Oriented Critical Review
Effective patient-provider communication is pivotal for accurate pain assessment and the development of an appropriate treatment plan, considering the subjective nature of pain. This communication gap is especially pronounced in people with Low English Proficiency (LEP), who encounter significant cultural and linguistic barriers. People with LEP are at a higher risk of clinical undertreatment, and their medical records often lack thorough documentation (Lor& Koleck, 2022). This leads to disparities that impose burdens at individual, institutional, and governmental levels (Gulati& Hur, 2022; Patel, 2012; Ramirez, 2023). (So...
Source: The Journal of Pain - April 1, 2024 Category: Materials Science Authors: Shinye Kim, Min Xu, Patrina Hei Tung Wong Source Type: research
Associations Between Muscle Quality and Knee Osteoarthritis Pain are Independent of Muscle Strength
Knee osteoarthritis (OA) pain is complex and is associated with skeletal muscle weakness and both peripheral and central pain mechanisms. Historically, it has been postulated that movement-evoked pain inhibits physical activity resulting in muscle atrophy and subsequent weakness that increases pain through biomechanical processes. Emerging evidence challenges this assumption, as increased muscle size and strength are not always equivalent to improvements in pain. Skeletal muscle quality (e.g., echo intensity and shear wave velocity), however, is worse in persons with knee OA compared to age-matched healthy controls and may...
Source: The Journal of Pain - April 1, 2024 Category: Materials Science Authors: Alisa J. Johnson, Sarah M. Barron, Jennifer A. Nichols, Yenisel Cruz-Almeida Tags: Pain and Aging Source Type: research
C-Fiber Damage in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease
Nociceptors that innervate the epidermis convey afferent transmission of pain information. When damaged, c-fibers become sensitized and can increase spontaneous activity. Typically, pain is not thought of when studying Alzheimer ’s Disease (AD); however, 45% of AD patients have chronic pain, and widespread pain is associated with a 47% increase in Alzheimer’s disease dementia risk. To identify mechanisms of pain and c-fiber damage in AD, we are exploring the hypothesis that amyloid-beta accumulation is toxic to c-fibers via toll-like receptor(TLR)4/NF-kB signaling pathways. (Source: The Journal of Pain)
Source: The Journal of Pain - April 1, 2024 Category: Materials Science Authors: Will Hauser, Vivien Drummond, Janelle Ryals, Heather Wilkins, Douglas Wright Source Type: research
Clinical and Adverse Outcomes Associated with Concomitant Use of CYP2D6-Metabolized Opioids with Antidepressants in Older Nursing Home Residents
This study aimed to investigate the associations of concomitant use of CYP2D6-metabolized opioids and antidepressants with clinical outcomes and opioid-related adverse events (ORAEs). Using a 100% Medicare NH sample, we conducted a retrospective cohort study among 80,319 NH older ( ≥65 years) long-term (> 100 days) residents who initiated CYP2D6-metabolized opioids and antidepressants concurrently or initiated one drug class while already receiving the other. (Source: The Journal of Pain)
Source: The Journal of Pain - April 1, 2024 Category: Materials Science Authors: Yu-Jung Jenny Wei, Almut G. Winterstein, Siegfried Schmidt, Roger B. Fillingim, Michael Daniels, Steven T. DeKosky, Stephan Schmidt Source Type: research
Experimental Pain Sensitivity is Associated with Clinical Pain and Functional Outcomes in Older Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain
Though chronic low back pain (CLBP) is highly prevalent and debilitating among older adults, geriatric CLBP remains understudied, limiting our understanding of factors like pain sensitivity (i.e., the responsiveness of pain pathways) that may perpetuate pain and disability in this population. Therefore, the purpose of this pilot study was to test associations between multimodal pain sensitivity and various domains of clinical outcomes in older adults with CLBP. Twenty-five older adults with CLBP (mean age 69.4 ( ±6.2) years: 52% female) underwent static and dynamic pain sensitivity testing across two sessions. (Source: The Journal of Pain)
Source: The Journal of Pain - April 1, 2024 Category: Materials Science Authors: Patrick J Knox, Corey B. Simon, Gregory E. Hicks Source Type: research
High-Impact Pain and Epigenetic Aging: Findings from the Health and Retirement Study
We examined the association between pain impact and epigenetic aging in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults ≥50 years old. (Source: The Journal of Pain)
Source: The Journal of Pain - April 1, 2024 Category: Materials Science Authors: Javier A. Tamargo, Larissa J. Strath, Yenisel Cruz-Almeida Source Type: research
