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Management of sympathetic pain.
1Pain Management Service, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
British Medical Bulletin
|July 1, 1991
Summary
Effective sympathetic pain management focuses on restoring function through nerve blocks and physiotherapy. Further research is needed to validate these and other promising treatments like stimulation-produced analgesia and adrenergic blockers.
Area of Science:
- Pain Management
- Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Sympathetic pain significantly impacts normal function.
- Current treatment strategies aim for functional restoration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the efficacy of sympathetic pain management techniques.
- To highlight areas for future research in pain treatment.
Main Methods:
- Combination therapy: sympathetic or somatic nerve blocks with physiotherapy.
- Exploration of non-invasive techniques: stimulation-produced analgesia and pharmacology (adrenergic blocking agents).
Main Results:
- Nerve blocks combined with physiotherapy are effective for most patients.
- Non-invasive methods show promise but require more rigorous study.
- Limited controlled trials exist for current management approaches.
Conclusions:
- Restoration of function is key in sympathetic pain treatment.
- Further well-designed studies are crucial for validating existing and novel therapies.
- Skepticism remains regarding destructive pain therapies.