Research: Non-invasive transcranial direct current stimulation for the study and treatment of neuropathic pain. #tDCS

 

Non-invasive transcranial direct current stimulation for the study and treatment of neuropathic pain.

Knotkova H, Cruciani RA.

Source

Department of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care, Beth Israel Medical Center, Institute for Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation of New York, New York, NY, USA. HKnotkov@chpnet.org

Abstract

In the last decade, radiological neuroimaging techniques have enhanced the study of mechanisms involved in the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain. Recent findings suggest that neuropathic pain in certain pain syndromes (e.g., complex regional pain syndrome/reflex sympathic dystrophy, phantom-limb pain) is associated with a functional reorganization and hyperexitability of the somatosensory and motor cortex. Studies showing that the reversal of cortical reorganization in patients with spontaneous or provoked pain is accompanied by pain relief stimulated the search for novel alternatives how to modulate the cortical excitability as a strategy to relieve pain. Recently, non-invasive brain stimulation techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) were proposed as suitable methods for modulation of cortical excitability. Both techniques (TMS and tDCS) have been clinically investigated in healthy volunteers as well as in patients with various clinical pathologies and variety of pain syndromes. Although there is less evidence on tDCS as compared with TMS, the findings on tDCS in patients with pain are promising, showing an analgesic effect of tDCS, and observations up to date justify the use of tDCS for the treatment of pain in selected patient populations. tDCS has been shown to be very safe if utilized within the current protocols. In addition, tDCS has been proven to be easy to apply, portable and not expensive, which further enhances great clinical potential of this technique.

Click here for the original article online.

 

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People In the News: Mary Friona and Her Daughter Share Their Story

Mary Friona and Her Daughter Share Their Story

BUFFALO, NY — On July 31, 2010 there was a terrible accident. Channel Two Reporter, Mary Friona’s daughter was severely injured. She was rushed by Mercy Flight to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. Her injuries were severe. Her femoral artery was severed and her femur was shattered. Doctors saved Maria’s life and her leg.

It was a long recovery and Maria developed a nerve disorder called Reflex Sympathy Dystrophy or RSD. RSD is a neuropathic disorder that causes a non-stop pain cycle. Maria was taken to Boston’s Children’s Hospital where she spent months before being released to an outpatient rehabilitation center in Waltham, MA. Maria endured countless hours of therapy and in the end, took the steps doctors weren’t sure she ever would.

Maria is doing well now and is very happy. Maria is getting around very well. She is playing the sports she loves and is back in school full time. Maria wanted to share her story in order to help others.

Mary, Maria and their family wanted to let everyone know about RSD. There is a local walk for RSD that a young girl who suffers from the disorder is bringing to Western New York. The walk will be held at Delaware Park’s Ring Road on Saturday, May 26th at 11:30 a.m.

 

 

For more information on the disorder you can visit www.rsds.org

Click HERE to watch the video on it’s original page.

Click here for the original post online.

 

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Disabled woman at her ‘wit’s end’ posts YouTube video to show how she is forced to slide across her floor at home

Pictured above: Tracey Bennett

Published: 27 April, 2012
by JOSH LOEB

A PHYSICALLY disabled woman who has endured periods of virtual imprisonment in her own home because Westminster Council has failed to adequately house her has posted a hard-hitting video highlighting her plight on YouTube.

Tracey Bennett, 37, a former Paddington Green Primary School pupil who has lived in Westminster her entire life, has suffered from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) since a work-related accident six years ago left her with difficulty walking.

In the video, titled “Westminster Council’s Shame”, the former youth worker demonstrates how she moves around her flat by pushing herself with her arms and sliding on her legs across the floor.

She told the West End Extra she rarely eats hot food as she is unable to cook in her kitchen because the work units are too high, adding that she cannot use her wheelchair on the second floor, council-owned property as it is too wide to fit through doorways.

She eats food from a bowl on the floor next to the mattress where she sleeps and is reliant on the kindness of friends or family members, who bring her basic necessities.

Ms Bennett is calling on the council to rehouse her in ground-floor accommodation and said she made the video because she is at her “wit’s end”.

The council said that since 2008 Ms Bennett had been on a list allowing her to bid for a housing transfer when new properties became available.

A spokeswoman said they were working closely with her to try and improve her situation, adding that her care package had been doubled after it became clear last week that her condition had worsened owing to an arm injury.

Recounting one period when she said she was left housebound while a new lift was fitted, Ms Bennett said: “I’ve never committed any crime but I was kept prisoner here. I know there are people worse off than me, but I have been trying for three years to get rehoused and I haven’t got anywhere.”

There is a chronic shortage of council housing in Westminster, many homes having been hived off under the right-to-buy scheme.

Councillor Rachael Robathan, Westminster Council’s cabinet member for adults and health, said: “We have made every effort to tackle this situation since Ms Bennett first made us aware of her injury.

“The council agreed to double Ms Bennett’s care package with additional help following a visit from a care manager.

“Ms Bennett first applied to our housing options service in 2008 and is able to bid on properties that become available. The position is that she has yet to place a bid.

“This is a very difficult case and we want to make sure that we do everything we can to help Ms Bennett. I am pleased that the care team responded immediately when they were notified of her injury and I hope that the extra measures we have put in place in response to this will help her.

“We will continue to work closely with her to make sure that the services she is offered reflect her current needs following her accident. Our housing options team will be carrying out a further medical assessment based on the new information we now have.”

Click here for the original article online.

Click here to watch the video on YouTube.com

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People: Disabled woman forced to ‘live like a dog’ in Little Venice flat

Disabled woman forced to ‘live like a dog’ in Little Venice flat

Ben Bloom , ReporterThursday, April 26, 2012
4:40 PM

A disabled ex-youth worker from Little Venice says she is living “like a dog” after being forced to drag herself around the floor of her unmodified flat which she has been unable to leave for 10 days.

Tracey Bennett, 37, lives in a third-floor council flat in John Aird Court, which has not been adapted to allow her to use a wheelchair indoors.

The complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) sufferer says when her pain is at its worst, she is unable to use her crutches and is forced to drag herself around the floor.

Having broken her arm four times on the steps leading up to her flat, Ms Bennett says she feels trapped indoors and has urged Westminster Council to find her a suitable ground floor property.

“It’s morally wrong,” she said. “I’m nearly 40 and I’m dragging myself on the floor like a dog.

“If I had a dog and didn’t take it out for five days the RSPCA would come along, fine me and ban me from having a dog for life. But I’m being failed by everybody.”

Ms Bennett had lived in the flat for six years when she suffered a trampolining accident in 2006.

She was diagnosed with the rare condition CRPS, which makes her legs and arms difficult to use. She last broke her arm on the stairs in February but says there are times when she is unable to use her crutches even when she is not injured.

“It is worse when I have a broken arm but I have been on the floor for days at a time for the past three years and the council knows all about that,” she said.

“I have had to sleep on the floor on and off for three years so it’s become the norm. If I could get a house on the ground floor my life would change dramatically.”

Westminster’s occupational health department agreed that she should be urgently rehoused in a ground floor flat in 2007.

But Ms Bennett claims despite submitting 10 housing applications since then, the council always says it has not received all the relevant documentation.

Westminster health boss Cllr Rachael Robathan said the council has made “every effort” to help Ms Bennett since becoming aware of her latest broken arm and has agreed to double her care time from one hour a day to two hours.

“Ms Bennett first applied to our housing options service in 2008 and is able to bid on properties which become available,” she said. “The position is that she has yet to place a bid.

“This is a very difficult case and we want to make sure that we do everything we can to help Ms Bennett.”

She added that Westminster’s housing options team will carry out a further medical assessment.

Click here for the original article online.

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Organizations: Please consider supporting the RSDSA

New video from/about the RSDSA … an organization that does a lot for people with RSDS/CRPS and a lot of amazing work towards education, research and finding a cure.

Click here to watch the video on YouTube.

Click here to watch the video on YouTube.

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Calmare: Philly Dad and Ohio Mom end their children’s RSD pain with Calmare

Philly Dad and Ohio Mom end their children’s RSD pain with Calmare

Posted on March 22, 2012 | 1 Comment

March 26, 2012

During the past month, we’ve met some remarkable patients from around the U.S. who have come here to Rutherford for Calmare Therapy. The past few years for the Bailor and Schmidt families have been fraught with worry, frustration and medical bills. Their children contracted reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) and their parents dedicated every available moment to finding a solution to end their children’s chronic pain.

Words cannot describe how gratifying and heartwarming it has been to see these children respond so positively to Calmare treatment. These wonderful kids went back home pain free (0 pain level)  and quickly stepped back into the lives they had left behind due to chronic RSD pain. Thank you to both families who so generously shared their personal stories with us.  They did so hoping that their stories would reach other parents in the same situation.

Click here for the original article online.

Click here for a video from this article.

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Scientific Abstract: Psychological Factors in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Psychological Factors in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

2006, Vol. 2, No. 3 , Pages 41-45

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Tage Orenius

Orton Orthopedic Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

 

ABSTRACT

Chronic pain disability is a challenging condition in which biological, psychological, and social factors dynamically interact with each other. Especially the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with CRPS put demands on techniques as well as on the rehabilitation framework. The general recommendation is a multidisciplinary team approach for CRPS patients. The psychological contribution should comprise a thorough assessment, followed by a psychological pain management component including relaxation/biofeedback training, cognitive interventions, behavioral interventions and extended cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Approximately one-half to two-third of all patients diagnosed with chronic pain manifest various levels of psychological distress. Still, there is insufficient research-based information about the role of psychological factors in the etiology, prognosis and clinical picture of CRPS.

Studies reveal that patients for whom CRPS-1 developed after radial forearm fracture seem to have neither a unique psychological pattern nor display more symptoms of depression than those who fully recover. In fact, CRPS patients seem to have common psychological features and show the same amount of anxiety and depression as patients with Fibromyalgia and Repetitive Strain Injury. Physical therapy in combination with autogenic relaxation training seems to lead to a significant improvement in limb temperature compared to physical therapy alone.

Further research is needed to improve theory about psychological factors in CRPS. At present, there seems to be no published study specifically evaluating psychological factors in the etiology, clinical picture or prognosis of CRPS. Comparative controlled studies should be made to create practical clinical treatment methods for the patients. Probable psychological topics of importance in understanding CRPS are, among other distress factors: affect regulation and particularly alexithymia, fear-avoidance and catastrophising.

Keywords

CRPS, psychological factors, multidisciplinary approach

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Read More: http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/J426v02n03_09

Click here for the original article online.

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