{"title":"Imaging Considerations for Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Case Report.","authors":"Kennedy Kirkpatrick, Jay D Shah, Krishna Shah","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The incidence of low back pain, a leading cause of global disability, has increased significantly. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is US Food and Drug Administration-approved for treating intractable back pain, particularly in patients with prior surgical interventions.</p><p><strong>Case report: </strong>A 43-year-old woman was referred for SCS implantation following 3 prior lumbar spinal surgeries with continued, right-sided radicular back pain. Additional diagnostic imaging was obtained, and a magnetic resonance imaging with and without contrast revealed a recurrent disc despite 3 lumbar microdiscectomies. The patient was then referred for lumbar spinal fusion, specifically anterior lumbar interbody fusion.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This case underscores the importance of comprehensive imaging and clinical assessment to identify structural abnormalities that may mimic or exacerbate pain. It highlights the need for tailored evaluations to determine SCS candidacy and advocates for careful consideration of imaging modalities in managing chronic low back pain, particularly in patients with a history of failed back surgery.</p>","PeriodicalId":520525,"journal":{"name":"Pain medicine case reports","volume":"9 2","pages":"131-135"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144057651","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shemar Crawford, Mateusz Graca, Robin Mata, Danielle Horn
{"title":"Peripheral Nerve Stimulation for Rotator Cuff-Induced Chronic Shoulder Pain: A Literature Review.","authors":"Shemar Crawford, Mateusz Graca, Robin Mata, Danielle Horn","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Chronic shoulder pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal complaints in a primary care setting, with a worldwide prevalence ranging from 10.8% to 55.2%. Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) was discovered in the 1960s; however, it is a newly emerging treatment for chronic shoulder pain secondary to rotator cuff pathology.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Patients in these studies had chronic shoulder pain, lasting 12 months or more, attributable to rotator cuff etiology. The search was limited to studies published between 2010 and 2023.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All 4 studies reported a substantial reduction in pain ranging from 40% to 100%, observed between 42 and 407 days post-PNS placement. Three patients also noted a 29% to 75% reduction in opioid use.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Preliminary studies suggest that PNS may be an effective treatment option for chronic shoulder pain due to rotator cuff etiology. To accurately assess the effect of PNS on chronic shoulder pain due to rotator cuff pathology significantly more data, including prospective trials, are required and warrant pursuit.</p>","PeriodicalId":520525,"journal":{"name":"Pain medicine case reports","volume":"9 1","pages":"15-19"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144061587","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Andre Asperti, Nicholas Peterson, John Casnovsky, Mahmood Gharib
{"title":"Peripheral Nerve Stimulation at the Spinoglenoid Notch May Have Advantages Over Suprascapular Notch - Case Report.","authors":"Andre Asperti, Nicholas Peterson, John Casnovsky, Mahmood Gharib","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Modulation of the suprascapular nerve (SSN) and axillary nerves using peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS)is increasingly being used to treat patients with chronic shoulder pain.</p><p><strong>Case report: </strong>Our patient presented with chronic shoulder pain secondary to glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis. Ultrasound guidance was used for PNS lead placement at the spinoglenoid notch and at the deltoid for suprascapular and axillary nerve modulation, respectively. After a 60-day treatment period with PNS, the patient had clinically significant pain reduction. No complications were observed.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Stimulating the suprascapular nerve (SSN) at the spinoglenoid notch offers optimal patient positioning and has a lower risk of pneumothorax, intravascular injection, and residual motor block compared to the suprascapular notch approach. PNS of the SSN at the spinoglenoid notch is a safe, alternative, and novel use of PNS.</p>","PeriodicalId":520525,"journal":{"name":"Pain medicine case reports","volume":"9 1","pages":"55-58"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144035161","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Basivertebral Nerve Ablation in the Setting of Existing Fusion Hardware Case Report.","authors":"Rhett Layman, Frankie Prologo, Mamerhi Okor, Jesse Jones, Meghana Muppuri, Junjian Huang","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Chronic low back pain (LBP) is a widespread disease particularly as the population continues to age. The most common type of chronic LBP is axial LBP caused by disc degeneration leading to vertebrogenic back pain. Recently, the concept of vertebrogenic LBP has become more mainstream as has its treatment, basivertebral nerve ablation (BVNA). Herein, we report a case where BVNA was performed in the setting of existing hardware at the treatment levels.</p><p><strong>Case report: </strong>Sixty-eight-year-old woman with chronic LBP status post anterior L5/S1 instrumented fusion presents with persistent chronic LBP centralized to L5/S1. Preoperative imaging demonstrates increased signal on bone scan at L5/S1 and BVNA was performed adjacent to the screws, resulting in significant relief of LBP and without complication.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>BVNA is feasible to perform at levels where existing spine hardware is present.</p>","PeriodicalId":520525,"journal":{"name":"Pain medicine case reports","volume":"9 1","pages":"1-3"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144040573","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Transient Dorsal Cord Syndrome After Splanchnic Neurolysis: A Case Report.","authors":"Haijun Zhang, Tony Lo, Kent H Nouri","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Image-guided splanchnic neurolysis has been performed for decades to relieve abdominal pain due to cancer. Severe complications associated with the procedure are rare but could happen. Different from the previously reported cases of paraplegia due to anterior artery (cord) syndrome, here we presented a case of transient dorsal cord syndrome involving bilateral lower extremities after splanchnic neurolysis.</p><p><strong>Case report: </strong>The patient had numbness and impaired proprioception of both legs, ataxic gait, and bowel and bladder dysfunctions shortly after bilateral splanchnic neurolysis. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine shows new abnormal signals in the dorsal column. Based on the presentations and image findings, the diagnosis of dorsal cord syndrome was made. The majority of the symptoms were resolved in 2 weeks after the treatment of oral steroids and physical therapy.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Severe neurological complications could happen after image-guided splanchnic neurolysis. Close motoring, early imaging, and multidisciplinary collaboration with different services are strongly recommended to promote a speedy recovery and prevent a permanent deficit.</p>","PeriodicalId":520525,"journal":{"name":"Pain medicine case reports","volume":"9 1","pages":"5-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144049321","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Ultrasound-Guided Pudendal Nerve Dextrose Hydrodissection for Urinary Incontinence: A Clinical Review and Case Reports.","authors":"Helen Gharaei, Teinny Suryadi, Negin Gholampoor","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Pudendal nerve (PN) entrapment can result from both mechanical and nonmechanical causes. Mechanically, the nerve may be compressed, transected, or stretched, often during surgical procedures. Nonmechanical causes may include chronic conditions, such as diabetes mellitus.</p><p><strong>Case reports: </strong>These case series include a 66-year-old man with a 3-year history of benign prostatic hyperplasia, who complained of urinary incontinence after surgery, and a 67-year-old woman with a 10-year history of well-controlled type 2 diabetes and diabetic urogenital autonomic neuropathy, whose urinary incontinence responded to ultrasound-guided dextrose hydrodissection of the PN.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Ultrasound-guided PN dextrose hydrodissection can be a straightforward and safe treatment option for urinary incontinence.</p>","PeriodicalId":520525,"journal":{"name":"Pain medicine case reports","volume":"9 1","pages":"41-46"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144035162","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Muhammed Zahid Sahin, Ridvan Isik, Sumeyye Sahin, Ayhan Kamanli, Ibrahim Tekeoglu, Kemal Nas
{"title":"Managing Burning Mouth Syndrome With Amitriptyline and Multiwave Locked System Laser Therapy: A Case Report.","authors":"Muhammed Zahid Sahin, Ridvan Isik, Sumeyye Sahin, Ayhan Kamanli, Ibrahim Tekeoglu, Kemal Nas","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a chronic condition marked by oral pain without visible signs, often associated with neuropathic pain and psychological factors. Its complex and multifactorial nature makes complete symptom relief difficult to achieve.</p><p><strong>Case report: </strong>A 72-year-old woman with a 15-year history of burning sensations on her tongue and gums, along with dry mouth, was diagnosed with BMS after ruling out other conditions. Previous treatments, including medication adjustments and physical therapy during inpatient care, were unsuccessful in improving her symptoms.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Amitriptyline was introduced with a gradually increasing dose, and multiwave locked system laser therapy was applied daily to the painful areas of the tongue for 12 sessions. Following 2 weeks of treatment, as well as at the one-month and three-month follow-up postdischarge, a significant reduction in pain was observed. To the best of our knowledge, this treatment combination has not been previously explored, making this an area of interest for future research.</p>","PeriodicalId":520525,"journal":{"name":"Pain medicine case reports","volume":"9 1","pages":"63-66"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144061395","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Komal Luthra, Ankur Jain, Yousef Darwish, Pranamya Suri, Akhil Chhatre
{"title":"Radiofrequency Probe Guidance in Peripheral Nerve Stimulator Placement for Complex Anatomy: A Case Report.","authors":"Komal Luthra, Ankur Jain, Yousef Darwish, Pranamya Suri, Akhil Chhatre","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) has been recognized for its efficacy in treating various pain conditions. However, its application in anatomically unique patients, especially those with achondroplasia, is not well established.</p><p><strong>Case report: </strong>We describe a 30-year-old woman with achondroplasia suffering from neuropathic pain after total knee arthroplasty. Due to inadequate pain control from standard pharmacotherapy, she underwent PNS. Sensory stimulation was performed utilizing a radiofrequency ablation (RFA) probe to precisely locate the target sensory nerve. Once the correct sensory nerve was identified, the trajectory of the lead placement was adapted to the patient's anatomical features. The modified PNS implantation technique using RFA probe guidance resulted in substantial pain relief, reduction of opioid consumption, and no procedural complications.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The positive outcomes observed in this case underscore the potential for this innovative approach to be considered for use in those with variable anatomical challenges.</p>","PeriodicalId":520525,"journal":{"name":"Pain medicine case reports","volume":"9 1","pages":"75-79"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144052827","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Eric Xu, Alex Kervyn, Noah VanWingerden, Ernesto Cruz
{"title":"A Common Complaint With an Uncommon Etiology: A Case Report of Back Pain Caused by Paravertebral Compartment Syndrome.","authors":"Eric Xu, Alex Kervyn, Noah VanWingerden, Ernesto Cruz","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Patients presenting with acute low back pain (LBP) require prompt evaluation, diagnosis, and management to prevent permanent complications. Up to 10% to 15% of patients with LBP have been shown to display neurologic deficits that could lead to downstream complications, such as lower extremity paralysis, numbness, and neurogenic bowel and bladder.</p><p><strong>Case report: </strong>The authors present a 44-year-old man who arrived at our emergency room after a drug overdose. He endorsed severe left-sided back pain, a heavy sensation in his bilateral lower extremities, and complete loss of motor and sensory ability from the waist down. Imaging of his thoracic and lumbar spine revealed diffuse edema and expansion of the left paraspinal muscles with postcontrast enhancement, concerning for acute compartment syndrome.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Compartment syndrome of the paraspinal muscles is an extremely rare condition. However, paravertebral compartment syndrome must remain on the differential for practitioners who are presented with acute back pain.</p>","PeriodicalId":520525,"journal":{"name":"Pain medicine case reports","volume":"9 1","pages":"59-62"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144060564","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Masoud Hashemi, Sina Hassannasab, Sogol Asgari, Narges Bazgir
{"title":"Epidural Hematoma After Parasagittal Interlaminar Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection: A Case Report.","authors":"Masoud Hashemi, Sina Hassannasab, Sogol Asgari, Narges Bazgir","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cervical radiculopathy and radiculitis cause neck pain and conservative treatments are the first step. A cervical epidural steroid injection (CESI) can help if other treatments fail, but it could have side effects and serious complications. This case report describes a rare complication (epidural hematoma) of parasagittal interlaminar CESI (PCESI).</p><p><strong>Case report: </strong>A 62-year-old woman, candidate for the right PCESI, complained of unrelieved pain in the injection site after the procedure. Due to a decrease in movement, sensation, and muscle force, epidural hematoma was suspected. She was transferred to the hospital. In magnetic resonance imaging, a hematoma was evident. After 72 hours under surveillance, the hematoma was absorbed, and she fully recovered.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Epidural hematoma is an infrequent complication of CESI. This report may be an alarm to consider this complication, specific to this technique, which may be due to vascular anatomy.</p>","PeriodicalId":520525,"journal":{"name":"Pain medicine case reports","volume":"9 1","pages":"9-14"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144016232","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}