In the United States, arthritis is a leading cause of disability (1,2); arthritis affected an estimated 52.5 million (22.7%) adults in 2010-2012 and has been projected to affect 78.4 million adults by 2040 (3). Severe joint pain (SJP) can limit function and seriously compromise quality of life (4,5). To determine the prevalence of SJP among adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis, and the trend ...

BACKGROUND One-half of patients with cancer have pain. In nearly one out of two cancer patients with pain, this was undertreated. Inadequate pain control still remains an important problem in this group of patients. Therefore, in 2008 a national, evidence-based multidisciplinary clinical practice guideline 'pain in patients with cancer' has been developed. Yet, publishing a guideline is not eno...

BACKGROUND Chronic pain is a serious health problem given its prevalence, associated disability, impact on quality of life and the costs associated with the extensive use of health care services by individuals living with it. OBJECTIVE To summarize the research evidence and elicit health system policymakers', stakeholders' and researchers' tacit knowledge and views about improving chronic pai...

ketamine is a promising alternative agent for pain control that offers benefit to traditional strategies, particularly in the setting of rib fracture. current pharmacologic therapies have clear adverse effects, and other options may be invasive, cost prohibitive, or marginally effective. we describe three consecutive patients with traumatic injuries including rib fracture for which a ketamine i...

OBJECTIVES To explore current literature on chronic pain syndromes and develop ED recommendations for the management and minimalization of chronic non-cancer pain. METHODS A focused literature review. RESULTS Chronic pain is a common presentation to the ED but is poorly understood and managed. Research into the psychophysiology of chronic pain shows that there are definite changes in the re...