What Is Mirror Therapy?

Mirror box therapy was originally developed for the relief of Phantom Limb Pain, but has been proven in the treatment of stroke rehabilitation, and complex regional pain syndrome, as well as for hand and foot rehabilitation following an injury or surgery.

A mirror box is a box with two mirrors in the center (one facing each way), invented  and uses the principle of visual feedback to alleviate limb pain.

In this, the patient places the good limb into one side, and the stump into the other. The patient then looks into the mirror on the side with good limb and sees the reflection of good limb in place of stump.  Because the subject is seeing the reflected image of the good hand moving, it appears as if the phantom limb is also moving.

Through the use of this artificial visual feedback it becomes possible for the patient to “move” the phantom limb, and to unclench it from potentially painful positions.

Studies have found that use of the mirror box can eliminate the remapping associated with phantom limb pains.

What Is Ketamine Infusion Therapy For Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Ketamine is a  potent anesthetic that has been used as an experimental and controversial treatment for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.

This was conceptualized by neurologist Dr Robert J. Schwartzman

The basis for using it to treat CRPS may reside in its strong ability to block  N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors.There is sufficient evidence to suggest that a intense or prolonged painful stimulus causes an extraordinary release of glutamate from peripheral nerve fibers that carry pain information.

This glutamate stimulates NMDA receptors on second-order neurons that produce the phenomena central sensitization.

Thus it seems reasonable that by blocking NMDA receptors, one might also be able to block cellular mechanisms supporting windup and central sensitization. Read more

What Is Pain Management Program?

Pain management program aims at providing pain relief and restoration of normal function of part of body/individual. Pain relief is provided by either pharmacological methods or interventions.

Physiotherapy as the word itself indicates is a therapy wherein pain relief and mobilization is provided by physical means like heat and cold, traction, manipulation and electrical stimulation. This therapy is an useful adjunct to conventional methods to provide pain relief and restoration of normal function. Read more

What Is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Complex regional pain syndrome is a chronic progressive disease characterized by severe pain, swelling and changes in the skin in the involved region. Depending on presence or absence of nerve involvement it can be on of the two types.

Type I

It was formerly known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy, Sudeck’s atrophy, reflex neurovascular dystrophy or algoneurodystrophy. This type does not have a demonstrable nerve lesions.

Type II

It was formerly known as causalgia and is associated with obvious nerve damage.

Exact cause of this syndrome is not known. Injury and surgery are known predisposing factors but cases  can occur without these factors too. wrist fractures and are quite commonly associated with CRPS.
Contents

Clinical Presentation

The symptoms of complex regional pain syndrome are usually spread beyond the original area of injury.It may involve the entire limb and sometimes other limb too.

The most common complaint is that of overall are burning and shooting pain. The pain is continuous and may be aggravated by emotional stress. Read more

What Is Trigger Point and Its Treatment

Also called myofascial trigger points, trigger points  are  hyperirritable spots in skeletal muscle that are associated with palpable nodules in taut bands of muscle fibers. It is  believed that palpable nodules are small contraction knots and a common cause of pain.

Pressing the  trigger point may cause local tenderness, referred pain, or local twitch response.

The trigger points frequently cause pain that frequently radiates from these points of local tenderness to broader areas, sometimes quite faraway from these points. In spite of being accepted them as a different entity, enough diagnostic criteria and cause of there origin is not known

The term “trigger point” was coined in 1942 by Dr. Janet Travell.

Read more

Role Of Cold Therapy in Pain Management

Cold therapy has been used for relief of pain since ancient times. In recent years, it is being used in the form of ice packs, vapocoolant sprays and ice massage.

It is most useful in acute musculoskeletal pain associated with sports injures or trauma.

Whenever cold stimulus (ice pack) is applied to skin, it melts and removes heat from tissues. This leads to vasoconstriction (The blood vesseles get constricted, their lumen and their capacity to carry blood increases),  reduction of nerve conductivity (As a result the nerve becomes less sensitive), reduction of muscle spasm and spasticity. Once the cold stimulus is taken off, the temperature of the area reaches normal level by vasodilatation. Read more

An Overview of Heel Pain

Pain in the heel occurs frequently in people who stand or walk a great deal. This pain may be entirely absent during rest and aggravated by use. The painful area is usually found by manual pressure.

Among the various causes of heel pain injury is the foremost.

Heel pain can manifest in various ways.

There are two bursas between the heel bone and tendoachilles.They are at risk of inflammation from friction produced by ill fitting footwear. Read more

Myofascial Pain Syndrome As Cause of Neck Pain

Myofascial pain is characterized by pain referred from active trigger points. A myofascial trigger point is a hyperirritable locus, which may be palpable as an exquisitely tender, taut band within skeletal muscle.

Compression at those points elicits a characteristic and reproducible pattern of referred pain remote from the location of the tender trigger point. Often, the pain is described as steady, deep, and aching in quality, although it is not uncommon for patients to use words like burning or crushing. Read more

Trauma As A Cause of Elbow Pain

Though trauma and fractures around the elbow would be discussed in their relevant sections, I thought it would be better to get an overview when we are discussing elbow pain

Fractures

Elbow fractures are often easily diagnosed, as there usually is a history of a fall. The physical examination and radiographs confirm the diagnosis. The majority of elbow fractures can be treated without surgery.

Most simple fractures heal without consequence. Complications such as malunions and nonunions may lead to joint stiffness and pain. Surgery usually is required for displaced fractures. Read more

Elbow Pain

Elbow pain is frequent patient complaint seen by a physician. Pain from overuse activities at work or from recreation is most commonly seen. Inflammatory causes account for majority of elbow pains. Most of elbow pains are self limiting and can be treated after clinical diagnosis.

But quite few of inflammatory diseases require further investigations to ascertain the diagnosis.

Major inflammatory causes of elbow pain with exclusion of rheumatoid arthritis are as follow Read more

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