• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.310-318
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• 2020

The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve among the peripheral nerves, and the damage to the sciatic nerve is caused by mechanical and physical pressure. This is an important disease that consumes a lot of time and money in the treatment process. Among them, research on relieving nerve pain caused by damage to the peripheral sciatic nerve has been made efforts to prevent and treat this disease through various methods such as drugs, natural products, electrical stimulation, exercise therapy, and massage. Existing treatments are not very effective in neurological pain, and countermeasures are needed. Forsythia Fructus, used in this study, has been used as a therapeutic agent for infectious diseases and a pain reliever for cancer from the past, and in past studies, it has been known to properly control the inflammatory response. In this study, rengyolone, a physiologically active substance of Forsythiae Fructus, was administered to rats that caused chronic left nerve pain to verify the pain relief effect. As a result of the experiment, it was found that mechanical pain and cold stimulation pain were significantly reduced in the rengyolone-treated group compared to the non-administered group. In addition, it was found that nerve growth factor (NGF) mRNA expression was significantly reduced and Cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (Cdc2) expression was increased in the rengyolone administration group. This increase in NGF expression is thought to be related to rengyolone's anti-inflammatory regulatory mechanism. It is expected that the reduced NGF was directly involved in pain relief.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.36-41
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• 2021

Chronic shoulder pain not relieved by either conservative or surgical management is referred to as chronic refractory shoulder pain. This is a retrospective case series where chronic refractory shoulder pain patients were treated either with peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) or with pulsed radiofrequency (p-RF) therapy to the suprascapular nerve. Both patients receiving PNS reported 100% pain relief for the first month. At the 3- and 6-month follow-ups, one patient continued to experience 100% relief while the other reported 90% relief. One patient undergoing p-RF experienced about 90% pain relief at both 1- and 3-month intervals and 0% relief at the 6-month interval. The other patient with p-RF experienced 33% relief at 1-month and 0% relief thereafter. No patient reported any complications. The results of previous randomized controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of p-RF administered to the suprascapular nerve were mixed, and there is a lack of published studies on PNS effects. Neuromodulation of the suprascapular nerve can be effective for chronic refractory shoulder pain patients. Larger scale randomized controlled trials comparing PNS and p-RF are needed to better understand their respective therapeutic capacity.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.65-68
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• 1994

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common compressive neuropathy of the upper extremity. Clinical manifestations include pain as well as motor and sensory dysfunction in the distribution of the median nerve. As nonoperative treatment, median nerve block is performed to relieve pain for carpal tunnel syndrome. We have experienced 5 such cases. Our results support median nerve block as an excellent treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.84-87
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• 1994

Retrospective analysis, of 1,734 patients treated for nerve block from October 1991 to March 1994. Largest percentage of patients were in the 50 year old range, with a distribution of 44.9% male and 55.1% female. Treatments were for ailments of: Low Back Pain 17.3%, Multiple Contusion 10.5%, and Cancer 10%. Most common nerve block was epidural block 38.6%, followed by stellate ganglion block 38.4%, intercostal block 5.4%, and suprascapular nerve block 5.2%. Nerve block under fluorscopic guide were as follows: facet joint block 34.1%, lumbar sympathetic ganglion block 13.6%, and celiac plexus block 12.9%.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2006

Background: Recently trigeminal nerve block with alcohol (TnbA) for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) has come to be known as a procedure with a short-term effect and high complications. There has been none of report about long-term outcome of TnbA for TN. The objective of this prospective study for the long-term results of TnbA was to analyse the pain free duration and complication after the administration of blocks and compare them in the first block and subsequent blocks. Methods: From March 1996 to May 2005, 304 consecutive patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia were treated with TnbA including supraorbital nerve block, infraorbital nerve block, maxillary nerve (V2) block, mandibular nerve (V3) block, and V2 and V3 at the same time and were prospectively followed up every two months for 10 years. Results: The mean value of pain free duation of 1st, 2nd and 3rd TnbA were 43, 38 and 48 months, respectively using Kaplan-Meier analysis. The probability of pain recurrence in 1 and 3 years after the 1st, 2nd and 3rd blocks were 25%, 25%, 20% and 53%, 54%, 34%, respectively. The pain free durations of first and subsequent blocks were not statistically different. Complications were reported at 36 (11.8%), 5 (4.2%), and 0 in 1st, 2nd and 3rd blocks. Conclusions: TnbA showed the relatively long duration of pain free and low incidence of complications. Repeated TnbA has pain free duration as long as the 1st block and less complications as well. TnbA is a valuable treatment of TN as a percutaneous procedure.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.183-190
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• 2022

Background: To compare ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) of the genicular nerve with the genicular nerve block using local anesthetic and steroid for management of osteoarthritis (OA) knee pain. Methods: Thirty patients with OA knee were randomly allocated to receive either ultrasound-guided PRF of the genicular nerve (PRF group) or nerve block with bupivacaine and methylprednisolone acetate (local anesthetic steroid [LAS] group). Verbal numeric rating scale (VNRS) and Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores were measured at pre-procedure and 1-, 4-, and 12-weeks post-procedure. Results: VNRS scores decreased significantly (P < 0.001) in both the groups at 12 weeks and other follow up times compared to baseline. Seventy-three percent of patients in the PRF group and 66% in the LAS group achieved effective pain relief (≥ 50% pain reduction) at 12 weeks (P > 0.999). There was also a statistically significant (P < 0.001) improvement in WOMAC scores in both groups at all follow up times. However, there was no intergroup difference in VNRS (P = 0.893) and WOMAC scores (P = 0.983). No complications were reported. Conclusions: Both ultrasound-guided PRF of the genicular nerve and blocks of genicular nerve with local anesthetic and a steroid provided comparable pain relief without any complications. However, PRF of the genicular nerve is a procedure that takes much more time and equipment than the genicular nerve block.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.60-64
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• 2010

Despite recent methodological advancement of the practical pain medicine, many cases of the chronic anorectal pain have been intractable. A 54-year-old female patient who had a month history of a constant severe anorectal pain was referred to our clinic for further management. No organic or functional pathology was found. In spite of several modalities of management, such as medications and nerve blocks had been applied, the efficacy of such treatments was not long-lasting. Eventually, she underwent temporary then subsequent permanent sacral nerve stimulation. Her sequential numerical rating scale for pain and pain disability index were markedly improved. We report a successful management of the chronic intractable anorectal pain via permanent sacral nerve stimulation. But further controlled studies may be needed.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.16-20
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• 1997

Background : Hemifacial spasm commonly occurs on muscles about the eye, but may also involve or spread to the entire side of the face. There are many treatment for facial spasm, such as neuro-vascular decompression, local injection of Botulium toxin, facial nerve block at stylomastoid foramen, facial nerve block with O'Brien method. The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of facial nerve block with O'Brien method. Methods : Forty five patients with hemifacial spasm were treated by facial nerve block with O'Brien method from January 1996 to February 1997 We reviewed the charts, retrospectively. Results : Sex ratio was 1:1.7(17 male : 28 female patients). Most patients were 40~60 years old. Most patients well tolerated facial nerve block. Three patients failed to respond to the facial nerve block. We repeated the procedure within one week. Among the 45 patients who received nerve block, 35 received repeated block; 7 patients received second repeat block, 2 patients received third repeat block. After successful nerve block, all patients were free of spasm for 1 to 6 months. Average spasm-free period was 3.5 months. Conclusion : Although the spasm-free period was short, these results suggest facial nerve block with O'Brien method is a safe and comfortable method for treatment of facial spasm.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.78-82
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• 2009

Obturator nerve block has been used for analgesia of hip pain, relaxation of adductor muscle spasm related to cerebral palsy or paraplegia and in urologic surgery to prevent inadvertent obturator activity during lateral wall cystoscopy. Recently, ultrasound guidance has gained popularity in the field of peripheral nerve block and have been reported in some benefits. We describe here successfully performed both obturator nerve block under ultrasound guidance.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.390-394
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• 1996

Background: Occipital neuralgia is characterized by pain, usually deep and aching, in the distribution the second and/or third cervical dorsal root. Two broad groups of patients include primary occipital neuralgia with no apparent etiology and secondary neuralgia with structural pathology. Patients with occipital neuralgia can develop autonomic changes and hyperesthesia. In patients who have not improved with conservative treatment, we have carried out various nerve blocks and evaluated the effectiveness. Methods: In a series of 20 occipital neuralgia patients with no apparent etiolgy, we have carried out great occipital nerve blocks with needle TEAS. In patients who have not improved more than 75% on VAS with great occipital block, we have carried out C2 ganglion blocks and in patients who have not improved more than 75% with C2 ganglion block, C3 root blocks, C2/C3 facet joint blocks have been carried out in due order. Results: In 3 patients out of 10 patients who have not improved with great occipital nerve block, C2 ganglion block led to pain relief. A good response of C3 root block was achived in 2 of 7 patients without response to C2 ganglion block and C2/C3 facet joint block led to improvement in 1 of 5 patients without response to C3 root block. Conclusions: Nerve blocks like great occipital nerve block, C2 ganglion block, C3 root block, or C2/C3 facet joint block were effective in the patients who have not improved with conservative treatment.