title: Nonsurgical management of pain secondary to peripheral nerve injuries.
abstract: Physicians and surgeons dealing with peripheral nerve injuries have long been plagued by the chronic intractable pain which often follows these injuries. Early recognition of the associated problems and prompt intervention by a multidisciplinary team approach to the pain is essential. Although the techniques reviewed here were presented as separate choices, the treatment of the patient should employ a combined approach of good surgical repair, positive encouragement, non-addicting medications, appropriately timed nerve blocks, aggressive physical and occupational therapy, and electrical stimulation techniques as the patient's physical recovery permits. The importance of early psychological assessment and intervention in this complex phenomenon cannot be overemphasized. Together these techniques may succeed in reducing the morbidity associated with peripheral nerve injuries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Loma Linda University Medical Center, California.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Neumann
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000379:methods; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D014665:Vasodilator Agents