title: An over-the-counter central sensitization therapy: a chronic back pain registry study of pain relief, medication use and their adverse effects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Back pain, the most prevalent musculoskeletal chronic pain condition, is usually treated with analgesic medications of questionable efficacy and frequent occurrence of adverse side effects.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to determine the effectiveness of the ActiPatch medical devices in reducing chronic back pain, document medication related adverse side effects and establish their impact on quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Upon completing a 7-day trial, subjects were contacted via email with an assessment form using the Constant Contact email program. A total of 1394 responses were collected from subjects who used the device for back pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Medication adverse effects are common and impact quality of life in the lay population. ActiPatch is an effective intervention for the majority of subjects for treating chronic back pain, although this requires further investigation in randomized clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Fuqua School of Business, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Staelin
authors.affiliation: BioElectronics Corporation, Frederick, MD, USA.|Clinical Science & Engineering Research Laboratory, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Sree N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Koneru
authors.affiliation: BioElectronics Corporation, Frederick, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Ian M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Rawe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000698:Analgesia / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D001416:Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D059333:Central Nervous System Sensitization; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012042:Registries; D012780:Short-Wave Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: adverse side effects; analgesics; chronic back pain; medication reduction; pain relief; pulsed shortwave therapy (PSWT)