Medication review: Relieving ‘hot and fiery’ shoulder and arm pain

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PHARMACOTHERAPY

Medication review: Relieving ‘hot and fiery’ shoulder and arm pain

9 November 2022

By Joanna Tatler

Wednesday 9 November 2022, 12:35 AM

Inflammatory cascade following a disc herniation and/or degenerating nerve [Image: © Rogier Trompert Medical Art]

This article presents a case of cervical radiculopathy, then reviews the best pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches to pain management

This article has been endorsed by the RNZCGP and has been approved for up to 0.25 CME credits for continuing professional development purposes (1 cred, Educate small, BACK panel - grey

Pain

References

Marchettini, P. Radiculopathies. In Gebhart G, Schmidt R (eds). Encyclopedia of Pain, 2nd edition. Berlin, Germany: Springer; 2013.
Levin, KH. Cervical radiculopathy. In Katirji B, Kaminski HJ, Ruff RL (eds). Neuromuscular Disorders in Clinical Practice. New York, NY: Springer; 2014.
Corey DL, Comeau D. Cervical radiculopathy. Med Clin North Am 2014;98(4):791–99.
International Association for the Study of Pain. Terminology.
Gilron I, Baron R, Jensen T. Neuropathic pain: principles of diagnosis and treatment. Mayo Clin Proc 2015;90(4):532–45.
Mathieson S, Maher CG, Terwee CB, et al. Neuropathic pain screening questionnaires have limited measurement properties. A systematic review. J Clin Epidemiol 2015;68(8):957–66.
Treede RD, Jensen TS, Campbell JN, et al. Neuropathic pain: redefinition and a grading system for clinical and research purposes. Neurology 2008;70(18):1630–35.
Van Boxem K, Huntoon M, Van Zundert J, et al. Pulsed radiofrequency: a review of the basic science as applied to the pathophysiology of radicular pain: a call for clinical translation. Reg Anesth Pain Med 2014;39(2):149–59.
Moore A, Derry S, Eccleston C, Kalso E. Expect analgesic failure; pursue analgesic success. BMJ 2013;346:f2690.

How to Treat

+How to treat

COPD: Prevent, treat and comfort

Respiratory physician Lutz Beckert considers chronic obstructive pulmonary disease management, including the prevention of COPD, the importance of smoking cessation and pulmonary rehabilitation, and the lifesaving potential of addressing treatable traits. He also discusses the logic of inhaler therapy, moving from single therapy to dual and triple therapy when indicated, as well as other aspects of management

Wednesday 26 March 2025, 12:50 AM