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To characterize a patient group with refractory orofacial pain (OFP) at a tertiary pain clinic with emphasis on subtype distribution, comorbidities, sex differences and psychological factors. This retrospective study reviewed 98 consecutive patients assessed at the National Unit of Orofacial Pain, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway (2017-2021). All patients were investigated by an interdisciplinary team that used a structured clinical interview and assessments and patients completed a series of standardized questionnaires that formed the basis for the final diagnosis and treatment plan. The International Classification of Orofacial Pain (ICOP-2020) was launched later and therefore retrospectively used forming the basis for this study. Five primary subtypes were analyzed: primary myofascial orofacial pain (pMOP), post-traumatic trigeminal neuropathic pain (PTTNP), persistent idiopathic facial pain (PIFP), trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and burning mouth syndrome (BMS). Secondary MOP (sMOP) was recorded when myalgia co-occurred with another primary diagnosis. Descriptive statistics, -tests and one-way ANOVA was performed. The most frequent diagnosis was pMOP (60.2%), followed by PTTNP (20.4%), PIFP (14.3%), TN (4.1%), and BMS (3.1%). Twenty-five patients had more than one diagnosis ( Percentages do not sum to 100%. A total of 25 patients with overlapping diagnoses, including 23 patients with secondary MOP and 2 patients with dual primary diagnoses.). Significantly more women (82.6%) had OFP (p<0.05). Patients with pMOP experienced longest mean pain duration (9.9 years) and reported comorbidities such as body pain, headaches and arthritis more frequently than non-MOP groups (p < 0.05). sMOP was present in 75% of PTTNP cases (p = 0.0038). Psychometric and functional measures varied across subtypes: patients with pMOP exhibited the highest scores on HADS (15.3), MFIQ (14.4), and (7.0). Refractory OFP is dominated by pMOP and female patients. The strong association between PTTNP and sMOP suggests early combined management of neuropathic- and muscle pain which may limit chronification. Together, our findings support a personalized, interdisciplinary approach to OFP that can improve diagnostic precision and optimize long-term patient outcomes.

Background Acute aortic dissection (AAD) is a life-threatening cardiovascular emergency frequently associated with misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. This paper aims to illustrate the diagnostic challenges of AAD in rehabilitation settings by presenting a case with atypical musculoskeletal symptoms and emphasize the importance of considering vascular emergencies with literature review. Methods A 46-year-old male presented to a rehabilitation center with migrating right shoulder pain and proximal weakness. Initial complaint suggested a musculoskeletal disorder; however, further evaluation revealed hypertension, tachycardia, and migratory, intensifying pain. A subsequent computed tomography angiography confirmed AAD. The patient underwent urgent Sun’s procedure, including ascending aorta and total arch replacement with stented elephant trunk implantation, which was followed by multidisciplinary rehabilitation due to the secondary ischemic stroke. Results The patient’s early symptoms closely mimicked musculoskeletal disorders, which delayed his prioritization of seeking medical service. After cardiovascular evaluation and successful aortic repair, the AAD was stabilized. However, he later developed right-sided hemiplegia as a secondary complication and was referred back for neurological rehabilitation, which included repetitive task training, robot-assisted therapy, and functional electrical stimulation. Three months post-surgery, he demonstrated significant functional recovery, with Fugl-Meyer Assessment scores improving from 12/66 to 58/66 for the upper extremity and from 17/34 to 32/34 for the lower extremity. Conclusion This case and literature review highlight the diagnostic challenges of AAD presenting as musculoskeletal pain and underscores the need for rehabilitation specialists to maintain a broad differential diagnosis. A high index of suspicion is essential for early recognition and timely referral, especially in patients with overlapping symptoms and vascular risk factors. Impact This case adds to the limited body of evidence on AAD presenting with musculoskeletal complaints and may serve to raise clinical awareness. Further studies, including case series and systematic investigations, are needed to better characterize such atypical presentations and guide diagnostic pathways in rehabilitation settings.

Abstract BACKGROUND Facial pain syndromes can be refractory to medical management and often need neurosurgical interventions. Neuromodulation techniques, including percutaneous trigeminal ganglion (TG) stimulation, are reversible and have emerged as alternative treatment options for intractable facial pain. OBJECTIVE To report the complication rates and analgesic effects associated with TG stimulation and identify potential predictors for these outcomes. METHODS A retrospective chart review of 59 patients with refractory facial pain who underwent TG stimulation was conducted. Outcomes following trial period and permanent stimulation were analyzed. Patients with >50% pain relief during trial stimulation received permanent implantation of the stimulation system. RESULTS Successful trial stimulation was endorsed by 71.2% of patients. During the trial period, 1 TG lead erosion was identified. History of trauma (facial/head trauma and oral surgery) was the only predictor of a failed trial compared to pain of idiopathic etiology (odds ratio: 0.15; 95% CI: 0.03-0.66). Following permanent implantation, approximately 29.6% and 26.5% of patients were diagnosed with lead erosion and infection of the hardware, respectively. TG lead migrations occurred in 11.7% of the patients. The numeric rating scale score showed a statistically significant reduction of 2.49 (95% CI: 1.37-3.61; P = .0001) at an average of 10.8 mo following permanent implantation. CONCLUSION TG stimulation is a feasible neuromodulatory approach for the treatment of intractable facial pain. Facial/head trauma and oral surgery may predict a nonsuccessful trial stimulation. Future development of specifically designed electrodes for stimulation of the TG, and solutions to reduce lead contamination are needed to mitigate the relatively high complication rate. Graphical Abstract Graphical Abstract

Objectives Persistent idiopathic dentoalveolar pain (PIDP) is a challenging clinical entity associated with both physical and emotional consequences. Currently, the management is symptom-based and includes both topical and/or systemic treatments. More recently, botulinum neurotoxin-A (BONT-A) has been suggested as a treatment option. Materials and methods We present a case series of 9 patients (5 female) with mean age 56 ± 15 diagnosed with PIDP. All patients reported prior experience with systemic drugs without a sufficient pain-relieving effect. BONT-A (BOTOX, Allergan) 100 U diluted with saline solution was used and the dose ranged from 20U to 50U distributed in 3 sites (intraoral and/or extraoral) per session. Patients underwent further injections (50U) monthly if pain severity measured using a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS 0–10) was still > 3 for 3 months. Pain severity and characteristics were recorded at baseline (T0), after 1 month (T1), 2 months (T2) and 3 months (T3). Results Mean pain intensity at baseline was NRS 6 (4–10). Latency before analgesic effect was at least 5–10 days after injection. Minor adverse effects were sickness and muscular hypotonia. Pain significantly reduced to NRS 4 (0–8) at T1, to NRS 2 (0–8) at T2 and to NRS 2 (NRS 0–8) at T3. Patients’ functional variables (discomfort while chewing, talking, swallowing) were also recorded. Conclusions BONT-A is widely used and although the exact mechanism of action remains unclear, it can be used effectively in reducing pain for a variety of conditions including PIDP. Clinical relevance Our results suggest that BONT-A seems to be an alternative therapeutic approach for patients with PIDP.

Objective: Despite the availability of studies, there is a lack of available literature on the treatment of psychological and gastrointestinal causes of noncardiac chest pain (NCCP). Physiotherapeutic techniques involving diaphragmatic breathing, Jacobson’s relaxation and dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (DNS) could address these causes through the activation of parasympathetic system. Hence, this study aims to evaluate the combined effect of diaphragmatic breathing, Jacobson’s relaxation and DNS along with pharmacological therapy on patients with gastrointestinal and psychological causes of NCCP.Design: Randomized controlled trial.Setting: Cardiology OPD of a tertiary care hospital.Subjects: Eighty-eight subjects with NCCP.Methods: The intervention group received diaphragmatic breathing, Jacobson’s relaxation technique, DNS and pharmacological treatment for 4 weeks. The control group was given pharmacological treatment with patient education. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) score, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) questionnaire score and Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) score were measured at baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention.Results: The baseline characteristics and outcome measures were assessed, and no significant differences were noted in their mean values (p>0.05). After 4 weeks of intervention, a statistically significant difference was observed in BDI, HDRS, GERD questionnaire score and NPRS in both the groups (p<0.001). However, the GERD questionnaire and NPRS showed statistically significant decrease in the intervention group (GERD questionnaire: 28.39 ± 9.74 and NPRS: 4.57 ± 0.91) compared with the control group (GERD questionnaire: 35.54 ± 12.23 and NPRS: 4.95 ± 0.96) with p<0.05.Conclusion: The diaphragmatic breathing exercises, Jacobson’s relaxation technique and DNS are beneficial for reducing GERD symptoms and pain in patients with NCCP. These techniques are safe and cost-effective treatment for addressing the psychological and gastrointestinal causes of NCCP. These can be incorporated along with the pharmacological treatment to enhance the outcomes. However, future researches with long-term follow-ups are required.Trial Registration: Clinical Trials Registry - India: CTRI/2025/02/081294

BackgroundPersistent idiopathic facial pain (PIFP) is a debilitating chronic pain condition with pain radiating to trigeminal dermatomes. Typically, there are no pathological findings that can be identified during workup and therapy is symptomatic. Facial pain is common in patients with multiple sclerosis (central neuropathic pain attributed to MS). Our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of percutaneous radiofrequency thermocoagulation (PRTC) of the gasserian ganglion and the duration of pain relief, as well as the identification of factors associated with its outcome.MethodsData on all the above-mentioned patients that have been treated with PRTC between 2009 and 2019 were included into the study. The outcome was assessed with a six-tiered score from 1 (complete remission) to 6 (no benefit). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed in order to obtain factors associated with the outcome.ResultsA total of 52 patients were included. The total number of procedures performed was 114. 61.5% of patients who experienced temporary pain relief that lasted for a median of 60 days (range 3–1490 days). In patients with recurrence, the fraction of successful interventions was higher, and also transient, with successful pain amelioration in over 80% of patients. Successful responses to PRTC were observed in 27.9% after 1 year, 19.4% after 2 years, and 8.3% after 3 years. The only independent variable predicting pain relief was a repeat intervention with a history of ≥ 2 interventions (OR: 4.36, 95%-CI: 1.34–14.34, p = 0.015). No severe complications occurred.ConclusionsOur data showed good and immediate pain relief after PRTC in the majority of our patients. PRTC is a low-risk procedure that can be discussed as an option in case of failure of medical treatment even in critically ill patients and can be repeated with good results when necessary. Long-term pain amelioration, even with repeated procedures, was not possible and no patient was permanently cured.

Atypical chest pain in some outpatients could derive from mental disorders. It is necessary for them to have a preliminary emotional assessment in the outpatient department of Cardiology before psychiatric outpatient visits. This study included 122 Chinese outpatients with atypical chest pain in the department of Cardiology. They accepted routine examinations, including treadmill test, and were judged by the three-question method as highly likely to have emotional disorders. Then, a standard questionnaire package containing the Chinese version of the seven-item scale for General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) was administered to evaluate anxiety and depression. The percentages of anxiety evaluated by GAD-7 and SAS were 62.3% and 26.2%, respectively. Analogously, the assessment by PHQ-9 showed a significantly higher percentage of depression than that by SDS (61.5% vs 29.5%) ( < 0.05). Kappa analysis showed that the consistency between GAD-7 and SAS, or that between PHQ-9 and SDS was not very good. About 73% outpatients suffered from emotional disorders, presenting as anxiety/depression evaluated by GAD-7 and PHQ-9. Furthermore, sleep disorders accounted for more than 80% of patients with mental disorders. Finally, the suicidal tendency of depression patients was about 17% that should not be ignored. Compared with SAS and SDS, GAD-7 and PHQ-9 detected more participants with emotional disorders in the Chinese outpatients with atypical chest pain, indicating that GAD-7 and PHQ-9 could be briefly well-validated tools to screen emotional disorders in the outpatient department of Cardiology before psychiatric visits.

Abstract Objective. Atypical odontalgia (AO), a subform of persistent idiopathic facial pain, is defined as a continuous toothache in which a thorough examination reveals no dental pathology. AO is believed to be a neuropathic condition, given that some cases are preceded by dental procedures. Different topical and systemic medications have been used for the treatment of AO, but their effect is often unsatisfactory. The authors aimed to assess the effect and safety of botulinum neurotoxin type-A (BoNTA) in a series of patients with AO. Methods. Four patients with refractory AO (2 males and 2 females, aged 31–72) were treated with local injections of BoNTA to the painful area. BoNTA was injected at various sites into the gums, and two patients had additional injections in the hard palate or the upper lip. The total dose of BoNTA for each procedure was 15–30 U, and the total number of injection points was 6–12. The follow-up ranged from 6 to 20 months. Two patients received two cycles of BoNTA, while the remaining patients received three and five cycles each, respectively. Results. All patients obtained significant relief with complete or almost complete reduction of pain. The analgesic effect was apparent after a latency period of 3–14 days, and the effect persisted for 2–6 months. There were no adverse events reported from any of the interventions. Conclusions. The responses to BoNTA injections in this series agree with those previously observed in neuropathic pain. BoNTA injections may be a safe and effective option for the treatment of AO.

Objectives: To assess the effect of bupivacaine application following pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) ablation on trigeminal facial pain. Methods: A total of 73 patients with trigeminal facial pain refractory to conservative therapy were randomized into 2 groups. Group I subjects underwent PRF ablation procedure, followed by the injection of 1 ml of bupivacaine. Whereas, Group II underwent the same procedure followed by the injection of 1 ml of normal saline. Pain relief duration, the time of onset of pain relief, and analgesic effect evaluated by numerical pain rating scale were considered as outcomes. Results: Thirty-nine patients in Group I and 34 in Group II. The duration of pain relief in the 2 groups was comparable (5 months in Group I vs. 6 months in Group II, p=0.53). The onset of pain relief in the patients of Group I was shorter than Group II (0 days vs. 4.5 days, p<0.001). The binary logistic regression analysis revealed that the application of bupivacaine alone had a significant effect on the reduction of the intake of medications (p<0.05). Conclusion: In situations involving patients who require rapid pain relief, bupivacaine injection following PRF ablation can be employed to provide immediate relief without subjecting the patients to the risks associated with major complications. Keywords: trigeminal neuralgia, trigeminal neuropathic pain, atypical facial pain, bupivacaine, pulsed radiofrequency, facial pain [phrase omitted]

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) has evolved over the last three decades with a better understanding of the natural course of the disease. The prevalence of EoE is higher in Western countries with increasing reports of the incidence of EoE in the east. There is less data on EoE in India. We have noticed an increase in the number of cases of EoE diagnosed in our center over the last few years. In this study, all patients with high clinical suspicion of EoE were included and prospectively evaluated with endoscopic features and esophageal biopsies. Seventeen of 73 patients were diagnosed with EoE based on clinical, endoscopic and histopathologic features. One patient was lost to follow-up and 16 of the 17 patients were initiated on standard-of-care treatment and followed up for a minimum of four weeks. Treatment with proton pump inhibitors with six-food elimination diet is highly effective in most patients with a few patients requiring systemic steroids and endoscopic treatment. In conclusion, this study highlights that EoE exists in India with varied manifestations and a high index of clinical suspicion is necessary for diagnosis. It also emphasizes the need for increasing awareness of the entity of EoE, among both patients and doctors. Further, large-scale, multi-centric population-based studies are necessary to estimate the prevalence in our country.