Andrea M. Trescot

TL;DR: The role of opioids in the treatment of chronic pain is influenced by the fact that these potent analgesics are associated with a significant number of side effects and complications, and these phenomena are the focus of this review.

TL;DR: These guidelines include the evaluation of evidence for diagnostic and therapeutic treatment recommendations for chronic spinal pain, and the accuracy of facet joint nerve blocks is strong in the diagnosis of lumbar and cervical facet joint pain, whereas, it is moderate in the Diagnostic Accuracy Studies.

TL;DR: There is moderate evidence for interlaminar epidurals in the cervical spine and limited evidence in the lumbar spine for long-term relief in managing chronic pain of lumbr radiculopathy and postlumbar laminectomy syndrome.

TL;DR: The evidence for the effectiveness of long-term opioids in reducing pain and improving functional status for 6 months or longer is variable and the recommendation is 2A - weak recommendation, high-quality evidence: with benefits closely balanced with risks and burdens.

TL;DR: A broadly based policy committee of recognized experts in the field evaluated the available literature regarding opioid use in managing chronic non-cancer pain this paper, which resulted in the formulation of the review and update of the guidelines published in 2006, a series of potential evidence linkages representing conclusions, followed by statements regarding the relationships between clinical interventions and outcomes.