Gabapentin is effective in improving analgesia in patients with neuropathic cancer pain already treated with opioids.

Background: Knee osteoarthritis is a frequent cause of chronic knee pain. Therapeutic solutions include intra-articular injections with short-term pain relief and surgical therapy. Radiofrequency (RF) of genicular nerves has been previously reported with varying success. Cooling tissue adjacent to the electrode (cooled RF) increases the radius of lesion. We present here the first retrospective data on pain relief and changes in function after such cooled RF denervation. Methods: We reviewed the records of nine patients with chronic knee pain who underwent cooled RF of genicular nerves. Visual analogue scale (VAS) and Western Ontario McMaster Universities OA index (WOMAC) were analysed. Results: We observed an improvement in VAS pain scores 2 ± 0.5 at one month, 2.3 ± 0.7 at three months, 2.1 ± 0.5 at six months, and 2.2 ± 0.2 at 12 months after the procedure, and WOMAC score 20 ± 2, at one month, 22 ± 0.5 at three months, 21 ± 1.7 at six months, and 20 ± 1.0 at 12 months. Conclusion:The majority of patients with chronic knee pain experienced a clinically relevant degree of pain relief and improved function following cooled RF of genicular nerves at one, three, six and 12 months follow-up.

The TSK was successfully translated into Italian, showing a good factorial structure and psychometric properties, and replicating the results of existing English versions of the questionnaire. Its use is recommended for research purposes.

General discomfort together with depression and anxiety were the symptoms that were mostly related with the physical limitation domain of global health status, but did not influence the social functioning and the self-efficacy domains. When ESAS is used together with KCCQ, comprehensive and quantitative information on a patient's physical, emotional and social distress is provided.