Consistent engagement with current medical literature enables clinicians to apply the latest evidence-based treatment and integrate research into clinical practice. This approach enhances patient outcomes by facilitating more effective and individualized care.

Today, we’re showcasing some of the latest pain medicine-related articles published recently across medical journals. The topics in today’s rundown focus on complex regional pain syndrome and chronic low back pain.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Articles

The Prevalence of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome after Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty – A Longitudinal Study

  • Journal of Orthopaedic Case Reports
  • June 2026
  • Description: Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease commonly affecting the knee, especially the medial compartment, causing cartilage loss, joint space narrowing, deformity, and limited mobility. Radiological severity is graded by the Kellgren–Lawrence system. Advanced or tricompartmental disease requires total knee arthroplasty. Complex regional pain syndrome is a rare but recognized complication following total knee arthroplasty.
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Thoracic Sympathetic Block with Botulinum Toxin A for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: A Retrospective Case Series

  • Interventional Pain Medicine
  • May 2026
  • Description: Sympathetic interventions are frequently used in complex regional pain syndrome. However, the evidence is inconclusive, and the response may depend on phenotype, anatomical target, and treatment durability. For upper-extremity complex regional pain syndrome, clinical data on thoracic sympathetic block with botulinum toxin type A are lacking.
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Pulsed Radiofrequency for Treatment of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: A Scoping Review

  • Interventional Pain Medicine
  • May 2026
  • Description: Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is a debilitating chronic pain condition characterized by sensory, motor, and autonomic disturbances, often resistant to conventional therapies. Pulsed radiofrequency, a non-neurodestructive neuromodulation technique, has been described as a potential intervention for complex regional pain syndrome, though its clinical effectiveness remains uncertain due to limited evidence.
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Healing from the Inside Out: Vitamins and Nutritional Strategies for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and Chronic Postsurgical Pain

  • Current Pain and Headache Reports
  • May 2026
  • Description: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) are postoperative outcomes that present with debilitating symptoms for patients. The recovery of patients with these conditions is complicated by the lack of standardized prevention and treatment strategies. Current literature suggests that vitamin C may prevent the development of CRPS. Due to the overlapping proposed mechanisms of CRPS and CPSP, the aim of this review is to summarize the available data on the benefits of vitamin supplementation on CRPS and CPSP.
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Characterisation and Non-Pharmacological Treatment of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in Under-18-Year-Olds: A Scoping Review

  • European Journal of Pediatrics
  • May 2026
  • Description: The aim of this review was to explore the published literature describing the presentation, characteristics, and non-pharmacological treatments of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) in under 18-year-olds.
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Chronic Low Back Pain

Improved Chronic Low Back Pain, Radiographic Alignment, and Patient Reported Outcomes Following Postural Rehabilitation Protocols: A Case Series of Two Patients with 18- and 26-Months Follow-Up

  • Healthcare
  • June 2026
  • Description: We describe a case series of two patients with non-specific chronic low back pain (CLBP) and measurable decreased quality of life, who showed improvements after a specific multi-modal conservative spine and postural therapy regimen.
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Mechanical Energy Analysis Identifies Compensatory Strategies in Individuals With and Without Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain

  • Scientific Reports
  • June 2026
  • Description: This quasi-experimental study aimed to identify biomechanical compensatory strategies during gait in individuals with non-specific chronic low back pain by analyzing mechanical energy expenditure at the lower limb joints. Twenty-eight male participants (14 with non-specific chronic low back pain and 14 healthy, mean age 27.9 ± 2.1 years) were assessed.
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Effectiveness of Shortwave Diathermy in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Study Protocol for a Randomised, Single-Blinded, Multicentre Clinical Trial

  • PloS One
  • June 2026
  • Description: This study aims to determine whether continuous shortwave diathermy, when combined with standard physiotherapy, provides additional benefits compared with sham continuous shortwave diathermy plus physiotherapy.
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Evaluation of the Impact of a Smartphone App on Adherence to an Exercise Program in People With Chronic Low Back Pain: Randomized Controlled Trial

  • JMIR mHealth and uHealth
  • May 2026
  • Description: The study aimed to evaluate the impact of a smartphone app on adherence to an exercise program for people with chronic low back pain at 6 months. The secondary aims were to assess the effectiveness of the app on pain, disability, fears, and beliefs related to physical activity, physical capacity, and qualitative adherence (correctness of exercise execution) at 6 months.
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