Recommended Reading
Reading relevant to Pain Medicine practice
This section includes articles of interest; some recent, some dating back some years but still very relevant to today’s practice and knowledge base. They are intended to be useful to read preparation for the exam, but also for continued professional development.
This list of recommended reading will be updated regularly by the Faculty. Previous recommended papers will be archived for future reference. For copyright reasons, only the reference and the link to the paper are listed.
Click the headers in each section below to show the relevant papers for this month.
Access to papers
The great majority of papers listed will be open access or available through NHS libraries. Some are publications from peer reviewed Journals, some are articles of interest from other sources. The papers listed intend to reflect the multidisciplinary ethos of Pain Medicine.
Recommended Reading Archive
Papers recommended for previous Cases of the Month can be found in the Recommended Reading Archive.
Recommended Reading August 2025
Voelker A, Pirlich M, Heyde CE. Complications of injections in conservative treatment of degenerative spine disease: a prospective unicentric study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2022 Nov 22;23(1):1002. doi: 10.1186/s12891-022-05970-x.
Ashar YK, Sun M, Knight K, Flood TF, Anderson Z, Kaptchuk TJ, Wager TD. Open-Label Placebo Injection for Chronic Back Pain With Functional Neuroimaging: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Sep 3;7(9):e2432427. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.32427.
Farrell S, Smith A, Schneider B, Schneider G, Grondin D, Gelley G, Bobos P, Maher CG, Gross AR. Glucocorticoid facet joint injection for chronic back or neck pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2024 Nov 21;11(11):CD015354. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD015354
Ashar YK, Gordon A, Schubiner H, Uipi C, Knight K, Anderson Z, Carlisle J, Polisky L, Geuter S, Flood TF, Kragel PA, Dimidjian S, Lumley MA, Wager TD. Effect of Pain Reprocessing Therapy vs Placebo and Usual Care for Patients With Chronic Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Psychiatry. 2022 Jan 1;79(1):13-23. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2021.2669.
McCormick ZL, Conger A, Kendall R, Wagner G, Henrie AM, Littell M, Sperry BP, Petersen R, Cooper AN, Teramoto M, Burnham TR. A pragmatic randomized prospective trial of cooled radiofrequency ablation of the medial branch nerves versus facet joint injection of corticosteroid for the treatment of lumbar facet syndrome: 12 month outcomes. Pain Med. 2023 Dec 1;24(12):1318-1331. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnad107.
Thiveos L, Kent P, Pocovi NC, O'Sullivan P, Hancock MJ. Cognitive Functional Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Phys Ther. 2024 Dec 6;104(12):pzae128. doi: 10.1093/ptj/pzae128.
Corp N, Mansell G, Stynes S, Wynne-Jones G, Morsø L, Hill JC, van der Windt DA. Evidence-based treatment recommendations for neck and low back pain across Europe: A systematic review of guidelines. Eur J Pain. 2021 Feb;25(2):275-295. doi: 10.1002/ejp.1679.
Lawson GE, Nolet PS, Little AR, Bhattacharyya A, Wang V, Lawson CA, Ko GD. Medial Branch Blocks for Diagnosis of Facet Joint Pain Etiology and Use in Chronic Pain Litigation. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Oct 29;17(21):7932. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17217932.
Recommended Reading May 2025, Hip Fracture
Chang AK, Edwards RR, Morrison RS et al. Disparities in Acute Pain Treatment by Cognitive Status in Older Adults With Hip Fracture. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2020 Sep 25;75(10):2003-2007. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glz216.
Muse IO, Deiling B, Grinman L, Hadeed MM, Elkassabany N. Peripheral Nerve Blocks for Hip Fractures. J Clin Med. 2024 Jun 13;13(12):3457. doi: 10.3390/jcm13123457.
Seth M, Kohli S, Dayal M, Choudhury A. Comparison of ropivacaine, bupivacaine, and lignocaine in femoral nerve block to position fracture femur patients for central neuraxial blockade in Indian population. Acute Crit Care. 2024 May;39(2):275-281. doi: 10.4266/acc.2023.01606.
Goto K, Kataoka H, Honda A et al. Factors Affecting Persistent Postoperative Pain in Patients with Hip Fractures. Pain Res Manag. 2020 Nov 4;2020:8814290. doi: 10.1155/2020/8814290.
Häusler G, van der Vet PCR, Beeres FJP, Kaufman T, Kusen JQ, Poblete B. The impact of loco-regional anaesthesia on postoperative opioid use in elderly hip fracture patients: an observational study. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg. 2022 Aug;48(4):2943-2952. doi: 10.1007/s00068-021-01674-4.
Fairhall NJ, Dyer SM, Mak JC, Diong J, Kwok WS, Sherrington C. Interventions for improving mobility after hip fracture surgery in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022 Sep 7;9(9):CD001704. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001704.pub5.
Amarilla-Donoso FJ, López-Espuela F, Roncero-Martín R et al. Quality of life in elderly people after a hip fracture: a prospective study. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2020 Mar 14;18(1):71. doi: 10.1186/s12955-020-01314-2.
De Simone B, Chouillard E, Podda M et al. The 2023 WSES guidelines on the management of trauma in elderly and frail patients. World J Emerg Surg. 2024 May 31;19(1):18. doi: 10.1186/s13017-024-00537-8.
Recommended Reading March 2025
Nag DS, Swain BP, Anand R, Barman TK, Vatsala. Pain management in chronic pancreatitis. World J Clin Cases. 2024;12(12):2016-2022. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v12.i12.2016.
Kesh K, Tao J, Ghosh N et al. Prescription opioids induced microbial dysbiosis worsens severity of chronic pancreatitis and drives pain hypersensitivity. Gut Microbes. 2024;16(1):2310291. doi: 10.1080/19490976.2024.2310291.
Augustinus S, Bieze M, Van Veldhuisen CL et al. Intravenous Lidocaine for Refractory Pain in Patients With Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma and Chronic Pancreatitis: A Multicenter Prospective Nonrandomized Pilot Study. Clin Transl Gastroenterol. 2024;15(9):e1. doi: 10.14309/ctg.0000000000000760
Palermo TM, Law EF, Topazian MD et al. Internet Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Painful Chronic Pancreatitis: A Pilot Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial. Clin Transl Gastroenterol. 2021;12(6):e00373. doi: 10.14309/ctg.0000000000000373
Wanjari D, Paul A, Bhalerao N, Sawant U. Interventional Strategies for Alleviating Severe Abdominal Pain in Chronic Pancreatitis and Abdominal Cancer: A Case Report on the Use of Splanchnic Nerve Radiofrequency Ablation and Erector Spinae Plane Block. Cureus. 2024;16(7):e63726. doi: 10.7759/cureus.63726
Tez M, Şahingöz E, Martlı HF. Non-pharmacological pain palliation methods in chronic pancreatitis. World J Clin Cases. 2023;11(35):8263-8269. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v11.i35.8263
Göltl P, Murillo K, Simsek O et al. Impact of alcohol and smoking cessation on the course of chronic pancreatitis. Alcohol. 2024;119:29-35. doi: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2023.11.006
Shah I, Sheth SG, Kothari DJ. Pain management in chronic pancreatitis incorporating safe opioid practices: Challenge accepted. World J Gastroenterol. 2021;27(23):3142-3147. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i23.3142
Recommended Reading: Archive Series January 2025
Hanna J, Bruinsma J, Barns M, Hanna M, Boulos B, Ponosh S. Pelvic congestion syndrome: Not all pelvic pain is gynaecological. Aust J Gen Pract. 2024 Dec-Supplement;53(12 Suppl):S41-S44. doi: 10.31128/AJGP-07-23-6889. PMID: 39693749.
McCallion A, Nasirzadeh Y, Lingegowda H, Miller JE, Khalaj K, Ahn S, Monsanto SP, Bidarimath M, Sisnett DJ, Craig AW, Young SL, Lessey BA, Koti M, Tayade C. Estrogen mediates inflammatory role of mast cells in endometriosis pathophysiology. Front Immunol. 2022 Aug 9;13:961599. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.961599. PMID: 36016927; PMCID: PMC9396281.
Spruijt MA, Klerkx WM, Notten K, van Eijndhoven H, Speksnijder L, Kerkhof MH, Kuivers KB. The Efficacy of Botulinum Toxin A Injection in Pelvic Floor Muscles in Chronic Pelvic Pain Patients: A Double-Blinded Randomised Controlled Trial. BJOG. 2025 Feb;132(3):297-305. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.17991. Epub 2024 Nov 13. PMID: 39539076; PMCID: PMC11704059.
Del Forno S, Cocchi L, Arena A, Pellizzone V, Lenzi J, Raffone A, Borghese G, Paradisi R, Youssef A, Casadio P, Raimondo D, Seracchioli R. Effects of Pelvic Floor Muscle Physiotherapy on Urinary, Bowel, and Sexual Functions in Women with Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Medicina (Kaunas). 2023 Dec 29;60(1):67. doi: 10.3390/medicina60010067. PMID: 38256327; PMCID: PMC10818504.
Johnson S, Bradshaw A, Bresnahan R, Evans E, Herron K, Hapangama DK. Biopsychosocial Approaches for the Management of Female Chronic Pelvic Pain: A Systematic Review. BJOG. 2025 Feb;132(3):266-277. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.17987. Epub 2024 Oct 27. PMID: 39462817; PMCID: PMC11704080.
da Silva Freitas T, Barbosa de Oliveira AJ, Golovac S, Assumpcao de Monaco B. Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulation for Chronic Pelvic Pain Secondary to Endometriosis. Neuromodulation. 2024 Dec 24:S1094-7159(24)01235-2. doi: 10.1016/j.neurom.2024.11.007. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39729062.
Moreno-Ligero M, Moral-Munoz JA, Salazar A, Failde I. mHealth Intervention for Improving Pain, Quality of Life, and Functional Disability in Patients With Chronic Pain: Systematic Review. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2023 Feb 2;11:e40844. doi: .10.2196/40844 PMID: 36729570; PMCID: PMC9936365.
Kocas HD, Rubin LR, Lobel M. Stigma and mental health in endometriosis. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol X. 2023 Aug 14;19:100228. doi: 10.1016/j.eurox.2023.100228. PMID: 37654520; PMCID: PMC10465859.
Do you have suggestions for Recommended Reading?
Contact the Faculty if you have any papers to suggest.
Please find further Recommended Reading in our Archive.