Research

The role of beliefs in outcome from major joint surgery

This is a collaborative study I performed with the department of psychology at Anglia Ruskin University. We have finished recruiting 100 patients into the first arm of this study.

The basic premise is that abnormal beliefs can adversely affect outcome following major surgery. The second part of this study will be addressing whether psychotherapy can influence outcome in patients undergoing major joint surgery who show pre-existing abnormal beliefs.

Does pain influence outcome in patients with Gastroparesis?

I am privileged in working with Sri Kadirkamanathan an upper GI surgeon specialising in gastro-electric stimulation in the treatment of gastroparesis. Sri has inserted more gastro-electric stimulators than anyone else outside the USA, this has been a major research interest of his for over 10 years.

In 2011 we presented a paper at Digestive Diseases Week in Chicago to 10,000 delegates which showed that pain was a poor predictor of outcome in patients with gastroparesis. Our research in this area continues. We see private patients in a combined clinic by arrangement.

Acupuncture

At the 2012 annual scientific meeting of the British Pain Society I presented our service audit of outcome from acupuncture. This showed that over half of patients referred for acupuncture for the treatment of chronic painful conditions derive significant benefit, this data collection continues and is concentrating on subsets.

Injection Treatments, do they work?

At the 2012 annual scientific meeting of the British Pain Society I presented a study of over 800 patients who had had injections to treat their pain. We looked at improved pain, function, sleep and reduction in medications used. In all areas there was a significant improvement following treatment giving further justification for the role of injections in appropriate patients.