A Case of Successful Opioid Dose Reduction Following Spinal Cord Stimulation for Intractable Post-thoracotomy Pain Syndrome and Opioid Dependence After Thoracic Malignancy Surgery
- VernacularTitle:胸部悪性腫瘍術後の難治性開胸術後疼痛症候群とオピオイド依存に対し，脊髄刺激療法が奏効しオピオイド減量に成功した一症例
- Author:
Reiko ANAYAMA
1
;
Nana MOMOSE
2
;
Sayaka MASUDA
3
;
Nobuyasu KIMURA
3
Author Information
- Keywords: spinal cord stimulation (SCS); post-thoracotomy pain syndrome (PTPS); opioid addiction
- From:Palliative Care Research 2025;20(4):197-202
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
- Abstract: Introduction: Recent advances in cancer therapy have enabled long-term survival even in patients with advanced disease; however, chronic postoperative pain and other long-term treatment-related adverse effects have emerged as new challenges. Here, we report a case in which spinal cord stimulation (SCS) was introduced for post-thoracotomy pain syndrome (PTPS) following thoracic malignancy surgery, successfully achieving pain relief and opioid dose reduction in a patient with established opioid dependence. Case: The patient, a 32-year-old woman, developed persistent neuropathic pain after surgery. Some pharmacologic therapies were ineffective, leading to increased opioid use and eventual dependence. Following SCS implantation, pain improved with marked improvement in activities of daily living. Conclusion: SCS represents an effective option for intractable pain such as PTPS and may contribute to improved quality of life and reduced opioid reliance in cancer survivors.
