The Clinical journal of pain
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The present study evaluated the relationship between the 2011 American College of Rheumatology fibromyalgia (FM) survey criteria and quantitative sensory testing (QST). ⋯ We demonstrated an association between diffuse hyperalgesia as measured by QST and FM severity in females with knee osteoarthritis. These results suggest that the FM survey criteria may represent a marker of pain centralization in females with potential utility in clinical decision making.
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Ecological momentary assessment has been recommended in the management of chronic pain. Smartphone apps might be a useful tool for that purpose. This goal of this study was to develop and test a multidimensional smartphone app for adults with chronic pain. A multidisciplinary team developed the app content after a series of meetings, considering clinical guidelines for pain measurement. The content included pain intensity and interference, fatigue, mood, perceived health status, activity level, side effects of the medication, use of rescue medication, and pain-related sychological constructs (catastrophizing, acceptance, fear, and coping). ⋯ The new assessment protocol in the app allows for an easy and rapid multidimensional assessment of chronic pain patients.
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Expressions of pain by individuals with chronic pain may encourage solicitous and distracting responses from some partners and punishing responses from others. Partners' responses can impact the well-being of individuals with chronic pain. Yet information about factors that can explain the link between expression of pain behaviors and different partners' responses is scarce. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of perceived partner burden and relationship quality in the link between expressions of pain behaviors and perceived partner responses (ie, solicitous, distracting, and punishing responses). ⋯ Enhanced partner burden and reduced relationship quality may be one pathway through which pain behaviors relate to partner responses.
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Observational Study
Unilateral Lateral Epicondylalgia Shows a Pro-nociceptive Pain Profile: A Case-control Observational Study.
Lateral epicondylalgia (LE, tennis elbow) is characterized by both local tissue pathology and features indicative of secondary hyperalgesia. The aim of this study was to evaluate endogenous pain modulation characteristics in people with chronic LE, and to investigate the relationship between endogenous pain modulation and clinical characteristics. ⋯ LE is characterized by locally increased facilitation of pain, as measured by TS, but this is not associated with severity of pain or disability.
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Over 25% of Persian Gulf War (PGW) veterans with Gulf War Illness (GWI) (chronic health symptoms of undetermined etiology) developed gastrointestinal (GI) (diarrhea and abdominal pain) and other somatic symptoms. ⋯ Our findings show that there is widespread somatic hypersensitivity in veterans with GWI/GI symptoms that is positively correlated with abdominal pain ratings. In addition, veterans with somatic hypersensitivity that overlap have the greatest number of extraintestinal symptoms. These findings may have a translational benefit: strategies for developing more effective therapeutic agents that can reduce and/or prevent somatic and GI symptoms in veterans deployed to future military conflicts.