Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia
-
Clinical Trial
Can aberrant spinal nociception be a marker of chronicity of pain in fibromyalgia syndrome?
Pain sensitivity is a recognized feature of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) but the contribution of spinal nociceptive circuitry to this phenomenon is unknown. Therefore, the objectives were to study the changes in spinal nociception i.e. nociceptive flexion reflex (NFR) in patients with FMS and to investigate correlation if any, between NFR threshold, pain duration and tender points in FMS. One hundred and three patients with FMS and 74 healthy volunteers participated in the study. ⋯ No significant correlation was found among NFR threshold and pain duration or tender points. On the basis of results of present study, it may be concluded that the functional deficit of the spinal nociceptive system can contribute to hyperalgesia in FMS. This is first study that correlates a marker of central hyper-excitability (NFR threshold) with clinical symptoms (pain duration and tender points) of FMS.