Somatic pain sensitivity in children with recurrent abdominal pain

OBJECTIVE: Evidence is accumulating that recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) in children is associated with visceral hyperalgesia. However, it is not known whether somatic sensitivity is altered as well. Therefore, the aim of our study was to assess somatic pain sensitivity in children with RAP and healthy controls at the abdomen and a distal site (thenar).
METHODS: We examined 20 children with RAP (age 8–14) and 23 healthy control children (age 9–14). Heat and mechanical pain thresholds as well as measures of perceptual sensitization in response to repetitive mechanical or tonic thermal noxious stimulation were assessed.
RESULTS: At the abdominal site, pain sensitivity in children with RAP did not differ significantly when compared to controls. At the thenar, pain thresholds of children in the RAP group were not significantly different from control children. However, children with RAP showed less perceptual sensitization in response to tonic heat and repetitive mechanical stimuli (ps ≤ 0.05) than controls.
CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence for somatic hyperalgesia in RAP arguing against generalized hyperalgesia in these children. Somatic hypoalgesia at the thenar might either be related to a dysregulation of sensory processing and/or attentional avoidance of pain-related stimuli.     

Comparing the association of widespread pain,multi-joint pain and low back pain with measures of pain sensitization and function in people with knee osteoarthritis

Clinical Rheumatology - To compare 1. measures of pain sensitization (PS) in people with widespread pain (WSP), multi-joint pain, low back pain (LBP) and knee osteoarthritis (KOA) only, in people...     

A typist with neck pain

A 27-yr-old office typist complained of a 6-month history ofincreasing neck pain. Symptoms were more pronounced later inthe evening, exacerbated by movement,     

Psychological variables associated with foot function and foot pain in patients with plantar heel pain

It is widely accepted that psychological variables are associated with self-reported pain and self-reported physical function in patients with musculoskeletal pain. However, the relationship between psychological variables and foot pain and foot function has not been evaluated in people with plantar heel pain. Eighty-four participants with plantar heel pain completed the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale short version (DASS-21) and Foot Health Status Questionnaire. Using a hierarchical regression analysis, a baseline model with age, sex and BMI explained 10 % of the variability in foot function. The addition of depression and stress in separate models explained an additional 7.3 % and 8.1 % of foot function scores, respectively. In the respective models, depression was a significant predictor (β?=??0.28; p?=?0.009) as was stress (β?=??0.29; p?=?0.006). Females drove the effect between stress and foot function (β?=??0.50; p?=?0.001) and depression and foot function (β?=??0.53; p?<?0.001). In regression models for foot pain, depression, anxiety and stress did not contribute significantly to pain scores. When the data was stratified by sex, stress (β?=??0.36; p?=?0.024) and depression (β?=??0.41; p?=?0.013) were significantly associated with foot pain in females but not in males. For participants with plantar heel pain, stress and depression scores were significantly associated with foot function but not foot pain. When the data was stratified by sex, stress and depression were significant predictors of foot pain and function in females.     

Assessing pain and pain relief in geriatric patients with non-pathological fractures with different rating scales

Although pain is a frequent problem among elderly patients, they are often omitted in clinical trials and few studies have focused on assessing pain relief in this population. The aim of this study was to compare geriatric patients' verbally reported effect of analgesics with changes in pain experience rated with four different rating scales: the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the Graphic Rating Scale (GRS), the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), and the Pain Relief Scale (PRS). Altogether 53 geriatric patients (mean=82 yrs) with non-pathological fractures in 4 geriatric units at a large university hospital were selected. In connection with the administration of analgesics, the patients were asked to "Mark the point that corresponds to your experience of pain just now at rest" on the VAS, GRS and NRS. This was repeated after 1.5-2 hours, and a direct question was asked about whether the analgesic medication given in connection with the initial assessment had had any pain-alleviation effect. Two comparisons were conducted with each patient. The results show that the probability of accomplishing a rating on the VAS, GRS, NRS, and PRS was lower with advancing age in these elderly fracture patients. The correlations between the ratings of the VAS, GRS and NRS were strong and significant (r=0.80-0.95; p<0.001) both at the initial assessments and at the re-assessments. However, the verbally reported effects of the analgesics were often directly opposite to the changes in rated pain. Therefore, application of the VAS, NRS, GRS and PRS for the purpose of assessing pain relief must be combined with supplementary questions that allow the patient to verbally describe possible experience of pain relief.     

Back pain and spinal pathology in patients with functional upper abdominal pain

Thirty-nine hospital outpatients with upper abdominal pain without demonstrable organic abdominal abnormalities and 28 healthy controls were compared blindly with regard to back pain and back abnormalities when subjected to a standardized physical examination of the spine. Seventy-two per cent of the patients versus 17% of the controls were troubled with back pain (P less than 0.001). Seventy-five per cent of the patients with back pain actually had abnormalities revealed at the physical examination, indicating that some organic mechanisms are involved in back pain. Most of the findings were localized to the lower thoracic and thoracolumbar segments, the same segments that innervate the upper gastrointestinal tract. This suggests the existence of a connection between abdominal pain and back pain. Viscerosomatic or somatovisceral reflexes with trigger zones either in the viscera or in the skin, muscles, tendons, or ligaments could be part of the pathophysiology in this syndrome. Fifty-one per cent of the patients had symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, and 41% had heartburn, which was significantly related to the experience of back pain.     

Outcome of patients with chronic abdominal pain referred to chronic pain clinic

OBJECTIVE: We determined the outcome of patients with chronic abdominal pain of unknown etiology referred by gastroenterologists to a chronic pain clinic. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 43 consecutive patients seen by a university-based gastroenterology group was referred to our Chronic Pain Clinic for evaluation and treatment. Pain character and location, the referring diagnosis, and initial Chronic Pain Clinic diagnosis was compared between responders and nonresponders. Early and long-term pain relief was scored by standard questionnaire. RESULTS: Of the 43 patients with chronic abdominal pain of undetermined etiology, 70% reported complete or substantial pain relief by the end of chronic pain management. Pain character and location and the referring diagnosis were not predictors of pain relief. Long-term pain relief was reported by 35% of patients. CONCLUSION: A substantial group of patients with chronic abdominal pain of unknown etiology benefited from Chronic Pain Clinic services.