The road to chronic pain disability: Negative biases or accurate pain perception?

Pain ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 137 (2) ◽  
pp. 460-461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael R. MacDonald
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Pain Perception ◽  
The Road ◽  
Pain Disability

scholarly journals Pain experience and social support of endometriosis patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany – results of a web-based cross-sectional survey

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0256433
Author(s):  
Roxana Schwab ◽  
Katharina Anić ◽  
Kathrin Stewen ◽  
Mona W. Schmidt ◽  
Stefanie R. Kalb ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Pain Intensity ◽  
Pain Perception ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Pain Experience ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Pain Disability

Background Endometriosis is a chronic pain condition in premenopausal women. Pain is mainly characterized by pain intensity and may induce disability in all areas of daily life. Nevertheless, pain is influenced by emotional and social factors as well. Social distancing measures or quarantine, as reaction to rapidly rising infections with the COVID-19 virus due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, were implemented across Europe to prevent the spread of the virus and social distancing measures were imposed by the German government by beginning of March 2020 with initiation of the lockdown by the end of March 2020. The objective of this study was to assess, how social distancing measures during the lockdown impacted the various aspects of pain perception in a group of chronic pain patients, such as women suffering from endometriosis. Methods Between 6th to 27th April 2020, an online questionnaire was activated at internet platforms of endometriosis patients support groups. Participants were asked retrospectively at one time point about their visual pain intensity measured by the visual analogue scale (VAS) and pain disability via pain disability index (PDI) prior to initiation of social distancing measures in Germany (VASP, PDIP), as well as the pain intensity and pain disability since implementation of social distancing measures (VASI, PDII). Differences of VAS and PDI previous and after implementation of social distancing measures were displayed as ΔVAS and ΔPDI. Pain experience and social support were assessed by a 5-point Likert scale. Results 285 participants completed at least one question regarding pain intensity, disability, pain experience or social support. Dysmenorrhea, the symptom with the highest level of pain assessed by VAS, decreased significantly during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic compared to the time period prior to social isolation (45.30% respondents experienced improvemenet vs 40.50% who experienced worsening; p = 0.025). The global physical impairment improved significantly (improvement of pain induced disability in 48.20% vs 40.90% with worsening of pain symptoms; p = 0.032) after the implementation of social distancing measures. Pain experience was negatively affected by social distancing measures, since frequency of pain awareness increased in 43.6% (p<0.001) of participants and 30.0% (p<0.001) more participants experienced pain as a threat. Verbalization of pain experience was reduced in 36.6% (p = 0.001) of participants and 14.6% (p = 0.91), 21.9% (p<0.001) and 31.5% (p<0.001) of participants reported less social support from their partner, family and friends. Conclusions Physical pain and disability on one hand and emotional and social pain experience on the other were differentially affected by the emerged emotional, social and health care constraints related to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Role of Ethnicity on Pain Perception, Fatigue, and Quality of Life in a Pediatric Chronic Pain Population

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey I. Gold ◽  
Trina Haselrig ◽  
D. Colette Nicolaou ◽  
Katharine A. Belmont
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Pain Perception ◽  
Pediatric Chronic Pain

scholarly journals Vitamin D Deficiency Induces Chronic Pain and Microglial Phenotypic Changes in Mice

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 3604
Author(s):  
Nicola Alessio ◽  
Carmela Belardo ◽  
Maria Consiglia Trotta ◽  
Salvatore Paino ◽  
Serena Boccella ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Vitamin D ◽  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Morphological Analysis ◽  
Pain Perception ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Ros Generation ◽  
Peroxisome Proliferator ◽  
Neuroprotective Effects

The bioactive form of vitamin .D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25D3), exerts immunomodulatory actions resulting in neuroprotective effects potentially useful against neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases. In fact, vitamin D deficiency status has been correlated with painful manifestations associated with different pathological conditions. In this study, we have investigated the effects of vitamin D deficiency on microglia cells, as they represent the main immune cells responsible for early defense at central nervous system (CNS), including chronic pain states. For this purpose, we have employed a model of low vitamin D intake during gestation to evaluate possible changes in primary microglia cells obtained from postnatal day(P)2-3 pups. Afterwards, pain measurement and microglia morphological analysis in the spinal cord level and in brain regions involved in the integration of pain perception were performed in the parents subjected to vitamin D restriction. In cultured microglia, we detected a reactive—activated and proliferative—phenotype associated with intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Oxidative stress was closely correlated with the extent of DNA damage and increased β-galactosidase (B-gal) activity. Interestingly, the incubation with 25D3 or 1,25D3 or palmitoylethanolamide, an endogenous ligand of peroxisome proliferator-activated-receptor-alpha (PPAR-α), reduced most of these effects. Morphological analysis of ex-vivo microglia obtained from vitamin-D-deficient adult mice revealed an increased number of activated microglia in the spinal cord, while in the brain microglia appeared in a dystrophic phenotype. Remarkably, activated (spinal) or dystrophic (brain) microglia were detected in a prominent manner in females. Our data indicate that vitamin D deficiency produces profound modifications in microglia, suggesting a possible role of these cells in the sensorial dysfunctions associated with hypovitaminosis D.

Sleep disturbance in patients attending specialized chronic pain clinics in Denmark: a longitudinal study examining the relationship between sleep and pain outcomes

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Henrik Bjarke Vaegter ◽  
Mette Terp Høybye ◽  
Frederik Hjorth Bergen ◽  
Christine E. Parsons
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Pain Intensity ◽  
Sleep Disturbances ◽  
Pain Disability ◽  
Pain Clinics ◽  
Pain Outcomes

Abstract Objectives Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent in patients with chronic pain. However, the majority of studies to date examining sleep disturbances in patients with chronic pain have been population-based cross-sectional studies. The aims of this study were to 1) examine the frequency of sleep disturbances in patients referred to two interdisciplinary chronic pain clinics in Denmark, 2) explore associations between sleep disturbances and pain intensity, disability and quality of life at baseline and follow-up, and 3) explore whether changes in sleep quality mediated the relationships between pain outcomes at baseline and pain outcomes at follow-up. Methods We carried out a longitudinal observational study, examining patients enrolled in two chronic pain clinics assessed at baseline (n=2,531) and post-treatment follow-up (n=657). Patients reported on their sleep disturbances using the sleep quality subscale of the Karolinska Sleep Questionnaire (KSQ), their pain intensity using 0–10 numerical rating scales, their pain-related disability using the Pain Disability Index (PDI), and quality of life using the EuroQol-VAS scale. The average time between baseline and follow-up was 207 days (SD=154). Results At baseline, the majority of patients reported frequent sleep disturbances. We found a significant association at baseline between self-reported sleep disturbances and pain intensity, pain-related disability, and quality of life, where greater sleep disturbance was associated with poorer outcomes. At follow-up, patients reported significant improvements across all pain and sleep outcomes. In two mediation models, we showed that changes in sleep disturbances from baseline to follow-up were significantly associated with (i) pain intensity at follow-up, and (ii) pain disability at follow-up. However, baseline pain intensity and disability scores were not associated with changes in sleep disturbances and, we did not find evidence for significant mediation of either pain outcome by changes in sleep disturbances. Conclusions Self-reported sleep disturbances were associated with pain outcomes at baseline and follow-up, with greater sleep disturbances associated with poorer pain outcomes. Changes in sleep quality did not mediate the relationships between baseline and follow-up scores for pain intensity and disability. These findings contribute to a growing body of evidence confirming an association between sleep and chronic pain experience, particularly suggestive of a sleep to pain link. Our data following patients after interdisciplinary treatment suggests that improved sleep is a marker for a better outcome after treatment.

Central and Peripheral Nervous System

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther Benedetti ◽  
James Burnett ◽  
Meredith Degnan ◽  
Danielle Horne ◽  
Andres Missair ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Neuropathic Pain ◽  
Cancer Pain ◽  
Pain Perception ◽  
Visceral Pain ◽  
Influential Factors ◽  
Electrical Transmission ◽  
Somatic Pain ◽  
Spine Pain

The neuronal, chemical, and electrical transmission of pain is a complex and intricate subject that continues to be studied and expounded. This review discusses the relevant physiology and influential factors contributing to the experience and subjective variation in a variety of acute and chronic pain presentations. This review contains 4 figures, 4 tables, and 30 references Keywords: acute pain, chronic pain, somatic pain, neuropathic pain, visceral pain, nociception, pain perception, gender-related pain, cancer pain, spine pain

scholarly journals The Situated Influence of Chronic Pain Perception on Chinese Older Adults’ Self-Management in Home Care

Geriatrics ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 64
Author(s):  
Fang Liu ◽  
Min Tong
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Pain Perception ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Chinese Older Adults ◽  
Care Experience ◽  
Management Capacity ◽  
Important Others

Background and objective: Worldwide, 26 million older adults die from chronic disease, and chronic pain is typically a part of the experience of chronic disease. This study explores the perception of chronic pain for home-dwelling Chinese older adults and its influence on (1) self-management ability and (2) management and reduction of chronic pain. Methods: Adopting a qualitative study design, we conducted in-depth interviews with 10 Chinese community-dwelling older adults who experience chronic pain. Half of our informants perceive chronic pain, whereas the other half, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, do not report that they perceive chronic pain. Data were analyzed with inductive thematic analysis. Results: Chronic pain perception plays important roles in (1) defining the challenge of self-management, (2) connecting previous caretaking experience, (3) adjusting the identity of self-management, (4) acquiring support from important others and (5) re-planning self-management arrangements. Conclusion: Pain perception helps to motivate Chinese older adults to face health challenges and regain self-management capacity through adjustments in self-identity and care experience with the support of important others. Pain perception can consolidate the situation of independent living of older adults. It helps to motivate Chinese older adults to face health challenges and regain self-management capacity.

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