Dynamics of Pain: Fractal Dimension of Temporal Variability of Spontaneous Pain Differentiates Between Pain States

2006 ◽  
Vol 95 (2) ◽  
pp. 730-736 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer M. Foss ◽  
A. Vania Apkarian ◽  
Dante R. Chialvo
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Fractal Dimension ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Chronic Back Pain ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Time Variability ◽  
Spontaneous Pain ◽  
Pain Ratings ◽  
Chronic Pain Conditions

Spontaneous pain is a common complaint in chronic pain conditions. However, its properties have not been explored. Here we study temporal properties of spontaneous pain. We examine time variability of fluctuations of spontaneous pain in patients suffering from chronic back pain and chronic postherpetic neuropathy and contrast properties of these ratings to normal subjects' ratings of either acute thermal painful stimuli or of imagined back pain. Subjects are instructed to continuously rate their subjective assessment of the intensity of pain over a 6- to 12-min period. We observe that the fluctuations of spontaneous pain do not possess stable mean or variance, implying that these time series can be better characterized by fractal analysis. To this end, we apply time and frequency domain techniques to characterize variability of pain ratings with a single parameter: fractal dimension, D. We demonstrate that the majority of ratings of spontaneous pain by the patients have fractal properties, namely they show a power law relationship between variability and time-scale length; D is distinct between types of chronic pain, and from ratings of thermal stimulation or of imagined pain; and there is a correspondence between D for pain ratings and D for brain activity, in chronic back pain patients using fMRI. These results show that measures of variability of spontaneous pain differentiate between chronic pain conditions, and thus may have mechanistic and clinical utility.

scholarly journals Chronic Pain and the Emotional Brain: Specific Brain Activity Associated with Spontaneous Fluctuations of Intensity of Chronic Back Pain

2006 ◽  
Vol 26 (47) ◽  
pp. 12165-12173 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. N. Baliki ◽  
D. R. Chialvo ◽  
P. Y. Geha ◽  
R. M. Levy ◽  
R. N. Harden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Chronic Back Pain ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Spontaneous Fluctuations

scholarly journals Acute Pain Burden and Opioid Dose Requirements after Cesarean Delivery in Parturients with Preexisting Chronic Back Pain and Migraine

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Ryu Komatsu ◽  
Michael G. Nash ◽  
Kenneth C. Ruth ◽  
William Harbour ◽  
Taylor M. Ziga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Postoperative Pain ◽  
Pain Score ◽  
Cesarean Delivery ◽  
Chronic Back Pain ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Opioid Dose ◽  
Chronic Pain Conditions

Introduction. Preexisting chronic pain has been reported to be a consistent risk factor for severe acute postoperative pain. However, each specific chronic pain condition has unique pathophysiology, and it is possible that the effect of each condition on postoperative pain is different. Methods. This is a retrospective cohort study of pregnant women with preexisting chronic pain conditions (i.e., migraine, chronic back pain, and the combination of migraine + chronic back pain), who underwent cesarean delivery. The effects of the three chronic pain conditions on time-weighted average (TWA) pain score (primary outcome) and opioid dose requirements in morphine milligram equivalents (MME) during postoperative 48 hours were compared. Results. The TWA pain score was similar in preexisting migraine and chronic back pain. Chronic back pain was associated with significantly greater opioid dose requirements than migraine (12.92 MME, 95% CI: 0.41 to 25.43, P = 0.041 ). Preoperative opioid use ( P < 0.001 ) was associated with a greater TWA pain score. Preoperative opioid use ( P < 0.001 ), smoking ( P = 0.004 ), and lower postoperative ibuprofen dose ( P = 0.002 ) were associated with greater opioid dose requirements. Conclusions. Findings suggest women with chronic back pain and migraine do not report different postpartum pain intensities; however, women with preexisting chronic back pain required 13 MME greater opioid dose than those with migraine during 48 hours after cesarean delivery.

scholarly journals Functional Connectivity Alterations: Novel Therapy and Future Implications in Chronic Pain Management

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (21;1) ◽  
pp. E207-E214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dr. Stephen Thorp
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Pain Management ◽  
Functional Connectivity ◽  
Diabetic Neuropathy ◽  
Chronic Back Pain ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Pain Syndrome ◽  
Pain Patients ◽  
The Brain

Background: Chronic pain is a major public health problem resulting in physical and emotional pain for individuals and families, loss of productivity, and an annual cost of billions of dollars. The lack of objective measures available to aid in diagnosis and evaluation of therapies for chronic pain continues to be a challenge for the clinician. Objectives: Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is an imaging technique that can establish regional areas of interest and examine synchronous neuronal activity in functionally related but anatomically distinct regions of the brain, known as functional connectivity. Study Design: The present investigation examines changes in functional connectivity in 4 common pain syndromes: chronic back pain (CBP), fibromyalgia, diabetic neuropathy, and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Setting: This is a review of the current understanding of functional connectivity. Methods: Utilizing functional imaging, patients with these conditions have been shown to have significant structural and functional differences when compared to healthy controls. Results: Functional connectivity, therefore, has the potential to assist in diagnostic classification of different pain conditions, predict individual responses to specific therapeutic interventions, and serve as a gateway for personalized medicine. Indirect activation of brain activity can be seen by the blood flow to the brain at specific sites, with chronic pain patients having increased brain activity. Limitations: The present investigation is limited in that few studies have examined this relatively new modality. Conclusions: Knowing and observing the brain’s activity as related to pain gives pain patients an opportunity to decrease pain-related brain activity and decrease severe chronic pain. This modality can be used along with interventional pain management techniques in order to provide optimum pain relief. Key words: Functional connectivity, fMRI, chronic pain, chronic back pain, fibromyalgia, diabetic neuropathy, chronic regional pain syndrome

scholarly journals An Observational Study Comparing Fibromyalgia and Chronic Low Back Pain in Somatosensory Sensitivity, Motor Function and Balance

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1533
Author(s):  
José Antonio Mingorance ◽  
Pedro Montoya ◽  
José García Vivas Miranda ◽  
Inmaculada Riquelme
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Observational Study ◽  
Motor Function ◽  
Chronic Low Back Pain ◽  
Functional Performance ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Somatosensory Sensitivity ◽  
Chronic Pain Conditions

Fibromyalgia (FM) and chronic low back pain (CLBP) have shared pathophysiology and have a considerable impact on patients’ daily activities and quality of life. The main objective of this study was to compare pain impact, somatosensory sensitivity, motor functionality, and balance among 60 patients with FM, 60 patients with CLBP, and 60 pain-free controls aged between 30 and 65 years. It is essential to know the possible differences existing in symptomatology of two of the major chronic pain processes that most affect the population, such as FM and CLBP. The fact of establishing possible differences in sensory thresholds, motor function, and proprioceptive measures among patients with FM and CLBP could bring us closer to a greater knowledge of the chronic pain process. Through an observational study, a comparison was made between the three groups (FM, CLBP, and pain-free controls) evaluating functional performance, postural balance, kinematic gait parameters, strength, depression, fatigue, and sensitivity to pain and vibration. Patients with chronic pain showed worse somatosensory sensitivity (p < 0.001) and motor function (p < 0.001) than pain-free controls. Moreover, patients with FM showed greater pain impact (p < 0.001) and bigger somatosensory (p < 0.001) and motor deficiencies (p < 0.001) than patients with CLBP. Further research should explore the possible reasons for the greater deterioration in patients with FM in comparison with other chronic pain conditions. Our results, showing the multiple areas susceptible of deterioration, make it necessary to adopt interdisciplinary interventions focused both on physical and emotional dysfunction.

The periaqueductal gray and descending pain modulation: why should we study them and what role do they play in chronic pain?

2015 ◽  
Vol 114 (4) ◽  
pp. 2080-2083 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kasey S. Hemington ◽  
Marie-Andrée Coulombe
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Functional Connectivity ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Chronic Back Pain ◽  
Periaqueductal Gray ◽  
Pain Modulation ◽  
Pain Research ◽  
Descending Pain Modulation ◽  
Pain Patients

In this Neuro Forum we discuss the significance of a recent study by Yu et al. ( Neuroimage Clin 6: 100–108, 2014). The authors examined functional connectivity of a key node of the descending pain modulation pathway, the periaqueductal gray (PAG), in chronic back pain patients. Altered PAG connectivity to pain-related regions was found; we place results within the context of recent literature and emphasize the importance of understanding the descending component of pain in pain research.

Family History and Severity of Disability Associated with Chronic Low Back Pain

1985 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 813-814 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Alec Pollard
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Family History ◽  
Chronic Low Back Pain ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Pain Disability Index ◽  
Pain Disability ◽  
Severity Of Disability ◽  
Chronic Pain Conditions

76 patients with chronic low back pain were asked to complete the Pain Disability Index and a family history pain checklist. A significant positive relationship was found between severity of chronic pain disability and the number of chronic pain conditions in the patients' families of origin and genesis. These findings support the position that pain disability is learned from family members, but controlled research is needed before dismissing the possible role of genetic and other factors.

Efficacy and Safety of Antidepressants as Analgesics in Chronic Pain: A Review

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S234-S234 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Fennema ◽  
S. Petrykiv ◽  
L. de Jonge ◽  
M. Arts
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Neuropathic Pain ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors ◽  
Maximum Tolerated Dose ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Chronic Pain Conditions

IntroductionDue to the aging population worldwide, chronic pain is becoming an important public health concern. Chronic pain is bidirectional associated with psychiatric disorders including depression and anxiety. Antidepressants are widely used as adjuvant therapy for the treatment of chronic pain for many disorders.Objectives and aimsTo review available literature on the efficacy and safety of antidepressants for the treatment of chronic pain, including neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, low back pain, and chronic headache or migraine.MethodsWe performed a detailed literature review through PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane's Library to assess the efficacy and safety of antidepressants in chronic pain conditions.ResultsIn neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, low back pain, and chronic headaches/migraine, tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) showed a significant analgesic effect. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are not effective for the treatment of low back pain and headaches or migraine. Venlafaxine, a serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) showed significant improvement of fibromyalgia and neuropathic pain. Duloxetine (SNRI) also reduced the pain in fibromyalgia.ConclusionTCAs are the ‘gold standard’ antidepressant analgesics. However, an electrocardiogram and postural blood pressure should be implemented prior to TCA treatment and TCAs should be initiated at low dosages and subsequently increased to the maximum tolerated dose. One should pay attention to their cardiotoxic potential, especially in the older population. For the treatment of neuropathic pain, SNRIs are second-line agents. Although better tolerated, in most types of chronic pain conditions, the effectiveness of SSRIs is limited. To conclude: start low, go slow, and prescribe with caution.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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