scholarly journals Do Multiple Body Modifications Alter Pain Threshold?

2017 ◽  
pp. S493-S500 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. YAMAMOTOVÁ ◽  
P. HRABÁK ◽  
P. HŘÍBEK ◽  
R. ROKYTA
Keyword(s):  
Pain Threshold ◽  
Pain Perception ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Pain Thresholds ◽  
Affective Component ◽  
Thermal Pain ◽  
Thermal Stimulator ◽  
Body Modifications ◽  
Mechanical Pain Thresholds ◽  
Neutral Conditions

In recent years, epidemiological data has shown an increasing number of young people who deliberately self-injure. There have also been parallel increases in the number of people with tattoos and those who voluntarily undergo painful procedures associated with piercing, scarification, and tattooing. People with self-injury behaviors often say that they do not feel the pain. However, there is no information regarding pain perception in those that visit tattoo parlors and piercing studios compared to those who don’t. The aim of this study was to compare nociceptive sensitivity in four groups of subjects (n=105, mean age 26 years, 48 women and 57 men) with different motivations to experience pain (i.e., with and without multiple body modifications) in two different situations; (1) in controlled, emotionally neutral conditions, and (2) at a "Hell Party" (HP), an event organized by a piercing and tattoo parlor, with a main event featuring a public demonstration of painful techniques (burn scars, hanging on hooks, etc.). Pain thresholds of the fingers of the hand were measured using a thermal stimulator and mechanical algometer. In HP participants, information about alcohol intake, self-harming behavior, and psychiatric history were used in the analysis as intervening variables. Individuals with body modifications as well as without body modifications had higher thermal pain thresholds at Hell Party, compared to thresholds measured at control neutral conditions. No such differences were found relative to mechanical pain thresholds. Increased pain threshold in all HP participants, irrespectively of body modification, cannot be simply explained by a decrease in the sensory component of pain; instead, we found that the environment significantly influenced the cognitive and affective component of pain.

scholarly journals The Effect of a Single 30-Min Long Term Evolution Mobile Phone-Like Exposure on Thermal Pain Threshold of Young Healthy Volunteers

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (9) ◽  
pp. 1849 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zsuzsanna Vecsei ◽  
György Thuróczy ◽  
István Hernádi
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Pain Threshold ◽  
Pain Perception ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Long Term Evolution ◽  
Thermal Pain ◽  
Term Evolution ◽  
Universal Mobile Telecommunications System ◽  
Rf Devices

Although the majority of mobile phone (MP) users do not attribute adverse effects on health or well-being to MP-emitted radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMFs), the exponential increase in the number of RF devices necessitates continuing research aimed at the objective investigation of such concerns. Here we investigated the effects of acute exposure from Long Term Evolution (LTE) MP EMFs on thermal pain threshold in healthy young adults. We use a protocol that was validated in a previous study in a capsaicin-induced hyperalgesia model and was also successfully used to show that exposure from an RF source mimicking a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) MP led to mildly stronger desensitization to repeated noxious thermal stimulation relative to the sham condition. Using the same experimental design, we did not find any effects of LTE exposure on thermal pain threshold. The present results, contrary to previous evidence obtained with the UMTS modulation, are likely to originate from placebo/nocebo effects and are unrelated to the brief acute LTE EMF exposure itself. The fact that this is dissimilar to our previous results on UMTS exposure implies that RF modulations might differentially affect pain perception and points to the necessity of further research on the topic.

Adaptation of thermal pain in the skin

1962 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 693-696 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leon C. Greene ◽  
James D. Hardy
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Radiation ◽  
Skin Temperature ◽  
Radiation Intensity ◽  
Pain Threshold ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Initial Period ◽  
Pain Thresholds ◽  
Thermal Pain ◽  
Cutaneous Pain ◽  
The Subject

Cutaneous pain thresholds were determined on blackened skin of foreheads and forearms of human subjects over areas of 16 cm2 by recording skin temperature during exposure to thermal radiation for periods up to 50 min. Intensity of stimulus was controlled by the subject so that threshold pain was maintained throughout the exposure. After the initial period of adjustment by the subject, radiation intensity was generally maintained constant although skin temperature for the pain threshold decreased from 44.9 C to 43.8 C. By using an intensity as low as 22 mcal/cm2/sec, threshold pain was evoked in 29 min at a skin temperature of 42.2 C. In both groups, once pain had been established it did not disappear. It is inferred from these observations that thermal pain does not adapt for near-threshold stimulation in the period between onset of pain at 30 sec and termination of stimulation. Submitted on December 26, 1961

Repeatability of cold pain and heat pain thresholds: The application of sensory testing in migraine research

Cephalalgia ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 30 (8) ◽  
pp. 904-909 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trond Sand ◽  
Kristian Bernhard Nilsen ◽  
Knut Hagen ◽  
Lars Jacob Stovner
Keyword(s):  
Pain Threshold ◽  
Heat Pain ◽  
Cold Pain ◽  
Pain Thresholds ◽  
Thermal Pain ◽  
Normal Limits ◽  
Normal Test ◽  
Heat Pain Threshold ◽  
The Face ◽  
Repeatability Limit

Normal heat pain threshold (HPT) and cold pain threshold (CPT) repeatability should be estimated in order to identify thermal allodynia in longitudinal studies, but such data are scarce in the literature. The aim of our study was to estimate normal HPT and CPT repeatability in the face, forehead, neck and hand. In addition, we reviewed briefly normative studies of thermal pain thresholds relevant for headache research. Thermal pain thresholds were measured on three different days in 31 healthy headache-free subjects. Coefficients of repeatability and normal limits were calculated. HPT and CPT were lowest in the face. Pooled across regions, the lower repeatability limit for the test/retest ratio was 63% for HPT and 55% for CPT. The upper normal CPT limit varied between 24.5°C and 29.7°C. Lower HPT limits ranged between 35.5°C and 40.8°C. Quantitative sensory methods provide useful information about headache and pain pathophysiology, and it is important to estimate the normal test/retest repeatability range in follow-up studies.

scholarly journals Vagus Nerve Stimulation Affects Pain Perception in Depressed Adults

2005 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey J Borckardt ◽  
F Andrew Kozel ◽  
Berry Anderson ◽  
Angela Walker ◽  
Mark S George
Keyword(s):  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Pain Perception ◽  
Pain Tolerance ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Pain Thresholds ◽  
Thermal Pain ◽  
Device Parameter ◽  
Acute Changes

BACKGROUND: Previous research suggests that vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) affects pain perception in epilepsy patients, with acute VNS decreasing pain thresholds and chronic VNS treatment increasing pain thresholds. However, no studies have investigated the effects of VNS on pain perception in chronically depressed adults, nor have controlled, systematic investigations been published on the differential effects of certain VNS device parameters on pain perception.OBJECTIVES: The present study tried to replicate the results of previous research showing acute pronociceptive effects of VNS and determine the effects of various device parameter settings on pain tolerance. The present study also investigated the relationship among patients' levels of depression, duration of VNS treatment and VNS-induced changes in pain perception.METHODS: A thermal pain challenge task was used to determine pain tolerance during VNS device activation using different combinations of VNS device parameter settings within subjects undergoing VNS therapy for chronic depression.RESULTS: Significant pronociceptive effects were found for acute VNS activation. Individual differences were found with respect to the VNS settings associated with the largest changes in pain perception. Severity of depression was inversely related to baseline pain tolerance, but depression severity was unrelated to VNS-induced acute changes in pain tolerance, as was the length of time participants had been undergoing VNS treatment.CONCLUSIONS: VNS appears to affect pain perception in depressed adults. Different VNS parameter settings may be associated with unique effects from patient to patient. More studies are needed to determine the long-term effects of VNS on pain perception.

scholarly journals Low mechano-afferent fibers reduce thermal pain but not pain intensity in CRPS

BMC Neurology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathrin Habig ◽  
Gothje Lautenschläger ◽  
Hagen Maxeiner ◽  
Frank Birklein ◽  
Heidrun H. Krämer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pain Intensity ◽  
Pain Threshold ◽  
Glabrous Skin ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Cold Pain ◽  
Pain Thresholds ◽  
Thermal Pain ◽  
C Fibers ◽  
Ct Afferents ◽  
Heat Pain Threshold

Abstract Background Human hairy (not glabrous skin) is equipped with a subgroup of C-fibers, the C-tactile (CT) fibers. Those do not mediate pain but affective aspects of touch. CT-fiber-activation reduces experimental pain if they are intact. In this pilot study we investigated pain modulating capacities of CT-afferents in CRPS. Methods 10 CRPS-patients (mean age 33 years, SEM 3.3) and 11 healthy controls (mean age 43.2 years, SEM 3.9) participated. CT-targeted-touch (brush stroking, velocity: 3 cm/s) was applied on hairy and glabrous skin on the affected and contralateral limb. Patients rated pleasantness of CT-targeted-touch (anchors: 1 “not pleasant”—4 “very pleasant”) twice daily on 10 days. Pain intensity (NRS: 0 “no pain” – 10 “worst pain imaginable”) was assessed before, 0, 30, 60 and 120 min after each CT-stimulation. To assess sensory changes, quantitative-sensory-testing was performed at the beginning and the end of the trial period. Results CT-targeted-touch was felt more pleasant on the healthy compared to the affected limb on hairy (p < 0.001) and glabrous skin (p 0.002), independent of allodynia. In contrast to healthy controls patients felt no difference between stimulating glabrous and hairy skin on the affected limb. Thermal pain thresholds increased after CT-stimulation on the affected limb (cold-pain-threshold: p 0.016; heat-pain-threshold: p 0.033). Conclusions CT-stimulation normalizes thermal pain thresholds but has no effect on the overall pain in CRPS. Therefore, pain modulating properties of CT-fibers might be too weak to alter chronic pain in CRPS. Moreover, CT-fibers appear to lose their ability to mediate pleasant aspects of touch in CRPS.

Initiating Mechanisms of Experimentally Induced Tension-Type Headache

Cephalalgia ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 175-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Jensen ◽  
J Olesen
Keyword(s):  
Tension Type Headache ◽  
Pain Thresholds ◽  
Thermal Pain ◽  
Emg Signal ◽  
Peripheral Mechanism ◽  
Pressure Pain Thresholds ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Pain Detection ◽  
Type Headache ◽  
Mechanical Pain Thresholds

To elucidate possible myofascial mechanisms of tension-type headache, the effect of 30 min of sustained tooth clenching (10% of maximal EMG-signal) was studied in 58 patients with tension-type headache and in 30 age- and sex-matched controls. Pericranial tenderness, mechanical and thermal pain detection and tolerance thresholds and FMG levels were recorded before and after the clenching procedure. Within 24 h, 69% of patients and 17% of controls developed a tension-type headache. Shortly after clenching, tenderness was increased in the group who subsequently developed headache, whereas tenderness was stable in the group of patients who remained headache free. Mechanical pain thresholds evaluated by pressure algometry remained unchanged in the group which developed headache, whereas thresholds increased in the group which did not develop headache Thermal pain detection and tolerance thresholds remained unchanged in both groups. These findings indicate that, though there may be several different mechanisms of tension-type headache, one of them is sustained muscle contraction. A peripheral mechanism of tension-type headache is therefore possible, whereas a secondary segmental central sensitization seems to be involved in subjects with frequent, tension-type headache. Finally, the increase in pressure pain thresholds in patients who did not develop headache suggested that clenching activated their antinociceptive system, whereas those developing headache were, unable to do so.

scholarly journals Fifteen Minutes of Left Prefrontal Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Acutely Increases Thermal Pain Thresholds in Healthy Adults

2007 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 287-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey J Borckardt ◽  
Arthur R Smith ◽  
Scott T Reeves ◽  
Mitchell Weinstein ◽  
F Andrew Kozel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Pain Perception ◽  
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Healthy Adults ◽  
Pain Thresholds ◽  
Thermal Pain ◽  
Resting Motor Threshold ◽  
Chronic Pain Conditions

BACKGROUND: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the motor cortex appears to alter pain perception in healthy adults and in patients with chronic neuropathic pain. There is, however, emerging brain imaging evidence that the left prefrontal cortex is involved in pain inhibition in humans.OBJECTIVE: Because the prefrontal cortex may be involved in descending pain inhibitory systems, the present pilot study was conducted to investigate whether stimulation of the left prefrontal cortex via TMS might affect pain perception in healthy adults.METHODS: Twenty healthy adults with no history of depression or chronic pain conditions volunteered to participate in a pilot laboratory study in which thermal pain thresholds were assessed before and after 15 min of repetitive TMS (rTMS) over the left prefrontal cortex (10 Hz, 100% resting motor threshold, 2 s on, 60 s off, 300 pulses total). Subjects were randomly assigned to receive either real or sham rTMS and were blind to condition.RESULTS: Subjects who received real rTMS demonstrated a significant increase in thermal pain thresholds following TMS. Subjects receiving sham TMS experienced no change in pain threshold.CONCLUSIONS: rTMS over the left prefrontal cortex increases thermal pain thresholds in healthy adults. Results from the present study support the idea that the left prefrontal cortex may be a promising TMS cortical target for the management of pain. More research is needed to establish the reliability of these findings, maximize the effect, determine the length of effect and elucidate possible mechanisms of action.

scholarly journals The effect of a single 30-minute LTE mobile phone-like exposure on thermal pain threshold of young healthy volunteers

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zsuzsanna Vecsei ◽  
Gyorgy Thuroczy ◽  
Istvan Hernadi
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Pain Threshold ◽  
Pain Perception ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Thermal Pain ◽  
Universal Mobile Telecommunications System ◽  
Rf Devices ◽  
Nocebo Effects ◽  
Objective Investigation

Although the majority of mobile phone (MP) users do not attribute adverse effects on health or well-being to MP-emitted radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMFs), the exponential increase in the number of RF devices necessitates continuing research aimed at the objective investigation of such concerns. In this work, we investigate the effects of acute exposure from Long Term Evolution (LTE) MP EMFs on thermal pain threshold in healthy young adults. We use a protocol that was validated in a previous study in a capsaicin-induced hyperalgesia model, and was also successfully used to show that exposure from an RF source mimicking a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) MP led to mildly stronger desensitization to repeated noxious thermal stimulation relative to the sham condition. Using the same experimental design, we did not find any effects of LTE exposure on thermal pain threshold. The present results are in accordance with previous evidence suggesting that effects are likely to be placebo/nocebo effects and are unrelated to the brief acute LTE EMF exposure itself. The fact that this is dissimilar to our previous results on UMTS exposure implies that RF modulations might differentially affect pain perception, and points to the necessity of further research in the topic.

scholarly journals Does It Hurt?

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-249
Author(s):  
Koraljka Modić Stanke ◽  
Dragutin Ivanec ◽  
Luka Butić
Keyword(s):  
Pain Assessment ◽  
Pain Threshold ◽  
The Other ◽  
Professional Status ◽  
Pain Thresholds ◽  
Thermal Pain ◽  
Lower Status ◽  
Moderate Effect ◽  
Electrical Stimuli ◽  
Pain Unpleasantness

The aim of this paper is to determine whether experimenter's professional status (Study 1) and familiarity (Study 2) affect participant's pain assessment, even when there are no other differences in the experimenter's characteristics. Both studies measured pain threshold and tolerance, and assessment of pain unpleasantness and intensity induced by thermal and electrical stimuli. In Study 1, experimenter introduced himself to participants as either a student (lower status) or an expert associate (higher status). ANOVA revealed significant and moderate to large effect of status only in thermal modality; as expected, participants tested by the higher status experimenter displayed higher thermal pain thresholds and tolerances. In Study 2, another experimenter conducted all the measurements; hers (higher) status was previously familiar to one group of students and disclosed to the other group just before the measurement. ANOVA revealed statistically significant and moderate effect of familiarity only in electrical modality; as expected, participants tested by the familiar higher status experimenter displayed higher electrical pain thresholds and tolerances. These results suggest that not only the professional status of a person measuring pain, but also individual's familiarity with it influences someone's pain assessment. With this in mind, researchers are encouraged to conduct studies that control for these factors and to include more information regarding experimenter's characteristics within their reports.

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