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

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.

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

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/pr0.1985.57.3.813 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 57 (3) ◽

pp. 813-814 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

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.

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Can patient-reported profiles avoid unnecessary referral to a spine surgeon? An observational study to further develop the Nijmegen Decision Tool for Chronic Low Back Pain

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0203518 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 13 (9) ◽

pp. e0203518 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Miranda L. van Hooff ◽

Johanna M. van Dongen ◽

Veerle M. Coupé ◽

Maarten Spruit ◽

Raymond W. J. G. Ostelo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Observational Study ◽

Chronic Low Back Pain ◽

Low Back ◽

Decision Tool ◽

Patient Reported ◽

Spine Surgeon

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Differences in dynamic and postural stability based on degree of disability in patients with nonspecific chronic lower back pain: an observational study

Journal of MOVE and Therapeutic Science ◽

10.37382/jomts.v3i1.471 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mónica Grande-Alonso ◽

Raquel Pérez-Muñoz ◽

José María Aceña-García ◽

Francisco Fernando Recio-Mateo ◽

Diego Pro-Marín ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Observational Study ◽

Chronic Low Back Pain ◽

Postural Stability ◽

Dynamic Balance ◽

Forward Direction ◽

Static Stability ◽

Chronic Lower Back Pain ◽

Low Back

Objetive: The main objective of this study was to analyze whether there were differences in dynamic balance and postural stability in relation to the level of disability in patients with chronic low back pain. Methodss: This is an observational study in which 60 patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain were included. All patients received a sociodemographic questionnaire, the visual analogue scale (VAS) and a series of self-reported psychological scales. To complete the evaluation, physical tests were performed in which dynamic balance and postural stability were measured. Results: Student’s t-test revealed that there were significant differences between the groups in dynamic balance with the right leg and the left leg. In contrast, there were no significant differences between the groups for the reach functional test in forward direction, left direction and right direction. Conclusion: In conclusion, our study demonstrates that patients with chronic low back pain with high levels of disability present significantly poorer dynamic balance compared with those with low levels of disability. In contrast, no significant differences were found between the groups in terms of static stability.

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Effect of the duration of chronic low back pain on pain sensitivity of patients undergoing lumbar fusion surgery

Pain medicine ◽

10.31636/pmjua.v5i4.2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 8-15

Author(s):

Mei-ping Qian ◽

Mei-rong Dong ◽

Fang Kang ◽

Juan Li

Keyword(s):

Chronic Pain ◽

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Hospital Stay ◽

Chronic Low Back Pain ◽

Pain Sensitivity ◽

Lumbar Fusion ◽

Low Back ◽

Fusion Surgery ◽

Lumbar Fusion Surgery

Background: chronic low back pain is a serious social problem. In recent years, patients who choose lumbar fusion surgery due to chronic low back pain has been increasing. Pre-existing chronic pain has been associated with severe postoperative pain. In this study, we have sought to prospectively analyze the association between the duration of chronic low back pain and pain sensitivity after lumbar fusion surgery. Methods: 400 patients who underwent lumbar fusion surgery were divided into three groups based on the duration of chronic pain. During the first postoperative day, the maximum pain scores of each patient day and night, the pain scores at the day of discharge, the consumption of postoperative analgesics and the length of hospital stay were recorded. Results: of 400 patients recruited, 369 patients completed the experiment. There was no significant difference in gender, age, height, weight, pre-operative pain at rest, and operation time in the three groups. During the day, the pain sensitivity of the three groups were 1.71 ± 0.66, 2.40 ± 0.74, 2.90 ± 0.80. During the night, the pain sensitivity of the three groups were 3.45 ± 0.81, 4.31 ± 1.06, 4.86 ± 1.05. At the day of discharge, the pain sensitivity of three groups were 1.26 ± 0.46, 1.47 ± 0.58, 1.96 ± 0.64. There were significant differences in pain sensitivity among the three groups during the day and night on the first postoperative day and at the day of discharge (p < 0.05). The length of hospital stay (7.31 ± 1.36 days, 8.82 ± 1.48 days, 9.60 ± 1.61 days) and analgesic consumption (25.04 ± 36.56 mg, 33.52 ± 24.04 mg, 45.15 ± 24.89 mg, morphine equivalent) were also significant differences (p < 0.05). Conclusion: we found the duration of chronic low back pain before lumbar fusion surgery affects patient’ postoperative pain sensitivity, consumption of analgesic drugs and hospital stay. The longer the preoperative chronic pain lasts, the higher the postoperative VAS score is, the more analgesic drugs were consumed, and the longer hospital stay is.

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The Pain-related Impairment, The Skeletal Muscle Index, and The Functional Performance Inventory of Individuals with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Correlation Study

PM&R ◽

10.1016/j.pmrj.2013.08.563 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

pp. S307-S308

Author(s):

Armando Miciano

Keyword(s):

Skeletal Muscle ◽

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Chronic Low Back Pain ◽

Functional Performance ◽

Correlation Study ◽

Low Back ◽

Skeletal Muscle Index

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Perceived Injustice Helps Explain the Association Between Chronic Pain Stigma and Movement-Evoked Pain in Adults with Nonspecific Chronic Low Back Pain

Pain Medicine ◽

10.1093/pm/pnaa095 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (11) ◽

pp. 3161-3171

Author(s):

Terence M Penn ◽

Demario S Overstreet ◽

Edwin N Aroke ◽

Deanna D Rumble ◽

Andrew M Sims ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Pain ◽

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Physical Function ◽

Indirect Effect ◽

Chronic Low Back Pain ◽

Pain Severity ◽

Low Back ◽

Perceived Injustice ◽

Objective Basis

Abstract Objective For most patients with chronic low back pain (cLBP), the cause is “nonspecific,” meaning there is no clear association between pain and identifiable pathology of the spine or associated tissues. Laypersons and providers alike are less inclined to help, feel less sympathy, dislike patients more, suspect deception, and attribute lower pain severity to patients whose pain does not have an objective basis in tissue pathology. Because of these stigmatizing responses from others, patients with cLBP may feel that their pain is particularly unjust and unfair. These pain-related injustice perceptions may subsequently contribute to greater cLBP severity. The purpose of this study was to examine whether perceived injustice helps explain the relationship between chronic pain stigma and movement-evoked pain severity among individuals with cLBP. Methods Participants included 105 patients with cLBP who completed questionnaires assessing chronic pain stigma and pain-related injustice perception, as well as a short physical performance battery for the assessment of movement-evoked pain and physical function. Results Findings revealed that perceived injustice significantly mediated the association between chronic pain stigma and cLBP severity (indirect effect = 6.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.041 to 14.913) and physical function (indirect effect = −0.401, 95% CI = −1.029 to −0.052). Greater chronic pain stigma was associated with greater perceived injustice (P = 0.001), which in turn was associated with greater movement-evoked pain severity (P = 0.003). Conclusions These results suggest that perceived injustice may be a means through which chronic pain stigma impacts nonspecific cLBP severity and physical function.

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Influence of sleep problems and co-occurring musculoskeletal pain on long-term prognosis of chronic low back pain: the HUNT Study

Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health ◽

10.1136/jech-2019-212734 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 74 (3) ◽

pp. 283-289 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Eivind Schjelderup Skarpsno ◽

Paul Jarle Mork ◽

Tom Ivar Lund Nilsen ◽

Anne Lovise Nordstoga

Keyword(s):

Chronic Pain ◽

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Musculoskeletal Pain ◽

Chronic Low Back Pain ◽

Sleep Problems ◽

Low Back ◽

Hunt Study ◽

Long Term Prognosis

BackgroundWe investigated the influence of sleeplessness and number of insomnia symptoms on the probability of recovery from chronic low back pain (LBP), and the possible interplay between sleeplessness and co-occurring musculoskeletal pain on this association.MethodsThe study comprised data on 3712 women and 2488 men in the Norwegian HUNT study who reported chronic LBP at baseline in 1995–1997. A modified Poisson regression model was used to calculate adjusted risk ratios (RRs) for the probability of recovery from chronic LBP at follow-up in 2006–2008, associated with sleep problems and co-occurring musculoskeletal pain at baseline.ResultsCompared with persons without sleeplessness, persons who often/always experienced sleeplessness had a lower probability of recovery from chronic LBP (RR 0.65, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.74 in women and RR 0.81, 95% CI 0.69 to 0.95 in men). Although there was no clear evidence of statistical interaction between sleeplessness and co-occurring musculoskeletal pain, women and men who often/always experienced sleeplessness and had ≥5 additional chronic pain sites had RRs of recovery of 0.40 (95% CI 0.33 to 0.48) and 0.59 (95% CI 0.45 to 0.78), respectively, compared with persons without sleeplessness and 1–2 chronic pain sites.ConclusionThese findings suggest that preventing or reducing sleep problems among people with chronic LBP may have the potential of improving the long-term prognosis of this condition, also among those with several additional pain sites.

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