Best practice & research. Clinical rheumatology
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Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol · Jun 2007
ReviewChronic widespread pain in the spectrum of rheumatological diseases.
Chronic pain is very common in all European countries, with musculoskeletal problems predominating. About 1% of the adult population develops a syndrome of chronic muscle pain, fibromyalgia (FMS), characterized by multiple tender points, back or neck pain, and a number of associated problems from other organs, including a high frequency of fatigue. Evidence points to central sensitization as an important neurophysiological aberration in the development of FMS. ⋯ Fibromyalgia patients need recognition of their pain syndrome if they are to comply with treatment. Lack of empathy and understanding by healthcare professionals often leads to patient frustration and inappropriate illness behavior, often associated with some exaggeration of symptoms in an effort to gain some legitimacy for their problem. FMS is multifaceted, and treatment consists of both medical interventions, with emphasis on agents acting on the central nervous system, and physical exercises.
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Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol · Jun 2007
ReviewPharmacological treatment of fibromyalgia and other chronic musculoskeletal pain.
The pharmacologic management of fibromyalgia is based on the emerging evidence that pain in this disorder is primarily related to central pain sensitization. There is strong evidence that tricyclic antidepressants are effective, and moderate evidence for the effectiveness of serotonin reuptake inhibitors and dual serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. Recent work suggests that the anti-seizure medications pregabalin and gabepentin are also effective. The only analgesic demonstrated to be helpful is tramadol.
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Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol · Jun 2007
ReviewRole of central sensitization in symptoms beyond muscle pain, and the evaluation of a patient with widespread pain.
Patients with widespread pain or fibromyalgia syndrome have many symptoms besides musculoskeletal pain: e.g. fatigue, sleep difficulties, a swollen feeling in tissues, paresthesia, cognitive dysfunction, dizziness, and symptoms of overlapping conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, headaches and restless legs syndrome. There is evidence for central sensitization in these conditions, but further studies are needed. Anxiety, stress and depression are also present in 30-45% of patients. ⋯ Fibromyalgia should be diagnosed by its own characteristic features. Some patients with otherwise typical symptoms of fibromyalgia may have as few as four to six tender points in clinical practice. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus should be evaluated for fibromyalgia, since 20-30% of them have associated fibromyalgia, requiring a different treatment approach.
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Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol · Jun 2007
ReviewFuture perspectives: pathogenesis of chronic muscle pain.
Chronic painful muscle conditions include non-inflammatory and inflammatory illnesses. This review is focused on chronic non-inflammatory pain conditions such as myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) and fibromyalgia syndrome (FM), and will not discuss metabolic, genetic or inflammatory muscle diseases such as McArdle's disease, muscular dystrophy, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, or inclusion body myositis.
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Chronic pain states are common in the general population. Genetic factors can explain a significant amount of the variability in the perception of pain. Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and related conditions are syndromes characterized by generalized pain sensitivity as well as a constellation of other symptoms. ⋯ Environmental factors may trigger the development of these disorders in genetically predisposed individuals. Future large well-designed studies are needed to further clarify the role of genetic factors in FMS and related conditions. The knowledge of these gene polymorphisms may help with better subgrouping of FMS patients and in designing a more specific pharmacologic treatment approach.