Pain Reports最新文献

{"title":"The association of self-reported symptoms of central sensitization and sleep disturbances in neuropathic pain.","authors":"Juliane Sachau,&nbsp;Dilara Kersebaum,&nbsp;Philipp Hüllemann,&nbsp;Daniela Adolf,&nbsp;Maria Kabelitz,&nbsp;Thomas Keller,&nbsp;Rainer Freynhagen,&nbsp;Thomas R Tölle,&nbsp;Andreas Binder,&nbsp;Ralf Baron","doi":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001098","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/PR9.0000000000001098","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Patients with neuropathic pain (NP) report a higher impairment of quality of life and sleep than patients with chronic pain without neuropathic characteristics. These include somatosensory peculiarities like allodynia, a surrogate marker for central sensitization.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to investigate the relation between symptoms of central sensitization and sleep disturbances in patients with NP.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Within this cross-sectional study, data sets of 3339 patients with chronic NP syndromes (painful diabetic polyneuropathy, n = 543; postherpetic neuralgia, n = 1480) or complex regional pain syndromes (CRPS, n = 1316) were analyzed. Neuropathic pain symptoms were assessed with the painDETECT questionnaire (PD-Q), depression with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and sleep impairment with items of the Medical Outcomes Study Sleep Scale in 4 subscales. The association of demographic/clinical data, somatosensory phenotype, depression, and pain intensity with sleep impairment was assessed by unadjusted Spearman correlation analyses and multivariable regression analyses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Sleep impairment was observed in all pain aetiologies although with some significant differences in the single sleep items. The intensity of the individual PD-Q items differed to some extent between the 3 pain entities, whereas the PD-Q sum score was similar. Thermal hyperalgesia and burning assessed by the PD-Q were significantly associated with sleep disturbance, adequacy, and quantity but not with sleep somnolence. Only depression and self-reported allodynia had a significant relation to all 4 sleep elements.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Beside depression, allodynia as a surrogate marker hints to a possible impact of central sensitization on the sleep disruption of patients with NP.</p>","PeriodicalId":52189,"journal":{"name":"Pain Reports","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2023-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/de/fe/painreports-8-e1098.PMC10531265.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41157616","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Increases in local skin temperature correlate with spontaneous foot lifting and heat hyperalgesia in both incisional inflammatory models of pain.","authors":"Ratan K Banik,&nbsp;Twan Sia,&nbsp;Mohab M Ibrahim,&nbsp;Eellan Sivanesan,&nbsp;Megan Uhelski,&nbsp;Adrian Pena,&nbsp;John M Streicher,&nbsp;Donald A Simone","doi":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001097","DOIUrl":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001097","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study investigated if a localized increase in skin temperature in rat models of incisional and inflammatory pain correlates with the intensity of spontaneous and evoked pain behaviors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Anesthetized rats received either a 20-mm longitudinal incision made through the skin, fascia, and muscle of the plantar hind paw or an injection of complete Freund adjuvant into the plantar hind paw of anesthetized rats to induce local inflammation. Spontaneous and evoked pain behaviors were assessed, and changes in skin temperature were measured using a noncontact infrared thermometer.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There were no differences in skin temperature between the ipsilateral and contralateral hind paw before the incision or inflammation. Skin temperature increased at 2 hours after hind paw plantar incision or 1 day after inflammation of the affected paw, which gradually returned to baseline by the first day and fourth days after treatment, respectively. The increase in skin temperature correlated with the intensity of spontaneous pain behaviors and heat but not with mechanical allodynia.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our results suggest that a simple measurement of localized skin temperature using a noncontact infrared thermometer could measure the extent of spontaneous pain behaviors and heat hyperalgesia following plantar incision or inflammation in animals. In the absence of a reliable objective marker of pain, these results are encouraging. However, studies are warranted to validate our results using analgesics and pain-relieving interventions, such as nerve block on skin temperature changes.</p>","PeriodicalId":52189,"journal":{"name":"Pain Reports","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2023-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10499105/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10617467","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Systematic review of topical interventions for the management of pain in chronic wounds.","authors":"Cathal Ffrench,&nbsp;David Finn,&nbsp;Akke Velligna,&nbsp;John Ivory,&nbsp;Catherine Healy,&nbsp;Karen Butler,&nbsp;Duygu Sezgin,&nbsp;Peter Carr,&nbsp;Sebastian Probst,&nbsp;Aonghus McLoughlin,&nbsp;Sundus Arshad,&nbsp;Caroline McIntosh,&nbsp;Georgina Gethin","doi":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001073","DOIUrl":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001073","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chronic wounds adversely affect quality of life. Pain is associated with chronic wounds, and its impact can vary according to wound aetiology, condition, and patient factors. This systematic review examined the effectiveness of topical interventions in the management chronic wound-related pain guided by PRISMA recommendations of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) where pain reduction is the primary outcome. Inclusion criteria were adults (older than 18 years) with chronic venous, arterial, diabetic, or pressure ulcers where pain has been managed through topical administration of pharmacological/nonpharmacological agents. Searches were conducted in Ovid Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, EBSCOhost, CINAHL, CENTRAL, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Studies were screened for eligibility; risk of bias and data were extracted by 2 independent assessors. Searches retrieved 10,327 titles and abstracts (7760 after deduplication). Nine full texts (1323 participants) examining ibuprofen (n = 4), morphine (n = 2), BWD + PHMB [polihexanide-containing biocellulose wound dressing] (n = 1), and EMLA (n = 2) were included. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool. Meta-analysis was not possible, but initial exploration suggests improved outcomes (reduced pain) for ibuprofen when compared with controls. Two studies involving morphine showed conflicting findings. Included studies often had small samples, and considering confounding factors (eg, comorbidities), the results should be interpreted with caution. Review of included studies suggests that topical interventions may provide pain relief in individuals with chronic wounds. Further adequately powered RCTs are recommended to assess the efficacy of topical interventions for the management of chronic wound-related pain.</p>","PeriodicalId":52189,"journal":{"name":"Pain Reports","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2023-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/fb/ba/painreports-8-e1073.PMC10499071.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10617475","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Thermal threshold testing: call for a balance between the number of measurements and abnormalities in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis-associated small fiber neuropathy.","authors":"Lisette R M Raasing,&nbsp;Marcel Veltkamp,&nbsp;Mirjam Datema,&nbsp;Jan C Grutters,&nbsp;Oscar J M Vogels","doi":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001095","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/PR9.0000000000001095","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Several recent studies of diagnosing small fiber neuropathy (SFN) have shown a lack of uniformity in thermal threshold testing (TTT) or quantitative sensory testing (QST) which makes it a challenge to compare the data. It is known that the chance of finding an abnormality increases with increasing number of measurements.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>With this study, we first wanted to investigate whether TTT could benefit from a new approach focusing on the balance between the number of measurements, depending on the selection of parameters and measuring sites, and on number of abnormalities (NOAs). Second, we wanted to address the role of the method of levels (MLe) in possible desensitization during TTT measurements.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>One hundred seventeen participants were included (48 patients with sarcoidosis with probable SFN, 49 without SFN, and 20 healthy controls). Thermal threshold testing measurements and Small Fiber Neuropathy Screening List (SFNSL) questionnaire were used to assess SFN.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A combination of measuring all thermal threshold parameters at both feet except for MLe showed the best diagnostic performance. Increasing TTT NOAs correlates with the severity of SFN. Adding the SFNSL questionnaire further improves diagnostic performance.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Looking at TTT NOAs in all TTT parameters except for MLe at both feet should be considered as a new approach to improve the consistency and balance between the selection of TTT parameters, measuring sites, and definition of \"abnormal QST.\" Moreover, the SFNSL questionnaire is a valuable tool to quantify SFN symptoms and could improve SFN diagnosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":52189,"journal":{"name":"Pain Reports","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2023-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/0e/0c/painreports-8-e1095.PMC10479475.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10551151","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Changes in pain catastrophizing, fear-avoidance beliefs, and pain self-efficacy mediate changes in pain intensity on disability in the treatment of chronic low back pain.","authors":"Truls Ryum,&nbsp;Tore C Stiles","doi":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001092","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/PR9.0000000000001092","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Treatment of chronic low back pain (CLBP) based on the fear-avoidance model (FAM) has received support in randomized controlled trials, but few studies have examined treatment processes associated with treatment outcome. This study examined changes in pain catastrophizing, fear-avoidance beliefs, and pain self-efficacy as mediators of the relation between changes in pain intensity and disability in exposure-based treatment of CLBP.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data from a randomized controlled trial with 2 treatment arms (exposure treatment based on the FAM with/without in-session exposure) was pooled, including only participants with complete data (N = 69). Change scores (pre to booster session) were computed for all variables, and the indirect effect of change in pain intensity on change in 3 measures of disability, through change in the proposed mediators, was tested in parallel mediation analyses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Decreases in pain catastrophizing and fear-avoidance beliefs, as well as increases in pain self-efficacy, mediated a unique proportion of the relation between changes in pain intensity and disability, depending on the outcome measure. The direct relation between changes in pain intensity and disability was absent when indirect effects were controlled.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The results suggest that the way pain is interpreted (pain catastrophizing, fear-avoidance beliefs), as well as pain self-efficacy, are all more critical for reducing disability in exposure-based treatment of CLBP than symptom relief per se.</p>","PeriodicalId":52189,"journal":{"name":"Pain Reports","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2023-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10501475/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10311470","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Attachment patterns, self-compassion, and coping strategies in patients with chronic pain.","authors":"Iliana-Nefeli Nasika, Catherine Wiart, Anne-Sophie Bonvarlet, Jessica Guillaume, Amélie Yavchitz, Susana Tereno","doi":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001087","DOIUrl":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001087","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>In the recent year's literature, attachment insecurity is described as a vulnerability factor among patients with chronic pain, associated with poor pain coping, anxiety, depression, catastrophizing, greater pain intensity, and disability. Self-compassion, on the other hand, is described as a protective factor, associated with lower levels of negative affect, catastrophizing, depression, and anxiety in patients with chronic pain.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this study, we aim to explore the association between attachment, self-compassion quality, and coping strategies, in patients with chronic pain. Thus, 134 eligible patients with chronic pain were recruited at the certified <i>Evaluation and Treatment Pain Center of the A. de Rothschild Foundation</i> in Paris. We used a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Relationship Scale Questionnaire (RSQ-RC), the Self-Compassion Scale, and the Brief COPE.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Results supported our principal hypothesis; securely attached participants reported a significantly higher global self-compassion score compared with insecurely attached ones. Secure attachment and higher self-compassion levels were positively correlated with functional coping strategies and negatively correlated with dysfunctional ones.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Attachment patterns may be the basis of someone's ability to be compassionate to himself and to cope adequately with a difficult situation, such as a chronic pain condition. An attachment-informed approach to pain management could offer a better understanding of the complexity of this clinical condition and potentially provide appropriate support for both patients and health professionals, aiming to improve the effectiveness of interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":52189,"journal":{"name":"Pain Reports","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2023-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10789448/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44937178","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pain associated with COVID-19 vaccination is unrelated to skin biopsy abnormalities.","authors":"Giulia Di Stefano, Pietro Falco, Eleonora Galosi, Gianfranco De Stefano, Giuseppe Di Pietro, Caterina Leone, Daniel Litewczuk, Lorenzo Tramontana, Stefano Strano, Andrea Truini","doi":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001089","DOIUrl":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001089","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Previous clinical observations raised the possibility that COVID-19 vaccination might trigger a small-fibre neuropathy.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>In this uncontrolled observational study, we aimed to identify small fibre damage in patients complaining of generalized sensory symptoms and pain after COVID-19 vaccination.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We collected clinical data, including a questionnaire for assessing autonomic symptoms (Composite Autonomic Symptom Score-31), and investigated quantitative sensory testing (QST) and skin biopsy in 15 prospectively enrolled patients with generalized sensory symptoms and pain after COVID-19 vaccination. Nine patients complaining of orthostatic intolerance also underwent cardiovascular autonomic tests.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We found that all patients experienced widespread pain, and most of them (11 of 15) had a fibromyalgia syndrome. All patients had normal skin biopsy findings, and in the 9 patients with orthostatic intolerance, cardiovascular autonomic tests showed normal findings. Nevertheless, 5 patients had cold and warm detection abnormalities at the QST investigation.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In our study, most patients complaining of generalized sensory symptoms and pain after COVID-19 vaccination had clinical and diagnostic test findings compatible with a fibromyalgia syndrome. Although the abnormal QST findings we found in 5 patients might be compatible with a small-fibre neuropathy, they should be cautiously interpreted given the psychophysical characteristics of this diagnostic test. Further larger controlled studies are needed to define precisely the association between small fibre damage and COVID-19 vaccination.</p>","PeriodicalId":52189,"journal":{"name":"Pain Reports","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2023-08-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10789449/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41378158","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Big data, big consortia, and pain: UK Biobank, PAINSTORM, and DOLORisk.","authors":"Harry L Hébert, Mathilde M V Pascal, Blair H Smith, David Wynick, David L H Bennett","doi":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001086","DOIUrl":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001086","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chronic pain (CP) is a common and often debilitating disorder that has major social and economic impacts. A subset of patients develop CP that significantly interferes with their activities of daily living and requires a high level of healthcare support. The challenge for treating physicians is in preventing the onset of refractory CP or effectively managing existing pain. To be able to do this, it is necessary to understand the risk factors, both genetic and environmental, for the onset of CP and response to treatment, as well as the pathogenesis of the disorder, which is highly heterogenous. However, studies of CP, particularly pain with neuropathic characteristics, have been hindered by a lack of consensus on phenotyping and data collection, making comparisons difficult. Furthermore, existing cohorts have suffered from small sample sizes meaning that analyses, especially genome-wide association studies, are insufficiently powered. The key to overcoming these issues is through the creation of large consortia such as DOLORisk and PAINSTORM and biorepositories, such as UK Biobank, where a common approach can be taken to CP phenotyping, which allows harmonisation across different cohorts and in turn increased study power. This review describes the approach that was used for studying neuropathic pain in DOLORisk and how this has informed current projects such as PAINSTORM, the rephenotyping of UK Biobank, and other endeavours. Moreover, an overview is provided of the outputs from these studies and the lessons learnt for future projects.</p>","PeriodicalId":52189,"journal":{"name":"Pain Reports","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2023-08-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10789453/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46120523","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sex and frequency of pain episodes are associated with acute pain trajectories in adolescents with sickle cell disease.","authors":"Rachel Astles, Zihao Liu, Scott E Gillespie, Kristina W Lai, Alexander Maillis, Claudia R Morris, Peter A Lane, Lakshmanan Krishnamurti, Nitya Bakshi","doi":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001084","DOIUrl":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001084","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction/objective: </strong>Acute pain episodes are a major cause of health care utilization (HCU) in sickle cell disease (SCD), and adolescence is associated with increased pain frequency. We sought to determine whether there were differences in acute pain trajectories by sex and frequency of pain episodes among adolescents with SCD who presented to the emergency department (ED).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Retrospective review of electronic health records from a large, multicampus, pediatric SCD program.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 113 adolescents included, the mean age was 16.6 (SD 0.9), 41.6% (n = 47) were female, 77.9% (n = 88) had HbSS or a similarly severe genotype, and 43.4% (n = 49) had ≥3 episodes of HCU for pain, which we defined as having history of high HCU for pain. Those with a history of high HCU for pain had higher mean pain intensity scores at presentation, were more likely to receive either intravenous or intranasal opioids, and were more likely to be hospitalized. In a model considering the 3-way interaction between sex, history of high HCU for pain, and follow-up time from the initial pain intensity score, adjusted for opioid per kilogram body weight, and prescription of hydroxyurea, adolescent female patients with high HCU for pain had the slowest decline in pain intensity during treatment for acute pain in the ED.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Sex and history of high HCU for pain are associated with acute pain trajectories in adolescents with SCD presenting to the ED. These novel findings should be confirmed in future prospective studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":52189,"journal":{"name":"Pain Reports","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2023-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/5c/a8/painreports-8-e1084.PMC10409410.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9973059","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tactile acuity improves during acute experimental pain of the limb.","authors":"Judith Paredes Sanchez, Morgan Titmus, Hollie Lawson-Smith, Flavia Di Pietro","doi":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001091","DOIUrl":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001091","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Chronic pain is associated with poor tactile acuity, commonly measured with the 2-point discrimination (TPD) test. Although poor tactile acuity across chronic pain conditions is well established, less is known in acute pain.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>Recent conflicting findings in experimentally induced neck and back pain led us to conduct a TPD investigation in experimentally induced limb pain. We hypothesised altered TPD during experimental upper limb pain, but we did not speculate on the direction of the change.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Thirty healthy subjects immersed their dominant hand in a circulating cold-water bath at 7°C (cold pressor test [CPT]). Two-point discrimination was measured at baseline (pre-CPT), during pain (during-CPT), and after withdrawal from the water (post-CPT) in 3 different sites: (1) the dominant forearm, (2) dominant arm and (3) contralateral forearm.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed a significant main effect of time (F_(2,56) = 4.45, <i>P</i> = 0.02, <math><mrow><msubsup><mi>η</mi><mi>p</mi><mn>2</mn></msubsup></mrow></math> = 0.14) on TPD; in all 3 sites, TPD values decreased (ie, tactile acuity improved) during pain. Interestingly, the contralateral forearm followed a similar pattern to the dominant (ie, painful) forearm, and furthermore was the only site that exhibited any correlation with pain, albeit in an intriguing direction (<i>r</i> = 0.57, <i>P</i> = 0.001), ie, the greater the pain the worse the tactile acuity.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The improvements in tactile acuity during experimentally induced limb pain may reflect a protective response. The changes in the corresponding site in the contralateral limb may reflect a protective spinal cross talk. Such a response, together with the interesting relationship between tactile acuity and pain, warrant further inquiry.</p>","PeriodicalId":52189,"journal":{"name":"Pain Reports","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2023-08-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10789456/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47519820","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}