title: Effects of treatment of peripheral pain generators in fibromyalgia patients.
abstract: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FS) frequently co-occurs with regional pain disorders. This study evaluated how these disorders contribute to FS, by assessing effects of local active vs placebo treatment of muscle/joint pain sources on FS symptoms. Female patients with (1) FS+myofascial pain syndromes from trigger points (n=68), or (2) FS+joint pain (n=56) underwent evaluation of myofascial/joint symptoms [number/intensity of pain episodes, pressure pain thresholds at trigger/joint site, paracetamol consumption] and FS symptoms [pain intensity, pressure pain thresholds at tender points, pressure and electrical pain thresholds in skin, subcutis and muscle in a non-painful site]. Patients of both protocols were randomly assigned to two groups [34 each for (1); 28 each for (2)] to receive active or placebo local TrP or joint treatment [injection/hydroelectrophoresis] on days 1 and 4. Evaluations were repeated on days 4 and 8. After therapy, in active--but not placebo-treated-- groups: number and intensity of myofascial/joint episodes and paracetamol consumption decreased and pressure thresholds at trigger/joint increased (p<0.001); FS pain intensity decreased and all thresholds increased progressively in tender points and the non-painful site (p<0.0001). At day 8, all placebo-treated patients requested active local therapy (days 8 and 11) vs only three patients under active treatment. At a 3-week follow-up, FS pain was still lower than basis in patients not undergoing further therapy and had decreased in those undergoing active therapy from day 8 (p<0.0001). Localized muscle/joint pains impact significantly on FS, probably through increased central sensitization by the peripheral input; their systematic identification and treatment are recommended in fibromyalgia.
authors.affiliation: Pathophysiology of Pain Laboratory, Ce.S.I., G. D'Annunzio Foundation, Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, Chieti University, via Carlo de Tocco n. 3, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Giannapia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Affaitati
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Costantini
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fabrizio
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lapenna
authors.forename: Emmanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tafuri
authors.forename: Maria Adele
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Giamberardino
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009209:Myofascial Pain Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000187:drug effects*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local