Neuropathic Pain and Its Relationship with Clinical Findings in Patients with Fibromyalgia.

Introduction: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a clinical condition characterised by chronic generalised body pain, fatigue and presence of tender points. In this study, we hypothesized that FMS could be a type of neuropathic pain and investigated the relationship between neuropathic pain and sleep disturbance and depression. We also investigated the association between these clinical conditions and disease severity. Methods: Seventy-six patients who had FMS diagnosis according to 2010 ACR criteria were included in the study. Patients were evaluated by Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Douleur Neuropathique 4 Questions (DN4) and Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS). Results: Patients had neuropathic pain in 92.1% of patients with LANSS and 82.9% of patients with DN4. According to the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Scale, 90.8% of patients had poor sleep quality. According to HAM-D, 82.9% of the patients had depression. The mean FIQ values of the patients were calculated as 63.16±10.73. There was a positive correlation between DN4 values and FIQ, PSQI, HAM-D and LANSS. There was a positive correlation between LANSS values and FIQ and PSQI values. Conclusion: In this study we found the frequency of neuropathic pain high in FMS. We also found a positive association between neuropathic pain scales and depression, sleep disturbance, and fibromyalgia impact score. Pain, functionality and psychosocial characteristics should be assessed extensively to understand fibromyalgia completely. Abnormal pain process and secondary clinical conditions should be considered together.

Evaluation of the physical and emotional effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with fibromyalgia and chronic low back pain: A multicenter cross-sectional controlled study.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the physical and emotional effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients. Patients and methods: The cross-sectional controlled study was performed with 1,360 participants (332 males, 1,028 females; mean age: 42.3±12.5 years; range, 18 to 65 years) between September 2020 and February 2021. The participants were evaluated in three groups: the FMS group (n=465), the CLBP group (n=455), and the healthy control group (n=440). Physical activity, pain levels, and general health status before and during the pandemic were evaluated in all participants. Stress levels were analyzed with the perceived stress scale (PSS) in all groups, and disease activity was analyzed with the fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ) in patients with FMS. Results: Patients with FMS had worsened general health status and pain levels during the pandemic compared to the other groups (p<0.01). The FMS group showed significantly higher PSS scores than those in other groups (p<0.01). There was a weak-positive correlation between FIQ and PSS parameters in patients with FMS (p<0.05, r=0.385). Conclusion: The general health status, pain, and stress levels of the patients with FMS and CLBP tended to worsen during the pandemic. This high-stress level appeared to affect disease activity in patients with FMS.

Efficacy of high intensity laser therapy in knee osteoarthritis: a double-blind controlled randomized study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of high intensity laser therapy on pain, functionality, flexion range of motion (FROM), and ultrasonographic cartilage measurement in patients with knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: This study was designed as a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study. Forty patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria were included in the study. After obtaining written informed consent, patients were randomized into high intensity laser therapy (HILT) + exercise therapy (ET), and placebo laser (PL) + ET groups. Each patient was treated five sessions per week for 2 weeks. The outcomes measured were pain level and functional disability using the visual analog scale (VAS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), respectively. The femoral cartilage thickness measurement was made ultrasonographically, and FROM was measured with goniometry. RESULTS: Statistically significant improvements were detected in VAS, WOMAC scores, femoral cartilage thickness, and FROM at the end of the treatment (in week 2) compared to the pre-treatment period in both groups (p < 0.05). There were significant decreases in the VAS and WOMAC scores of both groups in the 6th week compared to the pre-treatment period, and the results of the FROM and femur cartilage thickness measurements were increased at statistically significant levels (p < 0.05). The VAS and WOMAC scores were significantly lower in the 6th week in HILT + ET group compared to the PL + ET group (p < 0.05). Similarly, statistically significant increases were detected in the FROM and femur cartilage thickness measurements in HILT + ET group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: HILT + ET combination was more effective in KOA than the PL + ET combination. Key Points • HILT is an effective modality on pain, functional status and FROM in patients with KOA. • HILT is a modality that increases femoral cartilage thickness in patients with KOA.

Alexithymia and attention deficit and their relationship with disease severity in fibromyalgia syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of alexithymia and attention deficit and to evaluate their relationship with the severity of disease in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 101 patients (6 males, 95 females; mean age 45.0 years; range, 33 to 56 years) who were admitted to Gaziantep University, Medical Faculty, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department between January 2013 and December 2013 and were diagnosed with FMS and 40 healthy volunteers (4 males, 36 females; mean age 41.5 years; range, 31 to 51 years) were enrolled in this study. The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D), Toronto Alexithymia Scale-26 (TAS-26), and Jasper-Goldberg Attention Deficit Test (ADT) were applied. RESULTS: The rate of alexithymia and possible alexithymia was 56.4% and 20.8% in the patients with FMS and 2.5% and 5% in the control group, respectively. The mean TAS-26 score was 60.1±11.7 in the patients with FMS. According to the HAM-D, depressive symptoms were seen in 72.0% and 2.5% of the patients with FMS and healthy controls, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our study results confirm the presence of psychiatric comorbidities in patients with FMS and clearly suggest that depression, alexithymia, and attention deficit are high and mutually correlated in FMS patients. Therefore, all patients should be meticulously evaluated for these conditions at the treatment stage.

Kinesiophobia Levels in Fibromyalgia Syndrome and the Relationship Between Pain, Disease Activity, Depression.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to compare kinesiophobia levels between patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and healthy volunteers and to investigate the factors associated with kinesiophobia in FMS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This case-control study included 88 female patients with FMS (mean age 41.61 years; range 21 to 61 years) and 67 female healthy volunteers (mean age 41.34 years; range 19 to 59 years). The participants' age, body mass index (BMI), and educational status were recorded. Patients were evaluated using a visual analog scale for pain, the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) for disease activity, the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D) for depression level, and the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK) for kinesiophobia. Additionally, the patients' serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were measured. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the patient and control groups in terms of age, BMI, and educational status (p>0.05). The mean TSK scores were 42.0±7.6 in the patient group and 37.2±8.8 in the control group. TSK score was significantly higher in the patient group (p<0.001). BMI levels, FIQ scores, and vitamin D concentrations were significantly associated with TSK scores according to the linear regression analysis (p<0.05). However, age, symptom duration, and HAM-D scores were not found to be associated with TSK scores (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Kinesiophobia scores were significantly higher in patients with FMS. Physicians should focus on kinesiophobia when evaluating patients with FMS and inform patients about the importance and treatment strategies of kinesiophobia.