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There are few effective treatments for acute whiplash-associated disorders (WAD). Early features of central sensitisation predict poor recovery. The effect of pregabalin on central sensitisation might prevent chronic pain after acute whiplash injury. This double blind, placebo-controlled randomised controlled trial (RCT) examined feasibility and potential effectiveness of pregabalin compared to placebo for people with acute WAD. Twenty-four participants with acute WAD (<48 hours) and at risk of poor recovery (pain ≥ 5/10) were recruited from hospital Emergency Departments in Queensland, Australia and randomly assigned by concealed allocation to either pregabalin (n=10) or placebo (n=14). Pregabalin was commenced at 75 mg bd, titrated to 300 mg bd for 4 weeks, and then weaned over 1 week. Participants were assessed at 5 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months. Feasibility issues included recruitment difficulties and greater attrition in the placebo group. For the primary clinical outcome of neck pain intensity, attrition at 5 weeks was: pregabalin: 10%, placebo: 36%, and at 12 months was: pregabalin: 10%, placebo: 43%. Pregabalin may be more effective than placebo for the primary clinical outcome of neck pain intensity at 3 months [Mean Difference: -4.0 (95% CI -6.2 to -1.7)] on an eleven point numerical rating scale. Effects were maintained at 6 but not 12 months. There were no serious adverse events. Minor adverse events were more common in the pregabalin group. A definitive large RCT of pregabalin for acute whiplash injury is warranted. Feasibility issues would need to be addressed with modifications to the protocol.
Learn More >Recent neuroimaging evidence suggests that mindfulness practice may mitigate the biasing influence of prior cognitive and emotional expectations on pain perception. The current study tested this hypothesis using a pain-cueing paradigm, which has reliably been shown to elicit conditioned hypoalgesic and hyperalgesic effects. Specifically, we aimed to investigate whether the instructed use of a mindfulness compared to a suppression strategy differentially modulates the magnitudes of conditioned hypoalgesia and hyperalgesia.
Learn More >Several studies have indicated that arthralgia may be driven by central sensitisation. Central sensitivity syndrome (CSS) is a concept that unifies various symptoms due to central sensitisation. Recently, the central sensitisation inventory (CSI) was developed as a screening questionnaire to detect CSS. Using the CSI, we examined the prevalence, the clinical characteristics of CSS, and the association between CSS and neuropathic pain (NP)-like symptoms among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.
Learn More >Clinically significant new or worsening pain (CSNWP) is a common, yet often overlooked, sequelae of sexual assault. Little is known regarding factors influencing the development of CSNWP in sexual assault survivors. The current study used data from a recently completed prospective study to evaluate whether posttraumatic alterations in arousal and reactivity in the early aftermath of sexual assault influence the transition from acute to clinically significant new or worsening persistent pain. Women ≥ 18 years of age (n = 706) presenting for emergency care after sexual assault to 13 emergency care sites were enrolled in the study. Women completed assessments at the time of presentation as well as at 1 week (n = 706, 100%) and 6 weeks (n = 630, 91%). Nearly 70% of women reported CSNWP at the time of emergency care (n = 475, 69%), which persisted to 6 weeks in approximately 2 in 5 survivors (n = 248, 41%). A structural equation model adjusted for age, race, past trauma exposure, and preassault pain levels suggested that posttraumatic alterations in arousal/reactivity symptoms 1 week after assault partially mediated the transition from acute to persistent CSNWP. A significant portion (41%) of women sexual assault survivors develop CSNWP 6 weeks postassault. Posttraumatic arousal/reactivity symptoms in the early aftermath of assault contribute to CSNWP development; such symptoms are potential targets for secondary preventive interventions to reduce chronic postassault pain.
Learn More >Evidence is limited on the risk impact of body pain on future chronic disease. The present study aimed to investigate the association between body pain and chronic diseases.
Learn More >To assess the impacts of social situation changes due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on headache-related disability and other symptoms in patients with migraine in Japan.
Learn More >This study was designed to explore the efficacy and feasibility of cognitive behavioural therapy(CBT) along with pregabalin and compare it with pregabalin monotherapy for the management of neuropathic pain in post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) patients and to explore the modulation of mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-6 and mammalian target of rapamycin-1 (mTORC1) genes in these patients.
Learn More >Cluster headache (CH) is a trigeminal autonomic cephalalgia (TAC) characterized by a highly disabling headache that negatively impacts quality of life and causes limitations in daily functioning as well as social functioning and family life. Since specific measures to assess the quality of life (QoL) in TACs are lacking, we recently developed and validated the cluster headache quality of life scale (CH-QoL). The sensitivity of CH-QoL to change after a medical intervention has not been evaluated yet.
Learn More >For neuropathic pain, current therapies do not provide relief for most patients; less than half achieve a 50% pain reduction. Current analgesics have adverse effects. We present 2 Phase I studies of LX9211, a new small-molecule AP2-associated kinase 1 inhibitor with preclinical effectiveness in pain relief.
Learn More >Chronic pain is challenging and costly to treat. Depression and anxiety co-occur with chronic pain. Identifying psychosocial mechanisms contributing to emotional outcomes among chronic pain patients can inform future iterations of this intervention.
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