scholarly journals Sensorimotor Peak Alpha Frequency Is a Reliable Biomarker of Prolonged Pain Sensitivity

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (12) ◽  
pp. 6069-6082 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J Furman ◽  
Mariya Prokhorenko ◽  
Michael L Keaser ◽  
Jing Zhang ◽  
Shuo Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Pain Sensitivity ◽  
Independent Study ◽  
Heat Pain ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Alpha Oscillations ◽  
Alpha Oscillation ◽  
Prolonged Pain ◽  
Resting Electroencephalography ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Previous research has observed that the speed of alpha band oscillations (8–12 Hz range) recorded during resting electroencephalography is slowed in chronic pain patients. While this slowing may reflect pathological changes that occur during the chronification of pain, an alternative explanation is that healthy individuals with slower alpha oscillations are more sensitive to prolonged pain, and by extension, more susceptible to developing chronic pain. To test this hypothesis, we examined the relationship between the pain-free, resting alpha oscillation speed of healthy individuals and their sensitivity to two models of prolonged pain, Phasic Heat Pain and Capsaicin Heat Pain, at two visits separated by 8 weeks on average (n = 61 Visit 1, n = 46 Visit 2). We observed that the speed of an individual’s pain-free alpha oscillations was negatively correlated with sensitivity to both models and that this relationship was reliable across short (minutes) and long (weeks) timescales. Furthermore, the speed of pain-free alpha oscillations can successfully identify the most pain sensitive individuals, which we validated on data from a separate, independent study. These results suggest that alpha oscillation speed is a reliable biomarker of prolonged pain sensitivity with potential for prospectively identifying pain sensitivity in the clinic.

scholarly journals Sensorimotor peak alpha frequency is a reliable biomarker of pain sensitivity

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Furman ◽  
Mariya Prokhorenko ◽  
Michael L. Keaser ◽  
Jing Zhang ◽  
Shuo Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Pain Sensitivity ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Independent Study ◽  
Heat Pain ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Alpha Oscillations ◽  
Alpha Frequency ◽  
Alpha Oscillation ◽  
Prolonged Pain

AbstractPrevious research has observed that individuals with chronic pain demonstrate slower alpha band oscillations (8-12 Hz range) during resting electroencephalography (EEG) than do age-matched, healthy controls. While this slowing may reflect pathological changes within the brain that occur during the chronification of pain, an alternative explanation is that healthy individuals with slower alpha frequencies are more sensitive to prolonged pain, and by extension, more susceptible to developing chronic pain. To formally test this hypothesis, we examined the relationship between the pain-free, resting alpha frequency of healthy individuals and their subsequent sensitivity to two experimental models of prolonged pain, Phasic Heat Pain and Capsaicin Heat Pain, at two testing visits separated by 8 weeks on average (n = 61 Visit 1, n = 46 Visit 2). We observed that the speed of an individual’s pain-free alpha oscillations was negatively correlated with sensitivity to both prolonged pain tests and that this relationship was reliable across short (minutes) and long (weeks) timescales. Furthermore, we used the speed of pain-free alpha oscillations to successfully identify those individuals most sensitive to prolonged pain, which we also validated on data from a separate, independent study. These results suggest that alpha oscillation speed is a reliable biomarker of prolonged pain sensitivity with the potential to become a tool for prospectively identifying pain sensitivity in the clinic.

scholarly journals Prolonged Pain Reliably Slows Peak Alpha Frequency by Reducing Fast Alpha Power

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J Furman ◽  
Mariya Prohorenko ◽  
Michael L Keaser ◽  
Jing Zhang ◽  
Shuo Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alpha Rhythm ◽  
Oscillatory Activity ◽  
Alpha Power ◽  
Heat Pain ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Alpha Frequency ◽  
Promising Therapeutic Target ◽  
Prolonged Pain ◽  
Ongoing Pain ◽  
The Relationship

The relationship between the 8-12 Hz alpha rhythm, the predominant oscillatory activity of the brain, and pain remains unclear. In healthy individuals, acute, noxious stimuli suppress alpha power while patients with chronic pain demonstrate both enhanced alpha power and slowing of the peak alpha frequency (PAF). To investigate these apparent differences, EEG was recorded from healthy individuals while they completed two models of prolonged pain, Phasic Heat Pain and Capsaicin Heat Pain, at two testing visits occurring roughly 8 weeks apart. We report that PAF is reliably slowed and that alpha power is reliably decreased in response to prolonged pain. Furthermore, we show that alpha power changes, but not PAF changes, are fully reversed with stimulus removal suggesting that PAF slowing reflects pain associated states such as sensitization rather than the presence of ongoing pain. Finally, we provide evidence that changes to alpha power and PAF are due to power decreases in the fast (10-12 Hz) range of the alpha rhythm. This frequency dependent pain response aligns with the hypothesis that the alpha rhythm is composed of multiple, independent oscillators, and suggest that modulation of a putative fast oscillator may represent a promising therapeutic target for treating ongoing pain. In sum, we provide strong evidence that PAF is reliably slowed during prolonged pain and additionally identify a mechanism, fast alpha Power, which is responsible for these PAF changes.

scholarly journals Cerebral peak alpha frequency reflects average pain severity in a human model of sustained, musculoskeletal pain

2019 ◽  
Vol 122 (4) ◽  
pp. 1784-1793 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Furman ◽  
Tribikram Thapa ◽  
Simon J. Summers ◽  
Rocco Cavaleri ◽  
Jack S. Fogarty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Musculoskeletal Pain ◽  
Pain Sensitivity ◽  
Human Model ◽  
Disease Emergence ◽  
Alpha Frequency ◽  
Average Pain ◽  
Prolonged Pain ◽  
Developing Muscle

Heightened pain sensitivity, the amount of pain experienced in response to a noxious event, is a known risk factor for development of chronic pain. We have previously reported that pain-free, sensorimotor peak alpha frequency (PAF) is a reliable biomarker of pain sensitivity for thermal, prolonged pains lasting tens of minutes. To test whether PAF can provide information about pain sensitivity occurring over clinically relevant timescales (i.e., weeks), EEG was recorded before and while participants experienced a long-lasting pain model, repeated intramuscular injection of nerve growth factor (NGF), that produces progressively developing muscle pain for up to 21 days. We demonstrate that pain-free, sensorimotor PAF is negatively correlated with NGF pain sensitivity; increasingly slower PAF is associated with increasingly greater pain sensitivity. Furthermore, PAF remained stable following NGF injection, indicating that the presence of NGF pain for multiple weeks is not sufficient to induce the PAF slowing reported in chronic pain. In total, our results demonstrate that slower pain-free, sensorimotor PAF is associated with heightened sensitivity to a long-lasting musculoskeletal pain and also suggest that the apparent slowing of PAF in chronic pain may reflect predisease pain sensitivity. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Pain sensitivity, the intensity of pain experienced after injury, has been identified as an important risk factor in the development of chronic pain. Biomarkers of pain sensitivity have the potential to ease chronic pain burdens by preventing disease emergence. In the current study, we demonstrate that the speed of pain-free, sensorimotor peak alpha frequency recorded during resting-state EEG predicts pain sensitivity to a clinically-relevant, human model of prolonged pain that persists for weeks.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Relationship Between Initial Injury, Referral to A Pain Clinic, and Medical Retirement from the Army: A Retrospective Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 186 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 502-505
Author(s):  
Justin J Stewart ◽  
Diane Flynn ◽  
Alana D Steffen ◽  
Dale Langford ◽  
Honor McQuinn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Retrospective Analysis ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
Pain Clinic ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Curvilinear Relationship ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Pain Care ◽  
The Relationship

ABSTRACT Introduction Soldiers are expected to deploy worldwide and must be medically ready in order to accomplish their mission. Soldiers unable to deploy for an extended period of time because of chronic pain or other conditions undergo an evaluation for medical retirement. A retrospective analysis of existing longitudinal data from an Interdisciplinary Pain Management Center (IPMC) was used to evaluate the temporal relationship between the time of initial duty restriction and referral for comprehensive pain care to being evaluated for medical retirement. Methods Patients were adults (>18 years old) and were cared for in an IPMC at least once between May 1, 2014 and February 28, 2018. A total of 1,764 patients were included in the final analysis. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the impact of duration between date of first duty restriction documentation and IPMC referral to the outcome variable of establishment of a permanent 3 (P3) profile. Results The duration between date of first duty restriction and IPMC referral showed a curvilinear relationship to probability of a P3 profile. According to our model, a longer duration before referral is associated with an increased probability of a subsequent P3 profile with the highest probability peaking at 19 months. The probability of P3 declines gradually for those who were referred later. Discussion This is the first time the relationship between time of initial duty restriction, referral to an IPMC, and subsequent P3 or higher profile has been tested. Future research is needed to examine medical conditions listed on the profile to see how they might contribute to the cause of referral to the IPMC. Conclusion A longer duration between initial duty restriction and referral to IPMC was associated with higher odds of subsequent P3 status for up to 19 months. Referral to an IPMC for comprehensive pain care early in the course of chronic pain conditions may reduce the likelihood of P3 profile and eventual medical retirement of soldiers.

scholarly journals Differences between the Sexes in the Relationship between Chronic Pain, Fatigue, and QuickDASH among Community-Dwelling Elderly People in Japan

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 630
Author(s):  
Satoshi Shimo ◽  
Yuta Sakamoto ◽  
Takashi Amari ◽  
Masaaki Chino ◽  
Rie Sakamoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Physical Disability ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Elderly Healthcare ◽  
Disability Research

Chronic pain and fatigue have negative effects on the health, ADL, work, and hobbies of the elderly. As the proportion of people 65 years of age and older in the population increases, chronic pain and disability research regarding this group is receiving more consideration. However, little empirical evidence of the association between chronic pain, fatigue, and physical disability between the sexes is available. This study investigated the association between chronic pain, fatigue, and instrumental activities of daily living among community-dwelling elderly people by sex in Japan. Concerning the presence of chronic pain, 61% of males and 78% of females reported chronic pain, indicating that many elderly people living in the community suffer from chronic pain and fatigue on a daily basis. The number of sites of chronic pain was higher in females than in males (p = 0.016), with more chronic pain in the knees (p < 0.001) and upper arms (p = 0.014). Regarding chronic pain, males showed a higher correlation with QuickDASH-DS (rs = 0.433, p = 0.017) and QuickDASH-SM (rs = 0.643, p = 0.018) than females. Furthermore, fatigue also showed a higher correlation with QuickDASH-W (rs = 0.531, p = 0.003) in males than in females. These results indicate that the association between chronic pain, fatigue, and QuickDASH differed between the sexes among community-dwelling elderly people in Japan. A better understanding of the risk factors for elderly chronic pain and fatigue among sexes will facilitate the development of elderly healthcare welfare and policies.

The relationship between sleep and opioids in chronic pain patients

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Frers ◽  
Jonathan Shaffer ◽  
Jack Edinger ◽  
Amy Wachholtz
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Chronic Pain Patients ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Pain Patients

scholarly journals Genetic components of human pain sensitivity: a protocol for a genome-wide association study of experimental pain in healthy volunteers

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. e025530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annina B Schmid ◽  
Kaustubh Adhikari ◽  
Luis Miguel Ramirez-Aristeguieta ◽  
Juan-Camilo Chacón-Duque ◽  
Giovanni Poletti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Latin American ◽  
Pain Sensitivity ◽  
Genome Wide Association ◽  
Genome Wide Association Studies ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Genetic Components ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
A Genome ◽  
The University ◽  
Genetic Contributions

IntroductionPain constitutes a major component of the global burden of diseases. Recent studies suggest a strong genetic contribution to pain susceptibility and severity. Whereas most of the available evidence relies on candidate gene association or linkage studies, research on the genetic basis of pain sensitivity using genome-wide association studies (GWAS) is still in its infancy. This protocol describes a proposed GWAS on genetic contributions to baseline pain sensitivity and nociceptive sensitisation in a sample of unrelated healthy individuals of mixed Latin American ancestry.Methods and analysisA GWAS on genetic contributions to pain sensitivity in the naïve state and following nociceptive sensitisation will be conducted in unrelated healthy individuals of mixed ancestry. Mechanical and thermal pain sensitivity will be evaluated with a battery of quantitative sensory tests evaluating pain thresholds. In addition, variation in mechanical and thermal sensitisation following topical application of mustard oil to the skin will be evaluated.Ethics and disseminationThis study received ethical approval from the University College London research ethics committee (3352/001) and from the bioethics committee of the Odontology Faculty at the University of Antioquia (CONCEPTO 01–2013). Findings will be disseminated to commissioners, clinicians and service users via papers and presentations at international conferences.

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