Fibromyalgia and Neuropathic Pain Differences and Similarities

Main Digest

A comparison of 3057 patients with diabetic painful neuropathy and fibromyalgia.

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Patients with diabetic neuropathy (DPN) and fibromyalgia differ substantially in pathogenetic factors and the spatial distribution of the perceived pain. We questioned whether, despite these obvious differences, similar abnormal sensory complaints and pain qualities exist in both entities.

We hypothesized that similar sensory symptoms might be associated with similar mechanisms of pain generation.

The aims were:

• To compare epidemiological features and comorbidities
• To identify similarities and differences of sensory symptoms in both entities.

Methods:

The present multi-center study compares epidemiological data and sensory symptoms of a large cohort of 1434 fibromyalgia patients and 1623 patients with painful diabetic neuropathy.

Data acquisition included standard demographic questions and self-report questionnaires (MOS sleep scale, PHQ-9, PainDETECT). To identify subgroups of patients with characteristic combinations of symptoms (sensory profiles) a cluster analysis was performed using all patients in both cohorts.

Results:

• Significant differences in comorbidities (depression, sleep disturbance) were found between both disorders.
• Patients of both aetiology's chose very similar descriptors to characterize their sensory perceptions. Burning pain, prickling and touch-evoked allodynia were present in the same frequency.
• Five subgroups with distinct symptom profiles could be detected. Two of the subgroups were characteristic for fibromyalgia whereas one profile occurred predominantly in DPN patients.
• Two profiles were found frequently in patients of both entities (20-35%).

Conclusions:

DPN and fibromyalgia patients experience very similar sensory phenomena. The combination of sensory symptoms - the sensory profile - is in most cases distinct and almost unique for each one of the two entities indicating aetiology-specific mechanisms of symptom generation.

Beside the unique aetiology-specific sensory profiles an overlap of sensory profiles can be found in 20-35% of patients of both aetiologies.

Credits/Source: BMC Neurology 2011, 11:55

Attribution/Source(s):

This quality-reviewed article relating to our Fibromyalgia section was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World due to its likely interest to our disability community readers. Though the content may have been edited for style, clarity, or length, the article "Fibromyalgia and Neuropathic Pain Differences and Similarities" was originally written by BioMed Central Ltd, and published by Disabled-World.com on 2011/05/25 (Updated: 2022/03/24). Should you require further information or clarification, BioMed Central Ltd can be contacted at biomedcentral.com. Disabled World makes no warranties or representations in connection therewith.

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