Chronic widespread pain and the fibromyalgia syndrome

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Chronic widespread pain and the fibromyalgia syndrome

Rahman, A; (2022) Chronic widespread pain and the fibromyalgia syndrome. Medicine , 50 (3) pp. 184-188. 10.1016/j.mpmed.2021.12.009. Green open access

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Abstract

Chronic pain syndromes are characterized by pain that is present every day and is not explicable by any specific physical injury or disease. The pain is related to central sensitization of the central nervous system pain mechanisms such that pain is amplified. The term ‘chronic widespread pain’ (CWP) means that the pain is present on both sides of the body, both above and below the waist and in the spinal region. Fibromyalgia is a subgroup of CWP in which, as well as pain, patients suffer from typical symptoms including fatigue, unrefreshing sleep and ‘fibro-fog’. It is estimated that 11% of the population suffer from CWP and 2–6% have fibromyalgia. CWP and fibromyalgia are clinical diagnoses based primarily on the history. Investigations are only useful to exclude other diagnoses or to look at specific areas where the pain is out of proportion to the rest of the body. There is no cure for CWP or fibromyalgia, and treatments are designed to improve quality of life rather than remove the symptoms. Patient education and encouragement of exercise are key. There is only weak evidence for any medications. However, amitriptyline, tramadol, duloxetine and pregabalin are all useful in some patients.

Type:	Article
Title:	Chronic widespread pain and the fibromyalgia syndrome
Open access status:	An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI:	10.1016/j.mpmed.2021.12.009
Publisher version:	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mpmed.2021.12.009
Language:	English
Additional information:	This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords:	Central sensitization, chronic widespread pain, fibromyalgia pain, pain management
UCL classification:	UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Medicine > Inflammation UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Medicine
URI:	https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10143872