Spinal and Supra-Spinal Pain Mechanisms in Patients With Fibromyalgia

Spinal and Supra-Spinal Pain Mechanisms in Patients With Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia (FM) patients have increased windup (WU). However, WU of FM patients is only quantitatively but not qualitatively different from healthy controls (HC). Thus WU abnormalities of FM patients could be the result of supra-spinal and not the result of spinal pain mechanisms. The study team will test this hypothesis by sensitizing FM patients with topical capsaicin.

The study team hypothesizes that at baseline the slopes of sensitivity adjusted WU of FM patients are not statistically different from HC. However, after capsaicin application, the slopes of sensitivity adjusted WU will be significantly different from baseline and greater than those of HC, suggesting central sensitization. This would imply that FM patients are sensitive to heat pain but not sensitized.

Inclusion Criteria:

• individuals diagnosed with fibromyalgia will have pain of duration > 6 months and meeting the 1990 Research Diagnostic Criteria for FM (ACR).
• healthy, pain-free age matched controls without chronic pain

Exclusion Criteria:

• Allergy to red chili peppers;
• Pregnant;
• Significant hearing loss;
• Presence of chronic disease (e.g. cancer, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, kidney disease, diabetes, etc.).
• FM patients must be willing to discontinue or hold their FM related medications for at least 5 half-lives.