Changes in Radicular Pain and Pain Modulation

The Association Between Changes in Radicular Pain and Pain Modulation Among Patients With Lumbar Radiculopathy: A Pilot Study.

The objectives of this study are: 1)To investigate the difference in pain modulatory mechanisms using quantitative sensory testing (QST) between healthy controls and patients with radicular leg pain due to nerve root compression. 2) To investigate the association between changes in radiating leg pain and pain modulation among the patient group.

Few studies have investigated pain modulatory mechanisms using QST in patients with lumbar radiculopathy due to nerve root compression. Knowledge about the association between changes in the experience of pain and changes measures of pain modulation is to our knowledge limited. The results could potentially contribute to knowledge about mechanisms involved in lumbar radiculopathy and facilitate future studies. The hypotheses of the study are: 1) Measures of pain modulation will be less efficient among patients with lumbar radiculopathy showing reduced pain inhibition and facilitated temporal summation compared to healthy controls. 2) Improvements in pain modulation will be associated with improvements in clinical pain outcomes

Inclusion Criteria:

Patient group

• Radiating leg pain due to nerve root compression verified by MRI
• Clinical findings in accordance with MRI findings
• Average leg pain ≥ 3/10 on a numeric pain rating scale Controls
• No current or previous history of ongoing musculoskeletal pain

Exclusion Criteria:

Applies for both groups.

• Other specific medical conditions e.g. rheumatologic disease, diabetes or vascular diseases.
• Pregnancy