Neuropathic and Myopathic Pain.

The evaluation and management of childhood pain syndromes of neuromuscular origin have distinct challenges, as the patterns of disease presentation and the ability of a child to describe symptoms may differ from that of an adult. Advances in scientific and clinical knowledge are leading to significant progress in the care of affected children. The genetic origins of Fabry disease and the inherited form of erythromelalgia are better understood.

Relationships between Irritable Bowel Syndrome Pain, Skin Temperature Indices of Autonomic Dysregulation, and Sensitivity to Thermal Cutaneous Stimulation.

This study evaluated relationships between irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) pain, sympathetic dysregulation, and thermal pain sensitivity. Eight female patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS and ten healthy female controls were tested for sensitivity to thermal stimulation of the left palm. A new method of response-dependent thermal stimulation was used to maintain pain intensity at a predetermined level (35%) by adjusting thermal stimulus intensity as a function of pain ratings.

Hypersensitivity to cutaneous thermal nociceptive stimuli in irritable bowel syndrome.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common intestinal ailment of which the pathophysiological mechanisms are not well understood. Most IBS patients demonstrate enhanced perception, visceral hypersensitivity, in response to distension of the gut lumen but there are conflicting results about changes in somatic sensitivity. This study focused on the possible contribution of abnormal pain sensitization due to positive feedback (vicious pain cycle) that affects somatic tissues due to viscero-somatic convergence.