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Investigation of the Relationship Between Central Sensitization and Neuropathic Pain in Lumbar Disc Herniation

Does Central Sensitization Mediate Neuropathic Complaints in Lumbar Disc Herniation? A Cross-sectional Observational Study

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06269068
Enrollment
180
Registered
2024-02-21
Start date
2024-01-16
Completion date
2024-06-01
Last updated
2024-02-21

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Central Sensitisation

Keywords

Central sensitisation, Lumbar Disc Herniation, Neuropathic Pain, Central sensitization inventory

Brief summary

Central sensitization (CS) is as increased response to normal or sub-threshold stimuli of central nervous system and its close relationship with in many musculoskeletal diseases with chronic pain has been demonstrated in several studies. CS is also one of the main mechanisms proposed in the generation of neuropathic pain, and the relationship between pain sensitization and neuropathic complaints has been shown in different diseases.In this study, it was aimed to investigate the effect of central sensitization on the distribution pattern and neuropathic character of pain in patients with lumbar disc herniation who applied to the physical medicine and rehabilitation outpatient clinic.

Detailed description

Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is one of the leading causes of musculoskeletal pain and its lifetime prevalence is around 80%. Different types of pain can be seen in patients with LDH, which are classified by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) as nociceptive low back pain, somatic referred pain, radicular pain, and radiculopathy. While nociceptive low back pain originates from the structures in the lumbar spine, this pain is characterized as somatic referred pain when it spreads to the lower extremities. Radicular pain is different from these two pains in mechanism and character, and neuropathic complaints accompany axial pain. LDH is also the most common cause of lumbar radicular pain and causes neuropathic pain by irritation of the spinal nerve or dorsal root ganglion. In recent studies, it has been shown that nociceptor hyperexcitability and continuous stimulus discharge into the central nervous system play an important role in the formation of neuropathic pain. This mechanism is also encountered in central sensitization (CS), which is well-known to be associated with chronic pain and characterized by increased response to painful stimuli. Although there are many definitions of CS in the literature, one of the most comprehensive definitions was made as Changes in the membrane excitability of the central pain pathways and changes in the synaptic transmission of the dorsal anterior horn cells and a decrease in the inhibition of the descending pathways. In animal models, inflammation-mediated spinal microglia activation has been shown to play a role in chronic radicular pain secondary to disc herniation, which has been associated with the development of central sensitization. A study showed that the frequency of CS is increased in patients with chronic low back pain, and this rate is variable in patients with LDH. In addition, data on the role of CS in LDH-related pain, especially radicular pain, are increasing.Considering all these data, CS is likely to affect pain in various ways in patients with LDH, particularly in its severity, extent, and neuropathic component. Therefore, in this study, it was aimed to investigate the relationship between CS accompanying LDH patients with pain characteristics and neuropathic pain development.

Interventions

Standardized questionnaire to determine the level of central sensitization. Patients with a score of 40 and above are considered to have central sensitization.

Standardized questionnaire to investigate the quality of life in patients. The score of the scale is between 0-100. The higher scores are associated with greater deterioration in quality of life.

OTHEROswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire

With this scale, it is questioned to what extent the patient is affected by low back pain in selected daily living activities under certain ten headings. In total scoring, disability is expressed as a percentage, and high scores are interpreted in favor of an increase in disability.

OTHERDouleur Neuropathique 4

The questionnaire consists of 10 items; while the nature of pain is questioned in 7 items, the other 3 items include brief sensory examination. Patients with a score of 4 or more out of 10 are considered to have neuropathic pain.

global pain score on a 0 to 10

Sponsors

Marmara University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
CROSS_SECTIONAL

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

Having a diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation Accepting to participate in the study

Exclusion criteria

Concomitant active systemic inflammatory disease, infection and malignancy Having disease that will cause neuropathic pain in the other lower extremity, such as polyneuropathy, multiple sclerosis etc Refusing to participate in the study

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI)6 months25 somatic and psychosocial symptoms, which are frequently found in patients with central sensitization in part A, are questioned. In part B, the presence of diseases whose relationship with central sensitization is well defined is questioned in the patient without participating in scoring. Central sensitization is assumed in patients who score 40 or more over 100 points.
DN46 monthsThe DN4 scale was developed in 2005 to detect the neuropathic component of pain.This questionnaire consists of 10 items; While the nature of pain is questioned in 7 items, the other 3 items include brief sensory examination. Patients with a score of 4 or more out of 10 are considered to have neuropathic pain.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
VAS pain6 monthsThe patients pain severity will be evaluated with a 10-cm horizontal visual analogue scale (VAS) ranging from 0 cm (no discomfort) to 10 cm (worst imaginable)
SF-366 monthsThe 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) is an oft-used, well-researched, self-reported measure of health.The scale was developed by Ware in 1987 and consists of 36 questions questioning 8 sub-parameters regarding the health status of the person.These parameters are physical function, pain, limitation due to physical and emotional problems, emotional well-being, social function, fatigue and general health perception.
ODI6 monthsThis scale was developed for assessing the severity of disability in chronic low back pain patients. This scale consists of 10 items that evaluates the limitation of daily life activities of patients in the last month.It is accepted that the higher the score, the higher disability.

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

Contacts

Primary ContactFeyza Nur Yücel
dr.fny28@gmail.com5385577059

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026