Central Sensitization and Nociplastic Pain: Shared Mechanisms in Fibromyalgia, Osteoarthritis, and Inflammatory Arthritis - PubMed
4 hours ago
- #chronic musculoskeletal diseases
- #nociplastic pain
- #central sensitization
- Central sensitization is a key mechanism explaining the discrepancy between structural damage or inflammation and pain intensity in chronic musculoskeletal diseases.
- It is the defining feature of nociplastic pain in fibromyalgia and contributes to persistent pain in osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis, often independent of inflammation or structural changes.
- Manifestations include hyperalgesia, allodynia, expanded receptive fields, and impaired endogenous pain inhibition.
- Screening tools like the Widespread Pain Index and Symptom Severity Scale, along with quantitative sensory testing and algometry, help identify nociplastic pain features.
- Neuroimmune mechanisms such as microglial activation and imbalances in neurotransmission may underlie the mismatch between pain intensity and clinical findings.
- Recognizing central sensitization enhances assessment and supports mechanism-based management strategies for these conditions.