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.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
55
0.1 ml of 8% capsaicin topical patch or 0.1% capsaicin cream
Control patch will be the same topical solution but will not contain capsaicin.
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida, United States
Progression of Temporal Summation of Second Pain
A Peltier device (Pathway, Medoc) will be used to tap the skin surface with a 3 cm x 3 cm probe. The Peltier device will be used to provide very brief, repetitive, thermal stimuli (for approx. 1s) to the skin using computer controlled temperatures. Heat stimuli at intervals of 2.5 sec produce sensations of increasing pain (temporal summation), depending on the number of stimuli presented. The late sensations of warmth are delayed in onset by approximately 1.5 sec after the probe touches the skin, because the sensation depends upon stimulation of slowly conducting unmyelinated peripheral afferents.
Time frame: 2 hr
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