Is Resolution of Chronic Pain Associated With Changes in Blood Pressure-related Hypoalgesia?

Abstract

Background In healthy individuals, elevated resting blood pressure (BP) is associated with reduced pain responsiveness and lower temporal summation. Prior work indicates that this BP-related hypoalgesia is reduced in individuals with chronic pain. Purpose This study evaluated whether resolution of chronic pain was associated with greater BP-related hypoalgesia compared to nonresolution. Methods From a prospective sample of adolescents and young adults diagnosed with chronic functional abdominal pain an average of 9 years earlier, 99 individuals in whom the condition had resolved and 51 individuals with ongoing abdominal pain were studied. Resting systolic BP was assessed, followed by evaluation of thermal pain threshold and tolerance, and assessment of temporal summation to thermal pain stimuli. Results Higher resting systolic BP was significantly associated with higher pain threshold and tolerance, and lower temporal summation only in the group with resolved functional abdominal pain (p < .05). Hierarchical regressions revealed that interactions between BP and resolution of chronic pain were significant only for pain tolerance (p < .05). Analyses by sex indicated that interactions between BP and resolution status were significant for the temporal summation outcome in males but not in females.Conclusions Results suggest that BP-related hypoalgesic mechanisms may be more effective in individuals in whom chronic pain has resolved compared to those with ongoing chronic pain. Findings hint at sex differences in the extent to which resolution of chronic pain is associated with BP-related hypoalgesia. Whether greater BP-related hypoalgesia is a consequence of, or alternatively a contributor to, resolution of chronic pain warrants further investigation.

The cardiac, vasomotor, and myocardial branches of the baroreflex in fibromyalgia: Associations with pain, affective impairments, sleep problems, and fatigue

“…For example, Bruehl et al (1998) observed a small negative correlation between BP and clinical pain severity in patients with a pain duration between 6 and 14 months, whereas there was a significant positive correlation in those with a pain duration of more than 28 months. Furthermore, the resolution of chronic pain is related to recovery of the BP-related hypoalgesia (de la Coba et al, 2018).…”

Clinical Characteristics, Treatment Effectiveness, and Predictors of Response to Pharmacotherapeutic Interventions Among Patients with Herpetic-Related Neuralgia: A Retrospective Analysis

“…The association between hypertension and pain had been repeatedly reported in many single-center clinical studies. For instance, hypertension was correlated with lower prevalence of low back pain or osteoarthritis in Koreans [ 25 ], higher pain thresholds in participants with resolved functional abdominal pain [ 26 ], and lower chest pain scores in patients with acute myocardial infarction [ 27 ]. It is likely that hypertension was associated with lower pain scores among participants, and hence reducing the risk of MRP development.…”

Comorbidity of arterial hyperten­sion and tension-type headache

“…Относительно длительности, о чем говорилось выше [18], de la Coba P. соавт. недавно показали, что со временем, если боль становится хронической, защитный механизм феномена «гипоалгезия, связанная с гипертонией» начинает ослабевать [27]. Это работает и в обратном направлении: при хроническом характере повышения АД развивается гипералгезия.…”