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Understanding Central Sensitization Syndromes:
Disclosures: None
Fibromyalgia, Chronic Pelvic Pain, and Painful Bladder Syndrome Molly Heublein, MD
[email protected] Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine UCSF Women’s Health Center of Excellence
What is the diagnosis? A painful disorder, more common in women, worsened with hormonal fluctuations and stress, characterized by allodynia and/or hyperalgesia. No pathognomonic exam finding, lab test, or imaging study confirms this condition.
Migraine
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Migraine
Myofacial pain syndrome
Painful bladder syndrome
Migraine
Chronic Pelvic Pain
Primary Dysmenorrhea
Primary Dysmenorrhea
Fibromyalgia Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Central Sensitization Syndromes Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Myofacial pain syndrome
Painful bladder syndrome
Migraine
Chronic Pelvic Pain
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Myofacial pain syndrome
Painful bladder syndrome
Migraine
Chronic Pelvic Pain
Primary Dysmenorrhea
Vulvodynia Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Fibromyalgia Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome
Tempomandibular joint disorder
Primary Dysmenorrhea
Vulvodynia Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Fibromyalgia Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome
Functional dyspepsia
Tempomandibular joint disorder
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Central Sensitization Syndromes Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Myofacial pain syndrome
Painful bladder syndrome
Chronic Pelvic Pain
Migraine
Mechanical low back pain
Primary Dysmenorrhea
Vulvodynia Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Fibromyalgia Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome
Functional dyspepsia
Objectives for today: Discuss pain processing and central pain Discuss overlap of fibromyalgia with chronic pelvic pain and painful bladder syndrome
Review fibromyalgia as a classic central sensitization disorder
Consider best practices to address patients suffering from these conditions
Tempomandibular joint disorder
Chronic Overlapping Pain Conditions
Clinical Case: 35 yo woman comes to pcp office c/o anxiety and dysuria.
Hx of IBS diagnosed at age 22, and chronic pelvic pain diagnosed at age 29. She follows strict diets and takes some medications to help manage both, but does still experience frequent symptoms of nausea, abd bloating, and internal pelvic burning or pulling pain.
In the past 2 mo she has noted recurrent episodes of what she thought were UTIs but did not respond completely to antibiotics. She continues to have dysuria, urinary frequency, and bladder pain.
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Types of pain
Clinical Case:
Peripheral (nociceptive)
Neuropathic
35 yo woman comes to pcp office c/o anxiety and dysuria.
Cause of pain:
Mechanical damage or inflammation
Damage or entrapment of peripheral nerves
Hx of IBS diagnosed at age 22, and chronic pelvic pain
Responds to:
NSAIDS, opioids, local procedures
Peripheral and central therapies. Entrapment responds to surgery or injection
Classic examples:
Acute pain due to injury, OA, RA, cancer pain
Diabetic neuropathy, radicular back pain, postherpetic neuralgia
Clinical Case Our patient has undergone: - EGD and Colo X2 over the years - modified barium swallow - multiple Uas, STI screens - pelvic ultrasound - CT abdomen Pelvis
diagnosed at age 29. She follows strict diets and takes some medications to help manage both, but does still experience frequent symptoms of nausea, abd bloating, and internal pelvic burning or pulling pain.
In the past 2 mo she has noted recurrent episodes of what she thought were UTIs but did not respond completely to antibiotics. She continues to have dysuria, urinary frequency, and bladder pain.
Clinical Case Our patient has undergone: - EGD and Colo X2 over the years - modified barium swallow - multiple urinalyses - sexually transmitted infection screens - pelvic ultrasound - CT abdomen Pelvis ALL REPORTED NORMAL
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Types of pain Peripheral (nociceptive)
Neuropathic
Cause of pain:
Mechanical damage or inflammation
Damage or entrapment of peripheral nerves
Responds to:
NSAIDS, opioids, local procedures
Peripheral and central therapies. Entrapment responds to surgery or injection
Classic examples:
What did you do last time you saw a patient like this? A. Refer her to a psychiatrist, this is probably a somatoform
The bio-medical model of pain Acute pain due to injury, Diabetic neuropathy, OA, RA, cancer pain, doespain not holdradicular up back specific postherpetic neuralgia
pathologic findings are not seen in most patients with chronic pelvic pain, painful bladder syndrome, or fibromyalgia
disorder.
B. Tell her there is nothing wrong with her and she should feel better soon.
C. Explain the idea of central pain, discourage more advanced testing, and help establish a treatment plan.
D. Say “there is nothing wrong with your bladder/GI tract/etc, let me refer you to this other specialist who can evaluate you more for muscle/uterus/etc problems”
Types of pain
What did you do last time you saw a patient like this?
Peripheral (nociceptive)
Neuropathic
Centralized
Cause of pain:
Mechanical damage or inflammation
Damage or entrapment of peripheral nerves
Central disturbance in pain processing (hyperalgesia/allody nia)
Responds to:
NSAIDS, opioids, local procedures
Peripheral and central therapies. Entrapment responds to surgery or injection
Centrally acting drugs
Classic examples:
Acute pain due to injury, OA, RA, cancer pain
Diabetic neuropathy, radicular back pain, postherpetic neuralgia
Fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, tension headache, IC, chronic pelvic pain
A. Refer her to a psychiatrist, this is probably a somatoform disorder.
B. Tell her there is nothing wrong with her and she should feel better soon.
C. Explain the idea of central pain, discourage more advanced testing, and help establish a treatment plan.
D. Say “there is nothing wrong with your bladder/GI tract/etc, let me refer you to this other specialist who can evaluate you more for muscle/uterus/etc problems”
Adapted from: Clauw D. Fibromyalgia and Related Conditions. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 90(5). 2015 May, 680-692.
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Types of pain are not exclusive, most patients have overlapping pain generators
In patients with central sensitization many studies have shown changes in sensory processing: Lower pain thresholds to pressure/heat/cold/electrical
stimuli based on subjective reporting (both magnitude and duration of pain sensation) Lower thresholds to auditory and visual stimuli as noxious on subjective reporting Changes in localized brain metabolism and interconnectivity Increased levels of activating cytokines and decreased levels of cytokines in descending inhibitory pathways Reduction in activity of inhibitory pain relieving pathways
Hoffman. Central and Peripheral Pain Generators in Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain: Patient Centered Assessment and Treatment. Current Rheumatology Reviews. Volume 11 , Issue 2 , 2015
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Responses to painful stimuli vary dramatically in the population
Genetic basis Catechol-O-methyltransfease (COMT) is one of several enzymes that breaks down catecholamines
This study looked at 202 healthy women, and assessed genetic variation in COMT genes, baseline response to pain, and risk of developing TMJ dysfunction
Low pain sensitivity was associated with higher COMT activity levels and reduced risk of developing TMJ Dysfunction
Luda Diatchenko et al; Genetic basis for individual variations in pain perception and the development of a chronic pain condition, Human Molecular Genetics, Volume 14, Issue 1, 1 January 2005, Pages 135–143.
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Neurotransmitters COMT activity is important for breakdown of dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine
Higher levels of substance P in the CSF Elevations in CNS glutamate levels in fibromyalgia, measured both in the CSF and directly in the brain using proton spectroscopy (H-MRS) are also found in individuals with fibromyalgia
Experience of Pain 16 FM patients and 16 matched controls were exposed to painful pressures during fMRI scanning.
- increased neural activations in the primary and secondary somatosensory cortex, the insula, and the anterior cingulate with painful stimuli.
- regions of activation were similar for the patients and controls, but the control group needed almost double the pressure to develop the same level of pain
Gracely, et al. (2002), Functional magnetic resonance imaging evidence of augmented pain processing in fibromyalgia. Arthritis & Rheumatism, 46: 1333–1343. doi:10.1002/art.10225
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Brain Connections and Pain fMRI, EEG, and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy have shown increased connectivity in patients with chronic pain the Default Mode Network (resting/internal thoughts) is more linked to pain processing sites in the brain
Hypothesized that patients with chronic pain may not be able to disengage from internal stimuli
Greater Connectivity between anterior insula and medial prefrontal cortex in women with chronic pelvic pain compared to controls
Connectivity and Relief 27 women w fibromyalgia blinded cross over design treated w pregabalin
Studied with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, functional magnetic resonance imaging, and functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging showed that pregabalin treatment reduced brain insula glutamate levels and decreased connectivity of pronocioceptive brain areas to the default mode network
These factors were associated with the clinical pain relief on pregabalin
As-Sanie, Sawsan et al. “Functional Connectivity Is Associated with Altered Brain Chemistry in Women with Endometriosis-Associated Chronic Pelvic Pain.” The journal of pain : official journal of the American Pain Society 17.1 (2016): 1–13. PMC. Web. 7 Dec. 2017.
Harris et al. Pregabalin Rectifies Aberrant Brain Chemistry, Connectivity, and Functional Response in Chronic Pain Patients. Anesthesiology 2013;119(6):1453-1464.
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Diffuse Noxious Inhibitory Control (DNIC) In healthy humans and laboratory animals, application of an intense painful stimulus for 2 to 5 minutes produces generalized whole-body analgesia.
Thought to be mediated through descending opioid, and serotonin-noradrenergic pathways
This analgesia has been consistently observed to be attenuated or absent in groups of FM patients as compared to healthy controls
Back to patient care…. Bell shaped curve of pain experience, multifactorial changes in pain processing
People can have a turned up, amplified gain sensation You may find objective findings that could typically cause pain, without pain (in patients who have a pain volume at the low level)
Think of this as a spectrum, rather than a discrete yesno Fibromyalgia-ness (Wolfe)
Maixner. Overlapping Chronic Pain Conditions: Implications for Diagnosis and Classification The Journal of PainVolume 17, Issue 9, Supplement, September 2016, Pages T93-T107
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Pain Experience vs Pathology Mean Pressure Pain Thresholds (kg/cm2) at the Nondominant Thumbnail in Patient Subgroups Compared With Various Comparison Groups
P=0.19 P= 0.001
Chronic Overlapping Pain Conditions In patients w FM: 12% had BPS
In patients with CPP, 40% had BPS Sawsan As-Sanie et al. Increased Pressure Pain Sensitivity in Women With Chronic Pelvic Pain. Obstet Gynecol. 2013 Nov; 122(5): 1047–1055.
Prevalence of other pain conditions with chronic pelvic pain
Not to scale. % data from: Hoeritzauer. Chapter 38 - Urologic symptoms and functional neurologic disorders. Handbook of Clinical Neurology. Volume 139, 2016, Pages 469-481.
Clinical Case: 35 yo woman comes to pcp office c/o anxiety and dysuria
Hx of IBS diagnosed at age 22, and chronic pelvic pain diagnosed at age 29. She follows strict diets and takes some medications to help manage both, but does still experience frequent symptoms of nausea, abd bloating, and internal pelvic burning or pulling pain.
In the past 2 mo she has noted recurrent episodes of what she thought were UTIs but did not respond completely to antibiotics. She continues to have dysuria, urinary frequency, and bladder pain.
On more questioning, she also c/o back pain, chest pain, Sawsan As-Sanie et al. Increased Pressure Pain Sensitivity in Women With Chronic Pelvic Pain. Obstet Gynecol. 2013 Nov; 122(5): 1047–1055.
fatigue, and mental slowing.
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How do we diagnose fibromyalgia?
How do we diagnose fibromyalgia?
A. 11/18 positive tender points
A. 11/18 positive tender points
B. LP with high substance P
B. LP with high substance P
C. Refer to a rheumatologist for diagnosis
C. Refer to a rheumatologist for diagnosis
D. Widespread pain index >6, Symptoms severity score
D. Widespread pain index >6, Symptoms severity score
>4
>4
Fibromyalgia Diagnosis
Widespread Pain Index (WPI): note the number areas in which the patient has had pain over the last week. In how many areas has the patient had pain? Score will be between 0 and 19.
ACR 2010 updated guidelines: A patient satisfies diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia if the following 3 conditions are met:
Widespread pain index (WPI) ≥7 and symptom severity (SS) scale score ≥5 or WPI 3 - 6 and SS scale score ≥9.
Symptoms have been present at a similar level for at least 3 months.
The patient does not have a disorder that would otherwise explain the pain. Wolfe, et al. American College of Rheumatology Preliminary Diagnostic Criteria for Fibromyalgia and Symptom Severity. F Arthritis Care & Research; Vol. 62, No. 5, May 2010, pp 600–610
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Fatigue
Symptoms Severity (SS) scale score:
Waking unrefreshed
Cognitive symptoms
For the each of the 3 symptoms above, indicate the level of severity over the past week using the following scale:
0 = no problem
1 = slight or mild problems, generally mild or intermittent
2 = moderate, considerable problems, often present and/or at a moderate level
3 = severe: pervasive, continuous, lifedisturbing problems
Considering somatic symptoms in general, indicate whether the patient has:*
0 = no symptoms
1 = few symptoms
2 = a moderate number of symptoms
3 = a great deal of symptoms
Somatic Symptoms
The SS scale score is the sum of the severity of the 3 symptoms
(fatigue, waking unrefreshed, cognitive symptoms) plus the extent (severity) of somatic symptoms in general. The final score is between 0 and 12.
Fibromyalgia Diagnosis ACR 2010 updated guidelines: A patient satisfies diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia if the following 3 conditions are met:
Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPP) Persistent, non-cyclical pain localized to the pelvis, lasting longer than 6 months
No other specific etiology is discovered
Widespread pain index (WPI) ≥7 and symptom severity (SS) scale score ≥5 or WPI 3 - 6 and SS scale score ≥9.
Symptoms have been present at a similar level for at least 3 months.
The patient does not have a disorder that would otherwise explain the pain. American College of Rheumatology Preliminary Diagnostic Criteria for Fibromyalgia and Symptom Severity. F Wolfe, et al. Arthritis Care & Research; Vol. 62, No. 5, May 2010, pp 600–610
Speer et al. “Chronic Pelvic Pain in Women”. American Family Physician. 2016 Mar 1; 93(5):380-387
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Painful Bladder Syndrome (BPS) An unpleasant sensation perceived to be related to the Red Flags: Weight loss, gross hematuria, mass on US, postcoital bleeding, postmenopausal symptoms
urinary bladder, associated with lower urinary tract symptoms of more than six weeks duration in the absence of infection or other identifiable causes
Hanno et al. Diagnosis and Treatment of Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome: AUA Guideline Amendment. Journal of Urology. 193 (5): 2015 May. 1545-1553.
Clinical Workup History… does it feel like centralized pain? Significant pain and fatigue Diffuse symptoms that don’t “make sense” in a typical medical paradigm
Multiple negative evaluations Multiple specialists without clear diagnoses Depression possible but physical symptoms out of proportion to severity of mental illness
Diagnoses of other central pain syndromes
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Clinical Workup
Clinical Workup
History… does it feel like centralized pain?
History… does it feel like centralized pain?
Physical exam… basically normal
Physical exam… basically normal
Focus on specific areas of pain any signs of inflammatory/degenerative arthritis, masses, localized tenderness Any signs of anatomically consistent neuropathy Signs of something that would explain fatigue (pallor, goiter, obesity, etc)
Make the diagnosis!
Testing? CBC, TSH, ESR or CRP Consider specific testing ie CK for myalgias, LFTs for abd pain, UA for urinary symptoms, STI screening for pelvic pain, imaging for localized symptoms Consider ferritin, vitamin D (placebo benefits?) Think carefully about ANA/autoimmune markers- don’t order unless you really suspect
Don’t Ignore the Peripheral Pain
Ok to do the million dollar work up if you’re not sure…. But only do it once!
Give your patients a clear diagnosis- give a name to their symptoms
Stop the testing/referrals
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First step is educating patients “you have a real disease, and I believe that you hurt” “you will need to live with this for the long term, but we can help you manage it”
“It will wax and wane, but you will not be left disfigured/in the hospital/in a wheelchair because of this” “We understand what is happening in this condition, the way your brain is processing sensations has the volume turned up”
What is the best first line treatment for central pain conditions? A. Pregabalin B. Exercise and cognitive behavioral therapy C. Opioid analgesics D. NSAIDS and Acetaminophen
What is the best first line treatment for central pain conditions? A. Pregabalin B. Exercise and cognitive behavioral therapy C. Opioid analgesics D. NSAIDS and Acetaminophen
Treatment of Central Pain Conditions Non-Pharmacologic treatment is first line:
- Exercise - Graded exercise therapy prescription, start low and go slow
- This has the most significant benefit seen in trials
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - Complementary treatments: acupuncture, meditation, massage, yoga
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Graded Exercise Therapy Here is the principle: Think of exercise as if it were a medicine and you are trying to find the right dose. Too low a dose leaves you feeling worse, and too high a dose causes you to crash afterward and feel worse. Choose a length of time that you are willing to do sustained gentle aerobic exercise daily (e.g. walking for 15 mins once a day everyday) Continue at this level for two weeks. At the end of two weeks ask yourself: “How do I feel after engaging in this level of exercise for two weeks?” If you feel the same or better then increase the length of time by 10% (e.g. in this example you would add 1.5 minutes for a new total of 16.5 minutes) and continue at this new level for another two weeks. If you feel worse then reduce the length of time by 25% (e.g. in this example you would reduce by about 4 minutes to a new total of 11 minutes) After two weeks at the new level ask yourself the question again and proceed accordingly. Continue until you no longer receive any benefit from increasing the length of time.
Pharmacologic treatment for central pain Important to set expectations of (limited) benefit “Rational polypharmacy” may be appropriate Pain in these conditions does tend to flair and wane, so monitoring benefit is sometimes difficult
If you are too fatigued to begin with aerobic exercise then you can begin with gentle stretching and range-of-motion exercises, using the same principle of gradation.
Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors Milnacipran (Savella) - FDA approved for fibromyalgia, has not been shown to help with depression
Duloxetine (Cymbalta) - FDA approved for fibromyalgia, chronic diabetic neuropathic pain, chronic musculoskeletal pain (OA or low back pain) and depression/anxiety
(Venlafaxine has less norepinephrine effects and so likely has less effect on chronic pain)
Pregabalin Approved for fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain (diabetic, post-herpetic, and spinal cord), epilepsy Binds to alpha2-delta protein, an auxiliary subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels, probably reducing release of several neurotransmitters which can reduce of abnormal neuronal excitability Dizziness was most common side effect. General warnings for suicidality, unsafe in pregnancy, rare hypersensitivity rxn, angioedema, peripheral edema, sedation, gynecomastia Gabapentin has a similar mechanism of action but has not been extensively studied/fda approved for central pain conditions
Convenient daily dosing, easy to get to therapeutic doses Nausea and constipation were the most common events . Risks of suicidality, hepatotoxicity, abnl bleeding, elevated bp, serotonin syndrome, urinary hesitancy, seizures
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Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) Amitriptyline/ Nortriptyline - Off label treatment for fibromyalgia Reduce reuptake of serotonin/ norepinephrine, but also antagonize NMDA, specific serotonin subtype, and histamine receptors (among others) Daily qhs dosing, may also help with sleep disturbances
Fatigue, dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, orthostatic hypotension are common side effects Hauser, et al. Review of Pharmacologic Therapies in Fibromyalgia. Arthritis Res Ther. 2014; 16(1): 201.
Others with less evidence (off label) Gabapentin (Neurontin) Tizanidine (zanaflex) Cyclobenzaprine (flexeril) Baclofen Pramipexol (requip) Tramadol (ultram)
In Summary Central pain conditions are common, especially in women
Recent pain research can help give us and our patients better understanding of these conditions and allow us to better treat patients’ pain
Important to give patients a specific diagnosis and treatment plan
Modafanil (provigil) Low dose Naltrexone
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Resources for patients Fibroguide: Free online CBT program for patients with fibromyalgia: http://fibroguide.med.umich.edu/fibroguide.html
To learn more: Free podcast lectures on pain management: https://www.painweek.org/podcasts.html
Suggest a book for patients to self education- for example Managing Pain Before it Manages You by Margaret Caudill
Suggested reviews: Yunus MB. Editorial review: an update on central
sensitivity syndromes and the issues of nosology and psychobiology. Curr Rheumatol Rev. 2015;11(2):70-85.
Recommend relaxation apps such as headspace, kardia anti-stress breath pacer, or calm
Clauw D. Fibromyalgia and Related Conditions.
Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 90(5). 2015 May, 680-692.
References
References, cont
Clauw D. Fibromyalgia and Related Conditions. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 90(5). 2015 May, 680-692.
Maixner. Overlapping Chronic Pain Conditions: Implications for Diagnosis and Classification The Journal of PainVolume 17, Issue 9, Supplement, September 2016, Pages T93-T107
Diatchenko L et al; Genetic basis for individual variations in pain perception and the development of a chronic pain condition, Human Molecular Genetics, Volume 14, Issue 1, 1 January 2005, Pages 135–143.
Marcus et al. Fibromyalgia, A Practical Clinical Guide. New York Springer-Verlag 2011, XII 200.
Gracely, R. H et al. (2002), Functional magnetic resonance imaging evidence of augmented pain processing in fibromyalgia. Arthritis & Rheumatism, 46: 1333–1343. doi:10.1002/art.10225
Sluka et al; Neurobiology of fibromyalgia and chronic widespread pain. Neuroscience. V338, 3 December 2016. pages 114-129.
Hanno et al. Diagnosis and Treatment of Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome: AUA Guideline Amendment. Journal of Urology. 193 (5): 2015 May. 1545-1553.
Smith, et al. Fibromyalgia an Afferent Processing Disorder Leading to a Complex Pain Generalized Syndrome. Pain Physician 2011; 14:E216-245.
Harris et al. Pregabalin Rectifies Aberrant Brain Chemistry, Connectivity, and Functional Response in Chronic Pain Patients. Anesthesiology 2013;119(6):1453-1464
Speer et al. “Chronic Pelvic Pain in Women”. American Family Physician. 2016 Mar 1; 93(5):380-387
Muhammad Yunus. The Prevalence of Fibromyalgia in Other Chronic Pain Conditions. Pain Research and Treatment. Volume 2012 (2012), Article ID 584573
Wolfe, et al. American College of Rheumatology Preliminary Diagnostic Criteria for Fibromyalgia and Symptom Severity. F Arthritis Care & Research; Vol. 62, No. 5, May 2010, pp 600–610
Hauser, et al. Review of Pharmacologic Therapies in Fibromyalgia. Arthritis Res Ther. 2014; 16(1): 201.
Hoeritzauer. Chapter 38 - Urologic symptoms and functional neurologic disorders. Handbook of Clinical Neurology. Volume 139, 2016, Pages 469-481.
Hoffman. Central and Peripheral Pain Generators in Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain: Patient Centered Assessment and Treatment. Current Rheumatology Reviews. Volume 11 , Issue 2 , 2015
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