Objective: Previous studies of patients with spinal cord injury, such as laceration, compression, and/or injury have described a pain syndrome, which is descriptive of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) pain. We hypothesized that dolorimeter (DOL) scores would go up as a function of time after surgery to decompress the spinal cord in  patients with FMS. Methods: All patients met the American College of Rheumatology classification criteria for FMS.  Patients also had to demonstrate on MRI, spinal cord compression. Before surgery was considered, they had to show neurological  dysfunction, such as numbness, limb weakness, neurally mediated hypotension etc.  If their symptoms were well controlled by medication, surgery was not a consideration.  At no time was surgery done for FMS pain. DOL was done at the time of initial office visit (IOV), prior to surgery (PTS), and at different times post op (PO) over the next year.  Data was analyzed by student t test. Avg age 45. Conclusion:  Spinal cord pain, which initially is mistaken as FMS pain, does statistically improve with decompression of the cord.  The data supports that pain thresholds improve as a function of time.

                     
INTRODUCTION:  Previous studies of patients with spinal cord injury, such as laceration, compression, and or injury have described a pain syndrome, which is descriptive of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) pain1, 3. The patients in these studies described their pain as burning and/or stinging. They also had a feeling of pulling or pressure. Cramping, stabbing, and tingling/numbness were also seen. Exercise would make one half of them worse. Tension, overexertion and changes in weather were said to aggravate their pain.

OBJECTIVE: Dolorimeter measurements have been used for years to assess how much pain fibromyalgia patients have. We hypothesized that dolorimeter (DOL) scores would  increase as a function of time after surgery to decompress the spinal cord in patients with FMS. Methods: All patients met the American College of Rheumatology classification criteria for FMS. Patients also had to demonstrate on MRI, spinal cord compression. No patients with spinal cord laceration, or injury were considered for this study.   All patients were neurologically abnormal, with numbness, ataxia, dysphagia, dizziness, cranial nerve malfunction, limb weakness, etc. (see part I).  All patients suffered from NMH/POTS and had abnormal tilt table examinations. The  patients during this study were noted to have either a hypoplastic posterior fossa (roughly synonymous with Chiari malformation), and/or cervical spinal stenosis. The latter was usually developmental with degenerative change superimposed.  If their symptoms were well controlled by medication, surgery was not a consideration.  At no time was surgery done for FMS pain. DOL was done at the time of initial office visit (IOV), prior to surgery (PTS), and at different times post op (PO) over the next year.  Data were entered into Systat 7.0 and analyzed by student’s t-test. Average patient age was 45.