Patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain present low level of the knowledge about the neurophysiology of pain

Abstract

Objective

Identify the level of knowledge of the neurophysiology of pain in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain and compare the level of knowledge of pain according to the type of musculoskeletal pain classification.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 83 patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. The classification of the pain mechanism was defined using clinical indicators, which uses a combination of patient self-report pain characteristics and physical examination. The level of neurophysiological pain knowledge was evaluated by the Brazilian version of the Neurophysiology of Pain Questionnaire, and the results were compared among musculoskeletal pain groups.

Results

In general, patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain presented low levels of knowledge about the neurophysiology of pain (31.1%). Thirty-six patients presented nociceptive pain, 21 of peripheral neuropathic pain, and 26 of central sensitisation. The level of neurophysiological knowledge of pain did not show a significant difference between the groups (central sensitisation: 33.7%; nociceptive pain: 32.2%; peripheral neuropathic pain: 25.9%; p = .153).

Conclusions

Patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain presented low levels of neurophysiological pain knowledge, regardless of their classification of pain based on its mechanism.

Practical implications

Patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain showed a low pain knowledge. Educational programmes are needed for musculoskeletal practice.

Keywords:

• Musculoskeletal pain
• chronic pain
• pain education
• pain management
• neurophysiology

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This study was financed in part by the Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ) [grant number E-26/202.112/2018] and the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) [Finance Code 001].