Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate prevalence and influence of different methods of treatment of back pain in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) in the Chernivtsi region of Ukraine.

Background: Pain is one of frequently observed non-motor symptoms in patients with PD. Chronic pain occurs in 30% to 85% of patients with PD, particularly in women, and is one of the strongest predictors of poor quality of life.

Method: We used clinical, epidemiological and statistical methods of research. These were examined 84 patients with PD who were treated in Department of Nervous Diseases, Chernivtsi Regional Psychiatric Hospital. They were clinical examination and interviewed by using specially designed questionnaires. The visual analog scale was used for pain severity.

Results: The middle patients’ age was 58.3±13.5, the average duration of disorder was 5.6±3,1 years. Back pain was reported by 46 (54.8%) patients. Among the patients the most frequent pain (38.5%) was lower back pain, 30.5% of respondents had neck pain, 17.6% – middle back pain, combined pain – 13.4%. Among women the prevalence of back pain was higher than among men – 56.6% and 43.4% respectively. Duration since onset of motor symptoms and stage of Parkinson’s disease did not significantly correlate with the presence of pain. The most frequent type of pain was musculoskeletal pain – 52%. In the visual analog score, 56.5% of patients had a score between 5 and 8 indicating moderate severity. Patients with hypokinetic Parkinson’s – slow or reduced movement – experienced higher intensities of lumbar and radicular pain than those with tremor. 23.9% patients was enough dose adjustments of antiparkinsonian drugs for pain relief, 76,1% patients needed additional analgesics.

Conclusion: The back pain is a common, but often under-reported, symptom in PD that adversely affects health-related quality of life. There are many different forms of pain associated with PD. Recognition of the particular pain disorder may lead to selection of the most appropriate treatment strategy.

References: A. D. Ha, J. Jankovic. Pain in Parkinson’s Disease. Movement Disorders, Vol. 27, No. 4, 2012. 485-491.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/investigation-of-back-pain-in-patients-with-parkinsons-disease/