Study of Shared Pain Mechanisms in Migraine and Related Neck and Lower Back Pain

What this Trial Is About

Migraine is a common headache disorder that causes significant disability and lowers quality of life worldwide. This condition involves activation of the trigeminal nerve and changes in how the central nervous system processes pain. Researchers are exploring migraine not just as a headache disorder but as a systemic pain condition linked to increased sensitivity to pain, known as central sensitization. This heightened sensitivity can cause widespread pain, including neck and lower back pain, which often occur alongside migraines due to shared nerve pathways. This study observes individuals with episodic or chronic migraine, some of whom also experience neck andor lower back pain without other diagnosed musculoskeletal conditions. Participants are grouped based on migraine type and presence of neck or back pain. The focus is on understanding common pain mechanisms by evaluating factors such as central sensitization, pain threshold, pain catastrophizing, psychological factors, body awareness, and disability related to migraine and musculoskeletal symptoms. Participants will undergo assessments including the Central Sensitization Inventory, pain intensity ratings, disability measures for migraine, neck, and lower back, psychological evaluations, body awareness questionnaires, and pressure pain threshold tests all conducted on a single study day. Researchers will analyze these results to better understand how migraine relates to neck and back pain. The total participation involves one visit with various questionnaires and clinical evaluations to measure pain and its impact.

Common Pain Mechanisms in Migraine, Migraine-Related Neck Pain, and Lower Back Pain: A Cross Sectional Study