Previous Injury and Chronic Pain are Associated with Side of Onset in Parkinson's Disease.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Parkinson's disease (PD) motor symptoms are frequently asymmetric and the factors that influence the side of onset are unclear. OBJECTIVE:To explore whether peripheral injury and associated chronic limb pain may influence the side of onset. METHODS:We administered a questionnaire to 128 PD patients in a tertiary movement disorder clinic. Handedness, date and type of limb injury(s) and duration of associated pain, and date and side of onset were ascertained. RESULTS:Sixty-two subjects reported limb injuries prior to the onset of PD symptoms, 30 with and 32 without chronic pain (i.e., ? 2 months). There was no association between injury and PD onset side overall (p=0.334). In subjects with chronic pain associated with limb injuries, however, side of injuries was associated with the side of PD symptom onset (p=0.030). CONCLUSIONS:Limb injury with chronic pain may be related to the side of PD symptom onset. Future studies may shed light on the nature of this observation.

SUBMITTER: Tekin I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4771383 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature