Highlights
Psychosocial symptoms are important predictors of those that do worse with chronic low back pain.
Currently the prevailing view is that psychosocial symptoms drive systemic inflammation.
Psychosocial problems increase inflammation, and inflammation increases psychosocial symptoms.
Psychosocial treatments decrease inflammation and reducing inflammation improves psychosocial symptoms.
The relationship is bidirectional and we should remember this when dealing with patients with psychosocial symptoms.
Explaining this relationship to patients may reduce the stigma associated with psychosocial...
Manipulating the diet to help reduce chronic pain symptoms remains an attractive option. However, to date there is a paucity of research on the topic. A previous article of mine addressed the key literature around low back pain and diet. However, recent research has hinted at a potential role for manipulating the polyamine content of the diet in improving chronic pain symptoms.
The polyamines are spermine, spermidine, and putrescine. They are biogenic amines, similar in structure to the biogenic amine neurotransmitters, histamine, serotonin, dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine. The main...