The neuropathic pain prevalence in patients applyed to the physical therapy clinic with musculoskeletal pain

Pain may cause significant loss of labor and disabilities in all societies. In daily practice, we frequently encounter patients with complaints of pain caused by musculoskeletal disorders. According to mechanism of formation, the pain may be considered under nociceptive, neuropathic and mixed type. The neuropathic pain incidence prevalence ratio in our country can not be known exactly due to lack of data. In our study, we have aimed to determine the prevalence of neuropathic pain in patients applied to the clinic with musculoskeletal pain complaints. 451 patients with musculoskeletal pain were included to the study. The detailed anamnesis were taken for each patient, general physical examination, musculoskeletal system examination, neurological examination were conducted and medical pain history of all patients were taken. The demographic features of the all patients were recorded, such as their age, gender, occupational status (whether they are currently working or not). Background information of the patients were examined. In order to determine the neuropathic pain presence, all patients were underwent S-LANSS scale and DN4 scales. In our study, the neuropathic pain was detected as 20.8% in terms of DN4 scale, and it was detected as 18.8% for S-LANSS scale. It was determined that the neuropathic pain prevalence increases as the age goes older, it is also determined to be seen much common on women, However, there weren't any statistically significant difference found among the patients with neuropathic pain or the patients without neuropathic pain in terms of age, gender and occupational status. As a result of the medical histories taken from the patients, we have determined that the neuropathic pain prevalence is found to be statistically significant for the patients having lumbar surgery and entrapment neuropathy history in the past. And fibromyalgia is found to cause a significant statistical difference for the patients who has neuropathic pain in accordance with S-LANSS scale. Consequently, for the patients with the musculoskeletal pain, the neuropathic pain takes also a prominent place besides nociceptive pain they suffer. For the patients suffering from the pain, the neuropathic pain scales may be helpful in determining the character of neuropathic pain. Besides the implementation of this scale for patients, it is also important to run detailed physical examination, musculoskeletal systemic examination and neurological examination, plus it is also quite necessary to question possible systemic diseases that may cause neuropathic pain in patients